Why Winter is the Best Time to Travel to Hawaiʻi

Summer and Hawaiʻi.

It’s hard to find a better combination.

But winter may actually be the better season to travel to the Islands. You won’t need an insulated parka and places don’t close up for the cold season. Don’t believe me? Here are a few reasons why we think winter—between October and April—is a great time to visit Hawaiʻi.

Warm Weather

Blue skies over Mākua Beach (aka Tunnels) on Kauaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/M Swiet Productions

Right now it’s 41 degrees in Seattle and raining, 47 and overcast in New York City, and it’s snowing in parts of Colorado. Temperature in Honolulu? A bright 83 degrees.

Hawaiʻi boasts mild temperatures throughout the year, with moderate humidity and consistent trade winds that keep you cool, even on muggy days. The average daytime temperature in the winter months is 78 degrees, only a few degrees lower than in the summer. (Nighttime temps are about 10 degrees lower than during the day.) And the water temperature hovers around 77 degrees—no need for a wetsuit!

It’s typically cooler and rainier in the winter in Hawaiʻi, and weather may differ from island to island, town to town. For example, Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island is usually wetter than Kailua-Kona, and Oʻahu’s West Side is generally drier than Mānoa and Kāneʻohe. Best to pack a rain jacket, just in case.

Holiday Deals

You might find deals on hotels—like in Waikīkī—and airfare during the holidays.
Photo: Getty Images/jhorrocks

Since winter isn’t as busy as summer, you may find discounts and deals on hotels, car rentals, tours and airfare—all intended to lure visitors to the Islands. Some hotels are getting into the Black Friday spirit, offering discounts during the holiday shopping season. Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, for example, has a CyberSale right now, with rooms up to 40% off. The luxe Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, is offering holiday getaways that include special dinners. Interisland travel is often cheaper during this time, too, making it easier—and more affordable—to island-hop while on vacation.

Less Crowded than Summer

Paddleboarding to the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai Beach on Oʻahu.
Photo: Getty Images/stockstudioX

Fewer people travel during the holidays in general—unless they’re traveling to visit families. While winter attracts its fair share of visitors—snowbirds—to the Islands, it’s much less crowded than summer. Fewer people on the beach, on tours and on hiking trails—and that’s never a bad thing.

Humpback Whales

North Pacific humpback whales migrate to Hawaiʻi in the winter.
Photo: Getty Images/blake81

Winter is the time of the year when North Pacific humpback whales—or koholā in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi—migrate to Hawaiʻi’s warm waters to mate, birth calves and frolic. You can book a whale-watching tour or hit a trail—Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail on Oʻahu is a good one—for views of these majestic creatures.

Surf

Winter brings monster surf to Oʻahu’s North Shore.
Photo: Getty Images/Sean Davey

Winter brings monster surf to Hawaiʻi‘s north and west shores—great for skilled surfers and spectators alike. Hawaiʻi plays host to some of the most prestigious surf competitions—including the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, both on Oʻahu—that make for once-in-a-lifetime experiences from shore. (These big waves are so experienced surfers only. Talk to lifeguards about beach and ocean conditions.)

On the flip side, winter means small surf and mellow conditions on south-facing shores—which is perfect for first-timers.

Shopping

Find the perfect gift while shopping on vacation in Hawaiʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/charmedlightph

From unique, hand-crafted gifts to luxury labels, Hawaiʻi is a shopper’s dream. The open-air Ala Moana Center on Oʻahu, the state’s largest mall, boasts more than 350 merchants, from luxury brands to specialty stores and restaurants. There are small towns all over Hawaiʻi—Kailua and Kaimukī on Oʻahu, Pāʻia and Makawao on Maui, Hanalei and Poʻipū on Kauaʻi, Hilo and Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Island—that have charming boutiques, farmers markets, craft fairs and shopping areas where you can find unique, locally made gifts, too.

Much-Needed Relaxation

Imagine yourself here, in a hammock, on Kauaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/M.M. Sweet

Let’s face it: The holidays are stressful. What better way to unwind than with a relaxing vacation to the Islands. There are several hotels that focus on wellness, from the luxe Sensei Lānaʻi, a Four Seasons Resort, where you can customize your own wellness experience, to Lumeria Maui, where you can indulge in daily yoga, meditation and plant-based cuisine. These hotels offer a true escape—no tech in the room, lots of open green spaces, and a slew of spa and wellness options. Consider it a gift to yourself.

Sunsets

Sunset on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/drewsulockcreations

There’s something about a winter sunset in Hawaiʻi—the vibrant colors, the cool temps—it’s impossible to beat.