Is September or October better for Hawaii?

Hawaii is a perennially popular destination for many reasons. The Aloha State is home to an extraordinary culture, pristine landscapes, and idyllic beaches. If you're searching for the best time to visit Hawaii, we've got you covered. The islands are beautiful at any time of year, though individual preferences can dictate the best time to book your tropical vacation. Looking to save a few bucks? Plan your trip for the shoulder season. Hoping to spot a humpback whale? Opt for a winter or early spring getaway.

Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaii for Low Prices

Hawaiian Airlines, which operates nonstop flights to Hawaii from the United States, Asia, and the South Pacific, as well as inter-island flights within Hawaii, reports that traveling to the islands is generally cheaper in the shoulder seasons of late spring and early fall: the months of April, May, September, and October. For more savings, the airline suggests booking your flights so you're arriving and departing on weekdays, not weekends.

Generally speaking, the last two weeks of December and the first week of January — over Christmas and New Year's — hotel rates soar. Other peak periods are when kids are out of school for spring break and summer vacation, according to Hawaiian Airlines. So, if you want to cut costs on both accommodations and airfare, avoid those times of the year.

Best Time to Visit Hawaii for Great Weather

The weather in Hawaii is consistently warm, with temperatures slightly lower in the winter months (November to April) than in the summer (May to October). Hawaii's average daily winter temperature at the beach is 78 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average daily summer temperature is 85 degrees, according to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority.

Travelers looking for the best weather in Hawaii will find that rainfall is at its lowest from April through October. However, according to the Hawaii Department of Health, hurricane season in the central Pacific lasts from June through November, though massive tropical storms can happen anytime.

Most Popular Times to Visit Hawaii

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii saw more than 10 million visitors in 2019, with the most tourists visiting the islands in July (997,872), June (950,931), and December (942,969), according to reporting by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority.

However, when the pandemic hit, tourism came to a crashing halt. Hawaii enacted strict self-quarantine rules for incoming visitors. Later, the state required all incoming domestic travelers to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of full COVID-19 vaccination before entry through the Safe Travels Program, which came to an end on March 25, 2022.

That's all to say Hawaii is continuing to build back its tourism to pre-pandemic numbers. In all of 2021, 6.8 million visitors made their way to the islands, with July (879,551), June (791,053), and December (753,670) being the busiest months — similar to 2019.

Prior to the pandemic, Japanese travelers regularly made their way to Hawaii in droves during the last week of April and the first week of May, the so-called Golden Week, when four Japanese holidays are celebrated over seven days. Now that pre-departure testing requirements have been lifted for international air travelers to the United States (as of June 12, 2022), Hawaii may again see tourism numbers boom during this popular period for Japanese travelers — a time to avoid if you want to miss the crowds.

There are plenty of annual events to keep in mind, too. Notable yearly events that attract visitors to Hawaii include the PGA Tour in January, the Aloha Festivals in September, and the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival in October.

Best Times to Go Surfing in Hawaii

Visitors and locals can surf year-round on Hawaii's famous waves, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you're planning to hang ten. Waves are usually larger during the winter months, says the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, especially on the islands' north-facing shores, so conditions aren't ideal for beginners learning to surf. However, if you want to watch the experts tackle some big waves, this is a fun time to visit.

Best Times to Go Whale Watching in Hawaii

Those who visit Hawaii with the intent of whale watching will find humpback whales off the islands' coasts from December through May. January, February, and March are considered by many as the peak of the season, as it's when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calls on the public to help monitor whales and contribute to its annual Sanctuary Ocean Count.

Those seeking a perfect combination of fewer visitors, lower prices, and good weather will likely find their ideal booking window during the shoulder season in May or September.

September is a fantastic month to visit Hawaii. It’s a relatively quiet time in the Hawaiian Islands; hotel rates are less expensive and the weather is great. In this article, we’ll review all these important details in deciding if September is the best month for you to vacation in Hawaii.

What’s Hawaii’s weather like in September?

August and September are two of the hottest months in Hawaii. September weather in the Hawaiian Islands can be described as very summer-like with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures. Daytime high temperatures at most beach resorts average in the mid to upper 80s F. Nighttime temperatures only dip into the 70s F.

