The Cheapest time to visit Hawaii is from mid-April to June. It is also the cheapest time to go to Hawaii. At this time you will get good discount accommodation and flights. Also, some more things you have to consider to make your Hawaii trip in a budget. Let’s go into detail on seasons in Hawaii, peak season in Hawaii, where to stay in Hawaii, and make a perfect Hawaii itinerary. This guide is part of our USA Travel Guide.
Also, check other city guides including Washington, Las Vegas, Boston, and Atlanta to make perfect itineraries while visiting those cities.
Check these must-have items before you travel.
- Backpack for men and women
- Collapsible Tote
- Packing cubes
- 1 pair of flipflop for Men and flipflop for Women
- Hat for women
- Cap for men
- Beach towel
- Flexible water bottle
- padlock
- Umbrella
Hawaii is a state in the United States of America. It is a state in the Pacific Ocean that is made up of an archipelago of islands and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the USA. Tourism is one of the top revenue sources in the state and it is known for its tropical destinations, culture, landscapes, top islands, sandy beaches, surfing, and beachside activity. Here you can also decide the cheapest month to visit Hawaii by checking the month-wise guide to Hawaii. Hawaii has around 137 islands of which 8 islands are considered as the major islands of Hawaii. Places in the state like Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii Island are more popular with tourists. You can also check other travel blogs related to a specific place to make your trip more comfortable.
Cheapest time to visit Hawaii
Like every other major tourist destination in the world, Hawaii has an offseason and a high tourist season. The cheapest time to visit Hawaii is in the offseason when the travel costs of the airline, the hotel booking costs, and the overall vacation costs are lower in comparison to the high season. The offseason in Hawaii is between Mid-April and Early-June and in the fall months between September and December. There are great bargains and discount offers during this time making it the cheapest time to visit Hawaii. If you are visiting Lahaina then do not forget to check these top 20 things to do in Lahaina Maui.
How to book a cheap hotel in Hawaii
You can book your hotels in advance from here without paying any money. This will help you to make a Hawaii travel itinerary. You can cancel or change your booking anytime. Filter and watch on hotel price of hotels which you like because hotel price changes frequently. Book your hotel when the price is the lowest.
Seasons in Hawaii – Cheapest time to go to Hawaii
Rainy Season in Hawaii
Hawaii is a tropical island state in the USA, so the rainfall happens throughout the year. There are however some months when the rainfall is more prevalent on the islands of Hawaii. There is no rainy season as such but the rainfall in Hawaii is stronger in the winter months and the wettest month of the year in Hawaii in December. Rainfall is more prevalent in the mountains and tropical slopes on the islands in Hawaii.
Summer in Hawaii
Summer months in Hawaii start in late April and this is a relatively dry season in Hawaii when it comes to rainfall. August and September are the hottest months of the year in Hawaii and there are the odd tornadoes that can happen on some islands. The late summer months can see some thunderstorms but they are rare on the islands. The summer months are not that hot and it is a beautiful time for people to visit Hawaii. Also, it is the cheapest time to visit Hawaii for budget travelers.
Winter in Hawaii
The months from November to April are considered winter months in Hawaii. Though it is only a few degrees colder than the summer months, it is more pleasant in Hawaii in this season. Rainfall in Hawaii is higher in winter, especially in December. The surf is high in this season making Hawaii very popular with professional surfers. Compared to the colder states in the USA, Hawaii is very warm in the winter months and is a great place to escape the snowy countries in the winter months.
Hawaii Weather: Cheapest time of year to visit Hawaii
As mentioned above, there are two seasons in Hawaii and the weather in the two seasons also is quite similar to each other. This means that tourists can get good weather at any time of the year in Hawaii. The tropical climate makes Hawaii an all year round tourism destination but there are off-seasons and high tourist seasons in Hawaii which makes a difference in the cost aspect of the vacation. It is cheaper to visit in the offseason other side high season visits can be costly. If you like cool temperatures and lush rain forests, then winter is perfect. If you are coming from cold countries then slightly higher temperatures with a drier climate which you get in the summer months are perfect for you.
In Hawaii, the average temperature throughout the year remains pretty much the same and the rains on the island depend on the topography, altitude, and winds on the different islands.
Cheapest month to visit Hawaii – Cheapest time to visit Hawaii
Hawaii is a state that is made up of many islands and the culture and landscapes of Hawaii make it a beautiful tourist destination. However, every month in Hawaii offers something different and interesting to tourists visiting the various islands of Hawaii. To understand when to visit Hawaii it is essential to know what each season and month in Hawaii offers to the tourists.
