Best time to visit Honolulu

Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart recolours live for your heat & sea limits 27°C · sea 29°C
I'm comfortable up to 27°C feels-like
22° heat-averse 30° heat-loving

Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.

Sea feels bathtub at 29°C
26° strict 31° tolerant

Default 29 °C is the Beach Climate Index "bathtub" line (Morgan et al.) — where the sea stops being refreshing and starts feeling like a warm bath.

Saved to this browser. Changes update the strips below.
Sea temp cold <18° chilly 18–21° ideal 22–26° warm 27–28° bathtub 29–30° too warm ≥31°
Recent · 2020-2024
Interest Google Trends 2021-2025 searches, not arrivals (?)
Sea Nov 2022 – Dec 2024 (?)
Day · avg daily high (?)
Night · avg overnight low (?)
Tropical nights · nights/yr ≥20°C ETCCDI TR20 — sleep killer (?)
181819253030313130312923
UV index · On a typical day around midday, UV is about this (?)
679101011121211966
On the sunniest 1 in 10 days, UV reaches this — and even higher
9111112126
PM2.5 air quality · on a typical day (?)
788888876677
On the worst 1 in 10 days, PM2.5 reaches this — and even higher
1012121111101010981011
June 8/10 beach 8/10 urban feels 28°C · HCI 83/100
Day 28° · Night 23° · warm nights (23°) 🌙 30 tropical nights/yr ☀ UV 10.8 (very high) 56% humidity 24 km/h wind 6 rain days (101h) 289h sun sea 26°C
Thermal 8
Sky 9
Rain 8
Wind 9

Higher = better, including rain & wind (green = "doesn't hurt the score", not "lots of it").

How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.

Compare with another destination

Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.

Tours in Honolulu

29 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you.

  1. 1Wild Dolphin Watching and Snorkel Safari Off West Coast of Oahu4.90★ (820)3hfrom $194🔥 Selling fast
  2. 2Pearl Harbor Tribute: Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour4.46★ (813)5hfrom $41🔥 Selling fast
  3. 3Honolulu Private Transfer: Airport, Port, Hotel (1-12 Passengers)4.90★ (184)30mfrom $125🔥 Selling fast
  4. 4Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup & Lunch4.52★ (1,711)3hfrom $183🔥 Selling fast
  5. 5First Day Must: Oahu Sunrise & Circle Island Adventure5.00★ (333)10hfrom $175🔥 Selling fast
  6. 618 Minutes PRIVATE Helicopter Tour in Honolulu5.00★ (19)18mfrom $242
  7. 7Oahu: Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa 9-Hr Deluxe Tour4.97★ (18,443)9hfrom $140
  8. 8Oahu: Grand Tour Around Island with Snorkeling4.84★ (9,852)from $109
  9. 9Oahu Grand Circle Island Experience from Waikiki4.86★ (2,527)from $85
  10. 10Oahu: 60 Min Royal Crown Helicopter Tour - Doors Off or On4.81★ (785)1hfrom $540
  11. 11Pearl Harbor, Dole, and Polynesian Cultural Center from Waikiki4.81★ (938)from $200
  12. 12Voted Honolulu's #1 Beginner Scuba Diving + Free Videos Tour4.91★ (3,343)1h 30mfrom $89
  13. 13Oahu's Stunning Views: Half-Day Scenic Tour with 7 Lookouts4.89★ (923)from $77
  14. 14Oahu Circle Island Tour with Waimea Valley Waterfall4.81★ (4,219)8hfrom $154
  15. 15Oahu in a Day: Small Group Waterfall, Food Trucks, and Lookouts4.98★ (728)10hfrom $185
  16. 16Oahu Majestic Circle Island Tour with Waimea Falls and Byodo Inn4.94★ (7,648)9hfrom $181
  17. 17Hawaii Off The Beaten Path Food Tour4.97★ (740)3hfrom $150
  18. 18Oahu: The Magical Mystery Show! at Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel4.93★ (3,135)2hfrom $99
  19. 19Oahu Small-Group Circle Island Tour with Turtle Snorkeling4.86★ (5,242)8hfrom $149
  20. 20Premium Oahu Circle Island Tour – Small Group, No Crowds4.80★ (1,769)9h 30mfrom $115
  21. 21Kailua Bay, Oahu: Epic Kayak and Snorkel to Islands4.81★ (1,334)5h 30mfrom $115
  22. 22Pearl Harbor Remembered Tour4.88★ (5,685)7hfrom $143
  23. 23Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial & Honolulu City Tour4.94★ (4,922)from $94
  24. 24Tour of North Shore & Waimea Waterfall4.92★ (3,684)8hfrom $154
  25. 25The Best of Pearl Harbor Full Day Tour4.96★ (572)10hfrom $208
  26. 26Oahu Circle Island Snorkeling Tour: Dole, Pali Lookout & More4.58★ (5,657)from $120
  27. 27Oahu: Roundtrip Shuttle From Waikiki to Dole Plantation & Haleiwa4.47★ (718)6hfrom $33
  28. 28WWII Pearl Harbor Heroes Deluxe Tour4.71★ (645)9h 30mfrom $237
  29. 29Oahu Deluxe Grand Circle Island Tour4.64★ (2,171)10h 45mfrom $124

