Best time to visit Hawaii
 

We are a family of four including two kids aged 8 & 10. I know this is a matter of opinion but when is the best time to visit for the weather, and how busy does it get.<BR>I'm aiming for 8-10 days and want to visit Maui and Oahu.<BR>I like shopping the kids like beaches and animals and my husband just goes with the flow.

Anytime is the right time to visit Hawaii. It is a year-round destination and has only minor swings in temperature and weather. Winters have a little more rain and summertime is a little more humid.

Sorry Helen, Hawaii DOES have a rainy season and it usually starts the beginning of November.

We were on Oahu in Jan 2002 and it rained only once.<BR><BR>I don't know about the climate on Maui. All the islands are a little bit different.<BR><BR>But, like helen said, anytime is a good time to visit Hawaii. The weather is always nice (for the most part) and the water is always warm.<BR><BR>Go and have fun!<BR><BR>And PLEASE do more than just shopping. There's so much to see and do that it would be a shame if you were cooped up in shops and malls during your entire visit. <BR><BR>Go snorkeling, hiking, swimming, surfing, visit the maritime memorials, the bishop museum, take a drive around Oahu, etc...... You won't regret it!

Maui's "rainy" season does start in November but it is misleading to call it the rainy season as all the rain for a whole month might fall in one or two days (or nights).<BR><BR>A more acccurate measure of the weather is the "percentage of possible daytime sunshine"(POPDS). In Kahului Maui the POPDS is 69% in Jamuary (the wettest month) and it is also 69% in July (the driest month).<BR><BR>So it appears that ANYTIME is the best time to visit Maui (and all of Hawaii) !!

Dear Jo,<BR>As Helen and Nova mentioned, the weather in Hawaii is fairly consistent. Perhaps you might consider the amount of sunshine instead. I enjoy summer months simply because the sun sets much later in the day. More time to enjoy the beach! I would also recommend avoiding peak seasons. That way you may enjoy lower hotel rates and fewer crowds. Spring (but not around spring break) and summer are my favorite times. I hope you have a wonderful trip with your family.<BR>Aloha,<BR>Kehau

When we were in Hawaii we came home mid November, some of our friends stayed on and they had so much rain all excursions were cancelled and even the airport closed. It was explained merely as being the rainy season.

Summer is best. I know that's not a popular answer but it's the correct one. I lived in Hawaii and while I would agree that anytime is "the right time" the winter months can bring a lot and I mean a lot of rain. Enjoy!

We were in Hawaii twice in mid-May, for our honeymoon & anniversary, and it was fabulous. It wasn't very crowded & the weather was amazing.<BR>Have a wonderful vacation!

Don't know where CF is coming from. January and February are just delightful. Not too rainy and lower humidity. August and September are sometimes too humid and can be downright hot if the trade winds stop. <BR><BR>Overall, though, Helen and Kehau are correct. The weather is quite predictable and enjoyable throughout the year. The TV stations in Hawaii do not employ "meteorogists" because the weather changes so little day to day?

I went to Maui in January 2001. It only rained for a total of a couple of hours and that was in Kapalua (the rainier section of Maui). The best thing about going in the winter is the whales. There are tons of them to be seen even from the side of the road.

Lets work on our reading comrehension, shall we. I said November and never mentioned Jan or Feb. Duh.

BTW.....Since you seem to be getting such conflicting advice here, try getting a travel guide at the book store. It will definitely list the rainy seasons.

The average rainfall poer month for Lahaina Maui can be found at:<BR><BR>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/longterm/historical/data/lahaina_hawaii.htm<BR><BR>December, January, and February are the wettest months and June, July, and August are the dryest.

What is "comrehension" CF? Duh! Let's work on our spelling.<BR><BR>

CF, <BR>DUH!!!! Jo was asking about anytime of the year. You were the one who made a comment about November.<BR>Sorry Hawaii expert, but I'm sure that Jo wants to know more than just November. Besides, the rainy season is through Feb.<BR>Before you go calling other people "stupid" why don't you pay attention to the original question. While you're at it, why don't you learn how to spell.

Many Thanks to everyone who took the time to send a reply.<BR>I do usually buy a book when I'm considering a place to visit, but to be honest I much prefer people's personal opinions.<BR>Would I be mad to visit at Christmas??<BR>otherwise I think it could be October.

Um, I can spell, I just can't type for shhit.

Prices will definitely be lower in October if that makes a difference. I know that winter is supposedly the 'rainy' season in Hawaii, but I seem to average about the same amount of rain (1.5 days out of a week) regardless of when I travel. So I have to agree with the other posters who said that anytime is good.

Nov.-Feb 02 was one of the rainier winters!!! There was even grass growing in the normally arid southern area of Maui. We stayed in Wailea and it only rained at night, but other areas were wet. Over Thanksgiving 01, the Islands were deluged with rain. Thanksgiving 00 was dry & nice. So, anytime you go away on vacation you take your chances,but if you go to Hawaii in the winter stay in the dryer south parts of the islands.