September rainfall levels in Hawaii are generally low — especially when compared to the wetter, winter months. The lowest rainfall averages are normally in June. Though September rainfall levels are just a tad higher than June, they’re still low in comparison. Here are the average rainfall levels by island for the month of September with a description of where they’re measured as well as a graph for quick visual comparison:

• Kauai – 2.12 inches – This measurement is based on Lihue’s averages per Weather.com. Lihue is located on the southeastern side of the island and is not as wet as the North Shore, but not as dry as the South Shore.
• Oahu – 1.02 inches – This average is based on Honolulu’s rainfall per Weather.com, which will include Waikiki Beach. North Shore rainfall will be a little higher, while Ko Olina’s rainfall will be slightly lower.
• Maui – 0.38 inches – This average is based on Kahului’s rainfall per Weather.com. Kahului is where Maui’s main airport is, but it’s not typically considered a resort area like Wailea, Lahaina, Kaanapali and Kapalua. Kahului’s rainfall tends to be a bit higher than all the resort areas, with the exception of Hana on east Maui.
• Hawaii, the Big Island – 0.80 inches – This average is based on Kailua-Kona’s weather per Weather.com. Kailua-Kona is a popular resort area. Further north on the Kohala Coast, the weather tends to be even drier with only about 10 – 12 inches of rain for the entire year! Hilo, on the east side of Hawaii Island, is another story though, with an average of 9.94 inches of rainfall for September per Weather.com.
• Lanai – 2.09 inches – This average is for Lanai City in Lanai’s upcountry/highlands, which tends to get much more rain that the island’s sunny, beach resort at Manele Bay. Data sourced from Weather.com.
• Molokai – 0.93 inches – This average, per Weather.com, is for the airport just west of Kaunakakai town. Weather towards the east side will be rainier.

June, July and August are three of Hawaii’s driest months as a whole. September isn’t too much wetter by comparison. By September, the drier conditions tend to lessen the flow on some waterfalls. You should still be able to see waterfalls on the islands, however they may be less dramatic depending upon recent rainfall.

Generally, Hawaii’s ocean temperatures are the most pleasant and highest in September and October. For more details, see our article on Hawaii ocean temperatures.

It’s worth mentioning that August and September are the “peak” months of the Pacific hurricane season. That being said, hurricanes are relatively rare events in Hawaii and we personally wouldn’t hesitate to book a trip to Hawaii in either August or September or any part of the official hurricane season.

Is September a popular time to visit Hawaii?

Per our analysis of Hawaii Tourism Authority visitor statistics, September is the month with the least amount of visitors to the Hawaiian Islands. Why is September the least crowded month to visit Hawaii? The big reason is that summer vacation is over for families with school-aged children.

Labor Day weekend, the first weekend of the month, is a popular time for Americans to take long weekend trips. We have been to Hawaii over Labor Day weekend. That weekend did feel a little bit more crowded, but not overly so. After the weekend, we felt that the crowds disappeared.

Is September a cheap or  expensive time for a Hawaii vacation?

Per our thorough analysis of the cycle of Hawaii hotel rates, September is a very inexpensive time to visit Hawaii.

The cost of flights is not as predictable. With September being a slow time for demand, it’s likely that the cost of flights will be below average. Anecdotally, as we’ve covered Hawaii travel for nearly eight years, we tend to see fall fare sales begin in late July. By mid-August, fall fare sales tend to take another slight reduction. See our strategies for saving money on airfare to Hawaii for more information.

Are there any special festivals or reason to visit Hawaii in September?

Hawaii loves to celebrate music, food, dancing and art. The Aloha Festivals begin in September and continue on through October. Take a look at our most recently published list of cultural festivals in September for an example of events. In addition check the events search feature on GoHawaii.com.

In summary, is September a good month for a Hawaii vacation?

The answer to that question isa resounding yes! With some of the key factors in making a great vacation — low hotel rates, low rainfall levels and no crowds – September is definitely one of the best months to go visit Hawaii.

Have you been to Hawaii in September? How was your visit?

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This article is part of our month-by-month analysis helping you to  identify the best time for you to visit Hawaii. See this article, Best times to visit Hawaii, for links to other months.

Is September or October a good time to go to Hawaii?

Is October a good month to go to Hawaii?

What is the weather like in Hawaii in September and October?

Is it cheaper to go to Hawaii in September or October?