The following is the monthly guide about visiting Hawaii: Weather, the cheapest month to visit Hawaii, the best month to visit Hawaii, key events, season, tourist activity, and areas to visit.
January in Hawaii
January is a cool and wet month in Hawaii with many tourists enjoying an extended tropical vacation during the holidays. Either that or they are visiting after the holiday season so that they can enjoy a cool tropical paradise during the winter months. January is part of the high tourist season where tourists can enjoy the warm weather and watching beautiful whales, birds, and dolphins that start migrating to this area during this time.
Honolulu has expats Chinese American population and the Chinese New Year celebrations are epic in the capital city. There are parades, festivals, and even firework displays during this time on major islands of Hawaii, and is a great time to visit as it is a peak season for traveling to Hawaii.
February in Hawaii
February in Hawaii is a great time to visit as it is part of the peak season because of holidays like Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. February is a top month for whale watching and swimming with the dolphins that migrate around the shores of Hawaii during this time. This is a very festive time in Hawaii with a live concert, cultural folk dances, and luaus. Waianapanapa State Park is the best attraction to visit in February in Hawaii. This beautiful Maui attraction’s name means “glistening waters.”
Traditional events like lei-making contests and canoe races and other festivities are perfect for tourists to enjoy. This is a top month for surfing and sometimes it rains in the high altitude areas and trade winds decrease during this season. Sometimes, but rarely there are winter storms in February in Hawaii but the beach conditions are quite good during this season.
March in Hawaii
March and April can be crowded tourist months as families can visit for Easter vacations and college students can visit Hawaii for spring break. This is a festive time on many islands of Hawaii and a great time to snorkel, swim, and watch the whale and the dolphins. The Honolulu Festival takes place in mid-March and this festival showcases the Hawaiian culture with its influences from Asia and Polynesia. In March, Prince Kuhio Day is celebrated in Kauai and it is a beautiful cultural festival in this area. The Whale and Ocean Arts Festival is a festival that welcomes migratory whales to Hawaii and it takes place in March every year. In March, the temperature starts rising a little bit and the rainfall starts declining a little bit making it a great time to visit Hawaii.
April in Hawaii
April is a time of the year when the peak tourism season starts to end and the crowds reduce making it more ideal for people who do not like large crowds. Many tourists like to visit after the Easter vacations when there is a drop in hotel and resort rates in April. Winter ends in April and the humpback whales start leaving the Hawaiian Islands as the weather becomes warmer. Tourists like to enjoy the Merrie Monarch Festival during Easter, the hula dance festivals. The East Maui Taro Festival and the Waikiki Spam Jam are great events for tourists to enjoy. Spam is a meat product that has become part of the culture in Hawaii as it is imported in Hawaii and the spam festival showcases dishes made by spam in Hawaii.
May in Hawaii
May is the time of the year that happens between spring break and summer vacations which means the lowest prices at hotels and mild weather with a drop in rainfall. May is the cheapest month to visit Hawaii. The crowds also drop as the number of tourists visiting declines and it is a great time for a peaceful yet adventurous vacation in Hawaii. The Memorial Day weekend in Hawaii is a busy time and hotels are usually sold out. Mele Mei is a great Hawaiian Music Festival in Hawaii worth attending. A major event in Hawaii is Lei Day with activities like Lei making events and hula dance perfect for tourists looking to enjoy participating in the culture of Hawaii. If you are on a low budget then it is the cheapest time to go to Hawaii.
June in Hawaii
June is a month where the summer season starts in full in Hawaii. The weather becomes slightly warmer and the rainfall decreases in the summer months making the weather drier on the Hawaiian Islands. There are a lot of local festivals in Hawaii during June and it is a great time for tourists looking to explore the many islands of this beautiful state. The Molokai Ka Hula Piko hula festival is a major attraction in June and the Pan Pacific Festival includes hula dance, parades, block parties, and live music and is a great time to visit Hawaii for different types of tourists. The King Kamehameha Day & Festival also takes place in June and this includes parades and hula dance festivities. Hawaii is a melting pot of various cultural influences and this is showcased in the culinary delights of the region. The Kapalua Wine & Food Festival in Hawaii is a festival where celebrity chefs display the beautiful cuisine and wine of the region.
