WORST time to visit Hawaii? Is Hawaii really a year-round travel destination? Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Big Island

So now…

Here are some things to think about for when to go to Hawaii

Below is based on normal conditions around the world!

1. When can you go to avoid crowds?

Again, this is Hawaii.

So chances are, even if you go during peak tourist season, it won’t ruin your vacation.

That said…

Holidays

Naturally, vacation times will be the most crowded.

And that means it’s around holidays that Hawaii will be the most crowded.

If you’re American, you know that in general, Thanksgiving at the end of November and around Christmas in December and New Year’s are pretty much the WORST time to travel in the United States no matter where you go.

Hawaii can be crowded around these times too.

School vacations

And then you’ll also want to keep in mind school vacation times and when there’s the greatest chance for family resorts in Hawaii to be in high demand or at full capacity.

So that is typically in February for mid-winter break, and then there’s March or April for spring break.

The exact dates of school vacations can vary by school district, so even if not every school has a break at the same time like for Thanksgiving or Christmas, it can still get a little crowded.

Even for a set holiday like Easter, some schools have their week-long break before Easter, and some have them after Easter.

But, as an American, it’s not JUST American holidays you need to be thinking about!

Hawaii has a good number of visitors from Japan. (It’s why the Japanese currency is accepted at some convenience stores in Hawaii!)

That means holiday times for Japan could be prime travel time, including to Hawaii.

THAT said…

Another spring holiday to know about

One of the biggest holidays to know about in Japan is probably Golden Week.

This is possibly the prime time to travel for Japanese travelers. 

The exact dates can change each year, and in 2023, you can expect Golden Week travel to be around Saturday, April 29 to Sunday, May 7.

So if you were thinking of going to Hawaii in the spring, you may want to avoid these dates in late April and early May as demand for hotels might go up.

Surfing season in Hawaii

One of the best surfing spots in the world is in Hawaii.

The North Shore of Oahu is known to produce some major waves in the winter, including the Banzai pipeline where some major surfing competitions are held.

With the North Shore basically having one lane in each direction, this can lead to traffic back-ups pretty quickly. That means you’ll be going nowhere fast.

Although the waves may not be as dramatic as the North Shore in the winter, there are also summer surf competitions depending on the part of the island.

Not all surfing competitions are big enough that you will feel the effect when it comes to crowds.

But you may want to have a look at the list of surfing competitions to keep them in mind.

On the flip side, if you think watching a surfing competition would be fun, maybe you WANT to visit Hawaii at this time!

And, it is possible to avoid these surfing areas if you still want to make a trip to Hawaii at a time when there is a surfing competition.

2. When is the most expensive time to visit?

Naturally, these most crowded times can also be the most expensive times to visit because of the high demand for flights and accommodation.

This means that it could be even harder to stay at the best cheap hotels in Waikiki.

But sometimes deals to Hawaii can come along even for times that are typically expensive to fly to Hawaii, so be sure to be signed up for some newsletters so you can know about the cheapest flights to Hawaii!

Aside from that, the good news is that more airlines are flying to Hawaii. This can make for more frequent deals on flights to Hawaii.

But just because you see a cheap last-minute flight to Hawaii, you might not want to book it! First do a quick check to see that accommodation and rental car prices are reasonable.

For example, Valentine’s Day hotels on Maui could start at $500+ if you are booking a week before! Rental cars might start at $150!

3. When is rainy season in Hawaii?

First, it’s important to note…

If it’s 10 days before your trip to Hawaii and you’re looking at the weather reports and they show rain ALL WEEK for the time you’re going to be in Hawaii… don’t get upset!

Weather reports are notoriously off in the Hawaiian islands.

So unless a hurricane is coming (and those are rare in Hawaii), the weather forecast could show 7 straight days of rain and you may not see a single raindrop. (Okay, maybe you’ll see a few.)

That said…

In general, rainy season is November to March.

But this definitely doesn’t mean that you should avoid going to Hawaii during this time.

The thing about looking at average weather in Hawaii is that rainfall totals is that they are generally measured at one specific spot on the island.

And when it comes to island weather, that’s not always indicative of weather on all parts of the island, even if the location is just 20 miles away.

Rainfall totals and temperatures can fluctuate based on which side of the island you’re on, and whether you’re near the coast or in the mountains.

Another thing to keep in mind with the effect of rain…

The month you visit can make a difference in how pretty the landscape is!

March in Hawaii after months of consistent rain…

Watch the video on yourtube: a GREEN Hawaii in March

And September in Hawaii after a few dry months…

But no matter when you go, you’ll get amazing ocean color!

So…

Is there REALLY no bad time of year to visit Hawaii?!

No matter what time of year you go to Hawaii, you will find some great things to do that can be a part of a memorable Hawaii vacation.

Although, if you have specific activities or tours you want to do, you’ll want to look specifically for those. (For example, whale watching.)

But otherwise, these are some of the best things to do in Hawaii, and you can find places to do them in Hawaii year-round!

Best things to do in Hawaii any time of year

1. Beaches

Oahu and Maui are generally said to be the best islands in Hawaii for the beaches. Explore the beaches of Hawaii:

• Best beaches in Hawaii
• Best Oahu beaches
• Best Maui beaches

2. Circle island road trip

3. Hawaiian culture

Watch the video on youtube: Hula show in Hawaii

4. Snorkeling

5. Pearl Harbor

6. Hiking

Hiking in Hawaii means amazing views! Explore the hiking trails of Hawaii:

7. See turtles

8. Cycling

9. FEEL THE ALOHA!

Adventure Hawaii packing list: What to pack for Hawaii

HAPPY PLANNING YOUR VISIT TO HAWAII!