Are you planning your first trip to Hawaii and can’t decide when to go? Keep scrolling to find out the worst time to visit Hawaii so you can avoid it!
This post about the worst time to visit Hawaii was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung. It contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
After all the hours spent planning and saving up for your Hawaiian vacation, the last thing you want to run into during your visit is a week’s worth of bad weather.
Unless you can predict the future, predicting the weather that far in advance can be very difficult.
You also may not be one who enjoys rather large crowds, so steering clear of Hawaii’s peak season is another thing for you to keep in mind.
With so much to consider, choosing the right date on the calendar for your trip may prove extremely difficult and stress-inducing. Don’t be left scratching your head wondering, “What are the best and worst months to visit Hawaii?”
Is there a bad time to go to Hawaii? Not necessarily—but some months may suit your family’s preferences more than others.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at some of the best and worst times to visit Hawaii.
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Hawaii Itineraries, complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Hawaii Travel FAQs
While you can find flight deals almost any time of the year, the cheapest time to fly to Hawaii is typically in March, May, September, and October. These are part of Hawaii’s shoulder season and don’t have school breaks. But you can sign up to get emails about flight deals, and sometimes there are crazy deals for school breaks or peak season.
Usually, when it rains in Hawaii, it’s pretty brief, and you can count on the sun later on. However, sometimes it rains for days. On those days, it’s a great opportunity to check out a museum, go shopping, go on a food tour, or enjoy a hot tub at your resort.
Hawaii’s rainy season starts in November and lasts until about March. But that doesn’t mean it rains nonstop during those months. Often, it just rains for an hour or two. And sometimes, it’s sunny and rain-free for weeks.
When is Rainy Season in Hawaii?
Are you hoping to avoid the rain during your vacation? The winter and rainy season for Hawaii starts in November through March, while December is typically considered to be the rainiest month in Hawaii. But there’s good news!
The average low temperatures during this season still remain relatively mild, making Hawaii a warm getaway even in the wetter months.
These “wetter” months don’t receive that much more rain than any of the other months of the year. And should you decide to vacation during this time, there’s a chance you may go an entire week without any rain. At times, the opposite holds true during the “dry season.”
When is Hurricane Season in Hawaii?
Don’t want to take your chances of a hurricane ruining your Hawaii family vacation? The official hurricane season for Hawaii begins in June and runs until the end of November. There is information out there that could help you feel easier about visiting during hurricane season.
Hawaii doesn’t experience hurricanes that often because of the currents, winds, and ocean temperatures that surround the islands. Though there have certainly been plenty of scares over the years, Hawaii hasn’t experienced a direct impact from a hurricane since 1992 (Hurricane Iniki).
Experienced surfers often prefer visiting Hawaii during the fall and winter months, particularly from November through March, when powerful swells generated by North Pacific storms create the large and consistent waves that make Hawaii a premier destination for big-wave surfing.
When is the Best time to Visit Hawaii?
Many people come to the wrong conclusion when they think that summer is the best time to visit Hawaii. That’s because the Hawaiian weather can be very hot and humid during that time of year. So, if you don’t want to feel like a sardine in a can that’s been placed in an oven, avoid the summer.
There are more people during these months, the prices are still reasonably cheaper than the popular winter months that tourists are drawn to.
The fall months are personally your best option. Most people would say that the best three months to visit Hawaii are May, August, and September. This is when you’ll enjoy pleasant weather, fewer people, and cheaper rates.
Smaller crowds and clear skies make fall a great time to enjoy outdoor activities and family-friendly adventures across all the Hawaiian islands.
When is Hawaii Peak Travel Season?
When you’re visiting any one of Hawaii’s islands, the traveling peak season starts around the middle of December and continues until about mid-April. Due to its popularity during this time, places will be busier while prices will be at their absolute highest.
The same can be said about expensive airfare pricing. Traveling is also known to pick up around the holidays, such as the Easter holiday and school breaks, and you’ll certainly end up paying for it.
The busiest months tend to coincide with school vacations and winter holidays, making it harder to avoid crowds during this time.
When is the Worst Time to Visit Hawaii?
In all honesty, it’s hard to come up with the “worst time to go to Hawaii”, because no matter when you visit, you’re sure to have the time of your life.
Worst month to visit Hawaii? Many travelers and locals agree that December checks that box.
This is due to a combination of different factors, including the rainiest month of the year and the busyness during that time period. December is also considered the most expensive month due to high hotel and airfare prices.
When you’re on a budget, some of the worst months to go on a trip to Hawaii are during the winter. Again, these months start around the middle of December and run all the way through March.
So, if you want to have some money left over at the end of your trip, you should wait until the fall. However, if you love to surf and want to experience migrating humpback whales, the winter months may not be so bad after all.
When is the Worst Time to Visit Maui?
Some of you may be planning a trip to Maui and wondering when the worst time to visit the island is. My answer for you is very similar to before. Maui experiences beautiful weather mostly year-round, while there aren’t too many times when you’ll have rain for days on end.
So, if you decide to visit during the rainy season, you should still run into amazing weather.
But just like anywhere else in Hawaii, Maui experiences a lot more people during the summer and especially during the winter seasons. Prices will be very high for accommodations, plane tickets, and car rentals.
Events to Consider When to Visit Hawaii
Oahu
- Hawaii State Farm Fair (July 12–13, 2025)
- Honolulu City Lights (Opening Night: December 6, 2025)
- Prince Lot Hula Festival (July 19–20, 2025)
- Waikiki Spam Jam (April 26, 2025)
- Pan-Pacific Festival (June 13–15, 2025)
- Filipino Fiesta & Flores de Mayo (May 3, 2025)
- Honolulu Marathon (December 14, 2025)
- King Kamehameha Celebration (June 11, 2025)
- Lei Day Celebration (May 1, 2025)
Maui
- Ukulele Festival Hawaii (July 13, 2025)
- East Maui Taro Festival (April 20, 2025)
- Maui Brewers Festival (May 17, 2025)
- Maui Agricultural Festival & 4-H Livestock Fair (May 31, 2025)
Hawaii Island (Big Island)
- Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (November 7–16, 2025)
- Hawaii Kupuna Hula Festival (September)
- Museum Ho‘olaule‘a (October)
- Paniolo Parade (June)
- Big Island Chocolate Festival (April)
- Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (August)
- Ho‘olaule‘a (July or September)
Kauai
- Kauai Mokihana Festival (September)
- Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair (August)
- Kauai Marathon (August)
- Kōloa Plantation Days (July)
- Waimea Town Celebration (February)
Best and Worst Time to Visit Hawaii Wrap-Up
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the best month, busiest times, and even the worst month to visit Hawaii based on weather, prices, and crowds.
If your family prefers smaller crowds, clear skies, and cheaper rates, then spring and fall may be your great time to go. The last two weeks of April or early May often offer ideal conditions to avoid crowds and find cheaper rates—especially useful for families traveling on a budget.
While the November through March period brings higher prices and rainfall, it’s also the season for big surf, whale watching, and festive events, which may appeal to experienced surfers or holiday travelers.
No matter when you choose to visit, all the Hawaiian islands offer incredible beauty and family-friendly experiences throughout the year—you just need to pick what works best for your family’s schedule and interests.
What month does your family plan on visiting one of Hawaii’s islands? If you’ve already made the trip, when did you visit, and how was your experience?