July in Hawaii
July is a summer month in Hawaii and the state gets a pickup in tourist activity as the summer vacations for schools and universities start and the 4th of July weekend falls in this month. 4th July is USA’s Independence Day and there are fairs and celebrations on islands in Hawaii. Pineapple is an important fruit in Hawaii and tourists can enjoy the Pineapple Festival in this month. The Prince Lot Hula Festival is a great hula festival in Hawaii and the Koloa Plantation Days Celebrations are like a state fair of Hawaii in July.
August in Hawaii
Summer family vacations to Hawaii in August are very popular with American families as well as families from all over the world. This makes August a busy tourist month in Hawaii with drier weather and a hot climate. August is officially part of the hurricane season, however, so due to the unpredictability of the weather, there can be occasional storms in the area. Statehood Day falls in August where the locals celebrate the state of Hawaii. Hawaiian Billfish International Tournament, Comic-Con Honolulu, Made in Hawaii Festival, and the many music festivals in Hawaii in August make it a perfect entertainment for tourists in Hawaii.
September in Hawaii
September can be one of the hottest months in Hawaii and the rainfall is low this time of the year and the evenings are quite long. As the school vacations for the summer ends, the crowds start thinning out in Hawaii which makes it a great time to visit while avoiding the crowds. Hawaii is a welcoming state and is many times fondly called the Aloha State. The Aloha Festivals in Hawaii takes place in September and these display the culture of the state beautifully. Queen Liliuokalani Canoe Race, Kauai Mokihana Festival, and Na Wahine O Ke Kai are all events that are extremely popular in Hawaii and tourists can enjoy all these in September. September is the season in Hawaii for beach vacations and is ideal in Hawaii. However, because of the unpredictability in the weather, it is advisable to check the local weather.
October in Hawaii
For traveling on a budget and looking for hotels with discounts and a drop in accommodation and travel costs, October is a great month. This is a time of the year just before the peak season when the weather of the state is sunny but slightly cooler than August and September. This is the month when rainfall starts rising just a little bit in Hawaii as the state start approaching winter. The Coconut Festival in Hawaii and the Eo E Emalani I Alaka’i festival which includes a royal parade are great festivals to attend for tourists visiting in this season. The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival showcases the cuisine of the region in October and Maui Ukelele Festival is a music festival in the state. The end of October is Halloween all over the USA and Halloween Carnival in Maui is a lot of fun.
November in Hawaii
November is usually the start of the peak tourist season in Hawaii. November also starts the winter months in Hawaii as the temperature drops a little and the rainfall totals for the month see a rise. This is still an ideal time for a beach vacation in Hawaii as it is a tropical country with warm weather all year round. The time around Thanksgiving sees a lot of tourists in Hawaii and the surf starts rising from November onwards in Hawaii.
The famous professional surfing contest in Hawaii called the Triple Crown of Surfing takes place in November and December in Hawaii. Hawaii is famous for many things and one of them is the amazing Kona Coffee and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is very popular among tourists in Hawaii. In November, the tourists can enjoy the Hawaiian International Film Festival, Moku O Keawe cultural festival and Kohala Aina Festival in Hawaii.
December in Hawaii
December is a month that falls completely in the peak tourist season in Hawaii. Though it is one of the wettest months of the year, the temperature is cool and pleasant. Christmas in Hawaii is absolutely beautiful and many people like to escape the cold snowy places in the USA for a tropical vacation. Christmas and New Year’s celebrations include parties, Christmas trees, decorations, music concerts, and New Year’s parties are amazing at hotels in December. This is an expensive time of the year for vacationing in Hawaii because there are many tourists in Hawaii during this time and accommodation and travel costs rise during this month.
Another great event in December in Hawaii is the famous Hawaii Marathon. It is one of the best marathons in the world and many tourists like to participate in watching this event in Hawaii.
Best Time to Visit Hawaii for Hiking
Hawaii is known for its lush green forest trails, mountains, streams, and waterfalls making it an ideal hiking destination in America. This is a state with immense natural tropical beauty and there are many hikes in Hawaii popular with the tourists visiting Hawaii. The popular trails in Hawaii include Kalalau Trail, Haiku Stairs, Diamondhead Summit Trail, Koko Head Crater Trail, Olomana Three Peaks Trail, and Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail.
The islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Maui are the top destinations in Hawaii for hiking. Though hiking is usually done all year round, it is advisable to hike when there are more hours of the day with sunlight. Summertime is ideal for hiking as it is a good idea to start early when the temperature is cooler and using sunscreen lotion is essential during such hikes.
