The Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaii

Mention the words ‘summer paradise’, and the tranquil island of Hawaii often comes to mind. It’s literally in the middle of nowhere, which allows for peace away from your troubles unlike any other. It also happens to be a famous destination - so famous, in fact, that you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of it. Naturally, such an Eden draws travellers from all around the world, all here to experience a slice of Heaven on earth they’ve only seen or heard of.

Which brings us to the question - what do you seek from Hawaii, and what’s the best time to go look for it? We’re here to help. While Hawaii’s tropical climate offers warm weather all year round, some months are better than others for beach work, island hopping, or simply getting away all by yourself. Take your choice, and take the plunge - here’s our guide to the best time of year to visit Hawaii!

Best Time to Visit

1. Best Visit Times for Beach Bums
2. Best Visit Times for Beautiful Views
3. Best Visit Times for Bargain Hunters

Best Visit Times for Beach Bums

Hawaii is synonymous with the sun, the sea, and the deluge of activities on the horizon between. While the temperature is great every month, certain times of the year bring about elements that you may find more attractive, depending on your activity of choice!

The winter months are perfect for pro surfers to attack the shores. Tides hit hardest north during the months of November and December, setting the scene for some of the biggest surf competitions in the world, including the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing at Oahu’s North Shore. Looking to try surfing for the first time? Heading to Hawaii during the winter works for you as well - just stick to the south-side coasts like Waikiki Beach, and remember to pick up some tips from the pros while you watch them in action!

If you’re here to snorkel or dive, you’ll have to skip the winter seasons - higher possibilities of rain may reduce water visibility, putting a damper on your dive experience. Head out to Hawaii in the summer instead - plenty of spectacular dive spots are waiting to be discovered from May to September! Be sure to check out the south shore of Molokai, home to Hawaii’s longest barrier reef.

Snow isn’t commonly associated with Hawaii’s sunny shores, but ask and the island shall deliver - Maunakea, Hawaii’s highest peak, and cultural stronghold, is covered in snow in the months of February and March. You’ll need a 4WD vehicle and your own gear, but overcome these obstacles and the snow-laced volcanic slopes and awe-inspiring views will make your snowboarding trip worth it!

Best Visit Times for Beautiful Views

We mentioned Maunakea previously, but the mountain isn’t reserved for adrenaline junkies - in fact, it is a dormant volcano that currently serves as an astronomy observation hub! While the observatories are closed to the public, a two-hour journey by car leads you to the Visitor Information Station, where visitors are treated to a stunning night sky from 9200 feet above sea level. Night skies can be seen all year round, but weather conditions can sometimes cause road closures or cloudy skies. Do remember to check the VIS website for real-time updates before choosing a perfect day to make the journey!

The Big Island of Hawaii is also home to other active volcanoes - the noisiest one of them all can be found further south. Kilauea is an active shield volcano that has been continuously erupting since 1983, with its last major eruption happening just last year! Volcanoes, while majestic, and exploring these behemoths should be done within designated areas. An all year round activity, more volcano spotting tips can be found on GoHawaii’s official guide.

For something more calming, Hawaii’s flora and fauna is a sight to behold as well, and the best way to get up close to these is on a hike in Kauai. A predominantly summertime expedition takes hikers through mountain spires and towering waterfalls, a refreshing reward characteristic of what is sometimes called the Garden Island. Start these treks early and bring lots of water - the months of June to September can drain even the most seasoned ground-pounders!

Best Visit Times for Bargain Hunters

As you may have noticed by now, Hawaii is a place where there’s a perfect time for everything. Unfortunately, this does mean an influx of tourism in some periods - bad news for travellers looking to grab a trip for cheap. Hawaii-guide.com has put together a trend-based calendar on flight and accommodation demand in 2019 - with some planning, one can probably snap up a cheap flight in pockets within January to May, and October to December. Look up the timeframes right here, and throw in a hotel search as well - you could be knee-deep in luxury with your wallet intact very soon!

Another good indicator of price drops is the crowd - fewer people usually means less demand, which consequently leads to lower prices for the month. November is usually the quietest month in Hawaii (except Thanksgiving), so an early end-of-year break might be your best bet! Another timeframe worth considering is May to June - as the waves recede, the surfers usually move as well, which may mean more beach to yourself.

Whenever you decide to head to Hawaii, a unique experience awaits in the archipelago of dreams - and CheapTickets.sg will get you there faster, safer, and with more value! From the month of September, we’re offering a $30 discount to flights from Singapore to Hawaii. Live your dreams for less, and grab the next flight to Hawaii today!