Last refreshed 2026-05-25.

Similar climatesNassau82% · Funchal80% · Mondello80%

Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Honolulu (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Honolulu's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.

Month-by-month

Month Temp °C Feels °C Rain days Rain h Rain h/day Humidity Wind km/h Sun h UV Interest Score
Jan 20–25 26 9 148 16.4 65% 21 228 6 Quiet 7
Feb 20–25 25 8 118 14.8 61% 24 221 7 Quiet 8
Mar 20–25 25 14 206 14.7 64% 23 243 9 Quiet 6
Apr 21–26 26 12 168 14.0 61% 23 258 10 Quiet 7
May 22–27 27 11 151 13.7 60% 23 282 10 Quiet 7
Jun 23–28 28 6 101 16.8 56% 24 289 11 Quiet 8
Jul 23–29 29 6 116 19.3 57% 26 295 12 Quiet 8
Aug 23–29 30 7 98 14.0 55% 24 290 12 Peak 7
Sep 23–29 30 5 97 19.4 55% 23 262 11 Moderate 7
Oct 23–29 30 10 136 13.6 59% 20 250 9 Quiet 6
Nov 22–27 28 7 116 16.6 61% 23 229 6 Busy 8
Dec 21–26 27 7 121 17.3 64% 22 228 6 Busy 8

UV Index in Honolulu by Month

UV index in Honolulu peaks at 12 (extreme) in August, dropping to 6 (moderate) in December. March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.

Best months in detail

June

8/10

23–28°C · 6 rain days (101h) · 289 sun hours · 56% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)

February

8/10

20–25°C · 8 rain days (118h) · 221 sun hours · 61% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)

November

8/10

22–27°C · 7 rain days (116h) · 229 sun hours · 61% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 6 (high)

Every month

Show the other 9 months in detail

January

7/10

20–25°C · 9 rain days (148h) · 228 sun hours · 65% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high)

March

6/10

20–25°C · 14 rain days (206h) · 243 sun hours · 64% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (very high)

April

7/10

21–26°C · 12 rain days (168h) · 258 sun hours · 61% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high)

May

7/10

22–27°C · 11 rain days (151h) · 282 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (extreme)

July

8/10

23–29°C · 6 rain days (116h) · 295 sun hours · 57% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 12 (extreme)

August

7/10

23–29°C · 7 rain days (98h) · 290 sun hours · 55% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 12 (extreme)

September

7/10

23–29°C · 5 rain days (97h) · 262 sun hours · 55% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)

October

6/10

23–29°C (feels 30°C) · 10 rain days (136h) · 250 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high)

December

8/10

21–26°C · 7 rain days (121h) · 228 sun hours · 64% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)

Comparisons people search for

Pairs validated by Google Autocomplete demand — only pairs people actually compare.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Honolulu

When is the best time to visit Honolulu?

June is the highest-scoring month (8/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 23–28°C (6 rainy days). The top three months by score are June, February, November.

What is the worst time to visit Honolulu?

March is the lowest-scoring month (6/10). Typical conditions: 20–25°C (14 rainy days).

Is Honolulu too hot in summer?

3 months (August, September, October) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.

When are crowds lowest in Honolulu?

Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in April and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.

Which months in Honolulu have good weather but fewer tourists?

February (climate 8/10, crowd index 18) and June (climate 8/10, crowd index 3) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.

What is the UV index in Honolulu by month?

UV peaks at 12 (extreme) in August and is lowest in December at 6 (moderate). Monthly peak values: Jan 6, Feb 7, Mar 9, Apr 10, May 10, Jun 11, Jul 12, Aug 12, Sep 11, Oct 9, Nov 6, Dec 6. March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.

What is the UV index in Honolulu in August?

August is the peak UV month in Honolulu, with a daily-peak UV index of 12 (extreme). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).

How high can UV get in Honolulu on the sunniest days?

Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 11 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 12 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: February, March, May, June, September, December. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.