Best time to visit Hawaii?
 

We are planning a first visit for the spring of 09. We will be able to travel for 3-4 weeks to Hawaii. We will visit Kauai, Maui, Oahu and the BI. We need to pick the best time from the overall period of March 20 thru May 20. Can you please tell us what time you would pick and why. Thanks.

I would avoid spring break. I have gone in April before and it was very nice.

Our annual trip is normally the beginning of April and the weather is usually just perfect.

I saw this and my reaction is ANYTIME :-)

I have been in Oct, Feb and May and every season has been fabulous :-)

I'm with Dawn, just seeing the title I was like ANYTIME!!!!

I would pick March.

Whales are still around the islands. They start leaving first part of April & by May 1, there are only a few left.

While it is still rainy season at the end of March, it is the rains that make the waterfalls really nice. It mostly rains in the mountains & the Windward (east) side of the islands.
The resort areas in South & West Maui, Kona side of Big Island, Waikiki & Ko'Olina areas on Oahu don't get much rain.

By the end of March, the huge surf is about finished, but there will still be some decent sized surf.

Don't worry about spring break. Hawaii does not get the big spring break crowds that other places get. It is hardly noticeable.

Anytime is great, but there are practicalities to avoiding spring break, when the schools are out for summer break, and Memorial Day.

I agree that it's nice to go earlier to catch the whales.

Have you checked weather data for each island? They do vary slightly, and it would help you plan your itinerary and dates. I would avoid rainy weather as best you can. We were in Kauai one January and it rained every day. It was really a drag.

So how bad is July and August?

I'm jealous that you have 4 weeks to spend there! We've been 6 times & never had more than 10 days. The closest we came to bad weather was some high humidity in May but even the locals said it was unusual. I would go in March just because there would still be some humpbacks hanging around & I never get tired of seeing them. Enjoy!

I like to go in the winter when it still isn't too hot. So for your proposed dates, I would pick March myself.

For best bargains, I think the hotel rates tend to drop in September and October.

I used to go yearly and it was always toward the end of March or the first part of April. We alternated islands and all of them had good weather. We got rain sometimes on all the islands, but it was short and sweet. It wasn't too crowded or too hot.

Another vote for "ANYTIME." Although in the interest of being semi-helpful, I will add that we went in August two years ago and it wasn't insanely hot -- maybe 90-ish most days, and gorgeous at night. And one benefit we found was that the ocean along the north shore of Oahu was calm that time of year. Being swimmers, not surfers, that was a plus for us! ((R))

You Fodorites are wonderful. I never expected to get so many replies and so quickly.

We have been conflicted: we initially were going around March 22 because we were hopeful that we might see some of the whales - exactly what you have mentioned. BUT, then we were concerned about the crowds of spring break and also that there would be more rain at that time than if we moved more of our trip into April or even May.

We live on the east coast and will hopefully fly from Newark NJ non-stop. Is March 22 to April 22 considered high season in Hawaii, or doesn't it matter?

Thanks to all of you who have offered assistance.

I think the weather in Hawaii is pretty warm most of the year as it is a tropical island.

In my opinion - when you're in paradise anytime is GREAT

I think of "high season" in Hawaii as Dec/Jan and the summer months (when families are most likely to be on vacation).

There was a recent article in the Pacific Business News on hotel rates in Hawaii, and if you click on the little chart it will show the trend in hotel rates over the past 2 years by month:

http://tinyurl.com/4pt4oj

From a resident:

In March, as many have said, the whales are still active. It's nice and green from the winter rains. Not too busy like in May-Sept.

If you want to hit all those islands consider a cruise...unpack once. Stay on Oahu for a week prior or after 'cause we got lots to do here! Big Island is exciting with the volcano spewing (maybe a little 'too exciting' with the vog and sulphur)

check www.vrbo.com for condo rentals..the hotels are out of their minds here. 'Prices are up, but occupancy is down' well DUH!

I work in Waikiki and hear the horror stories of tourists/hotels all day long. Sigh. and they wonder why tourism is down for Waikiki.

Come visit...leave the mainland behind. Give yourself time to relax and just 'be'.

Aloha!

Interesting article, Bennyb, thanks for posting it.

How lucky you are to have 3 or 4 weeks!
There is no BAD TIME to visit us here in the islands! Rainfall depends on where you go: windward- wetter, leeward- dryer. The so-called "spring break" antics you see in places like Florida don't exist here.

Winter here on the north shore of Oahu brings huge surf so if you want to snorkel or swim, forget it. However, to see the majesty of the ocean when the big waves come in is not to be missed.

I know I'm prejudiced, but Oahu has so much to offer. Plan on staying a little longer and take in the sights. Unfortunately, visitors come to Waikiki to shop and assume that's Oahu. It's not!

Kauai is laid back, Maui more upscale, and the big island has it all- black sand beaches, volcanos, and forests. Molokai is truly a mystical place.

Come and enjoy all the unbelievable beauty the islands offer.

When is spring break. We are looking to go the first two weeks in May.