Weather in Hawaii in January

Old Oct 23rd, 2014, 11:54 AM
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Weather in Hawaii in January

Hoping you can help. Considering a trip to Hawaii in January 2015 and wondering what the weather is like in general terms at that time of year, hot, humid, rainy, average temperatures etc. I have googled weather info which gives averages but am interested in info from locals. I am coming from Australia, this would be a first solo trip after a very tough year so wanting to relax, snorkel, walk and sightsee,.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2014, 12:14 PM
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I'm not sure locals can give you any better insight than the info you can find on the internet 9assuming you are looking in the right places. Weather conditions vary from island to island and even on different parts of the same island.

You'll find tons of information on this website for just about every city and town in the Hawaiian islands - just click on the towns/areas you are planning to visit: http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/c...tes-of-America

Also if you go to www.wunderground.com and enter your planned Hawaiian destination(s) in the search box, then scroll down to the "Almanac" section and use the "DATE" section you can bring up charts showing what actual weather conditions were for every day going as far back as 1939..


Review the data on these websites and you'll know more about Hawaiian weather than most locals.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2014, 12:46 PM
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I have only been to Hawaii in December, September, and November. All three times, the weather was spectacular compared to the mainland US. There are lots of microclimates, so you can get rain in some parts of various islands, depending on a variety of factors a meteorologist can explain better than myself. If you want relaxation, IMHO, you cannot go wrong with either Oahu, Kauai, or Maui. The Big Island of Hawaii requires more driving but has more sights to offer, if you are into hiking and nature exploration.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2014, 02:02 PM
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I'd heard and read that the Kohala Coast on the Big Island has the most reliably good weather in all of Hawaii, and our experience there in January a few years seemed to support the claim. You'll also find Hawaii's best snorkeling along the Kohala Coast, though at that time of year, conditions may be better on the south beaches of Maui. Still, if you're wanting to get away from it all, and aren't the type who's compelled to see all the sights just because they're there to see, the Big Island might be your best choice.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2014, 02:41 PM
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The Big Island is very interesting, but I find it less "tropical" in appearance than the other islands. Oahu is my favorite because of the variety it offers. Waikiki is the iconic Hawaii with Diamond Head in the background, and the rest of the island outside Honolulu is quiet, lush, and gorgeous.

I lived there for a year a long time ago, arriving in December, and found the climate nice and warm all the time. You may have more rain in January, but it's not steady downpours or gloomy.
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Old Oct 24th, 2014, 06:33 AM
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You'll most likely be flying in and out of HNL. Many flights back to Australia depart early a.m., so you'd need to be nearby at least the night prior. Many Australians enjoy the less expensive shopping, too, and that's best in Honolulu.

Oahu is a beautiful, typically tropical island. It's not all 'Honolulu'. However, southern coast is the best place to stay in January.

January is *winter* in Hawaii. I wouldn't stay north on Kauai, Oahu or even parts of Maui (not Napili or Kapalua). There's wind and rain, and the oceans are rougher north in winter. Hana on Maui and Hilo/Volcano on Big Island will also be wet.

January is the start of Whale Season (Jan. - Mar.), best enjoyed from Maui, but you'd also see whales off Big Island.

We're in South Maui most winters now, but have sometimes escaped our Chicagoland weather with stays at Poipu, Kauai; Waikiki, Oahu; and the Kohala area, Big Island.

Kohala Coast (NW) is home to Big Island's sunny, vog-free beaches. Some people also stay a night or two at Volcano (SE), flying into one side of the island and out of the other. (KOA and ITO)

Oahu and Maui have the widest choice of restaurants and shopping. Kauai and Big Island are less developed.

You need at least ten nights in the state to stay on two islands; traveling between islands will eat up half a day, door-to-door.
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Old Oct 24th, 2014, 11:33 AM
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Oahu's leeward (western) shore is usually the sunniest/driest followed by the southern shore. I would say the weather is warm, not hot, and not that humid in January. Evenings can even be a little brisk. Cairns in August felt comparable to me.

You can occasionally spot whales from Oahu as well but not as reliably as Maui.
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Old Oct 24th, 2014, 04:55 PM
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You are getting excellent advice from ChiSue on what to expect in January and where the best spots are for consistent good weather and calmer seas on each island that time of year. How humid it will feel to you probably depends on the weather where you live in Australia. I'm from the Northwestern U.S. and I consider Hawaii a bit hot and humid in the summer, but perfectly warm and sunny (and still fine for water sports and beach time usually) in the winter. And of course the closer to the water you stay, the more cooling you will get from trade winds.
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Old Oct 25th, 2014, 06:31 AM
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The winter in Hawaii is very mild 70's. Water is not as warm as summer. Kauai you will want to stay on south shore area as waves on Northshore make it very dangerous. BI - have been there in early February and it was comfortable again in the low 70's and the beaches in the Kohala area are spectacular - best beaches in all of Hawaii. fabulous whale watching in January. Enjoy
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Old Oct 26th, 2014, 10:39 PM
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Thank you all so very much. I greatly appreciate all your assistance.
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