Best Time to Visit Hawaii for Swimming and Snorkeling
Swimming and snorkeling are the top tourist activities in the beach areas of Hawaii. There are many fabulous beaches in Hawaii open to tourists. Swimming can be done at the pool in some of the best hotels in Hawaii or at the beach.
Hawaii’s best swimming beaches include Kapalua Beach Park, Salt Pond Beach Park, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, and the famous Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Hawaii is surrounded by exotic marine life and snorkeling is a major tourist activity in Hawaii. Snorkeling destinations include Fringing Reef, Turtle Town, Night Manta Snorkeling, Poipu Beach Park, and the North Shore area to name a few.
Like other activities, swimming and snorkeling can be done in Hawaii all year round. However, summer months are ideal for these activities which mean June, July, and August in Hawaii.
Best Time to Visit Hawaii for Swimming with Dolphin and Whale Watching
One of the major tourist attractions in the state is whale watching. Whales are migratory species that migrate from the Alaska area to Hawaii in the winter months from December to April. So the best time to visit for whale watching in Hawaii is in February and March. Another top tourist activity in Hawaii is swimming with the dolphins, which is popular with families, young tourists and even with seniors. For swimming with the dolphins, off the coast of Big Island, the best time to visit is from mid-February to mid-March when there is a chance to swim with hundreds of dolphins.
Best Time to Visit Hawaii for Avoiding the Crowds
Millions of people visit Hawaii from the continental US and also from the rest of the world. There are many islands in Hawaii and some islands are more crowded than others. There are high tourist seasons and off-seasons for tourists in Hawaii and some months are better for avoiding crowds. Popular tourist places like the Waikiki Beach, Honolulu Zoo, Lolani Palace and Pearl Harbor National Museum attract a lot of crowds and top hotels in Hawaii tend to be expensive and booked in the high season. To avoid the crowds, visiting during the offseason and also exploring lesser-known areas and islands is a good idea.
Best Island To Visit in Hawaii for the First Time
Hawaii has 137 islands, eight of which are large islands visited by tourists. For first time travelers to Hawaii often find it extremely confusing about which island to visit and the tourist destinations on the different islands of the state. It is often a good idea to choose between Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island. Oahu is a great place for sampling the food and culture of Hawaii. It has great beaches, the food trucks are excellent, and are known for beautiful forest trails.
Maui is visited by millions of tourists for sun and surf vacations and also for hiking. There are beautiful hiking trails, great restaurants and a great place for seeing whales and dolphins in the winter around the island seas. The Big Island in Hawaii is a top choice for first-time travelers who are nature lovers. It has a beautiful landscape full of waterfalls, an active volcano, emerald valleys, and beautiful forest trails.
Cheapest Time to Visit Hawaii’s Big Island
Big Island is as the name suggests the biggest Island in Hawaii in terms of land area. The Big Island is officially called Hawaii Island. The best time to visit is when the weather is beautiful, when the travel costs drop and when people don’t have to face a lot of tourist crowds on the island. The cheapest time to visit is in the months of late April, May, September, and October. For surfing on the island’s beautiful beaches, the best surf is between December and January. The high season for watching whales in this area in February and March. Easter and Christmas holiday season should be avoided as tourist numbers rise substantially during these months.
Cheapest Time to Visit Maui Island
Though like the rest of the state, Maui is an all year round tourist destination, some months are better for a visit to this gorgeous island in Hawaii. Maui is known for its great surfing beaches, historic trails, markets, music festivals, restaurants and showcasing the culture of Hawaii to the tourists. The ideal time to visit is between March and May or between August and early October. Maui is a great place for whale watching in March and avoiding the holidays is always a good idea. Season of Spring and Fall are ideal times to visit away from the holiday rush when the accommodation rates are cheap and exploring the island is easy without too much of a crowd.
Cheapest Time to Visit Honolulu and Oahu
Oahu which is also called the “Gathering Place” is one of the most popular destinations in Hawaii and the capital of the state, Honolulu is also located on the island. This island is known for its famous beaches, major historic and cultural attractions, gardens, Lolani Palace, museums, plantations, and many natural attractions. It has volcanoes, mountains, valleys, cliffs, and a large percentage of the Hawaiian population lives on the island. The cheapest time to visit is between April and June and also between September and mid-December.
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