Hawaii Weather Information for Travel Planning

Visitors to Hawaii will find that it is a marvel of nature. As a result of the shielding effect of her volcanic mountains and the differences in weather found at various elevations, there are as many different climate zones here as exist along the entire coast stretching from Alaska to Costa Rica. The islands can be described as an incredibly diverse collection of many micro-environments, each possessing unique weather, plants and animals. To see the full impact of this natural wealth visitors only need to explore the islands by car, or helicopter and they will be struck by the beauty of tropical rain forests, cool alpine regions, stony deserts and sunny beaches, all within the span of just a few short miles.

Get the Aloha Spirit on the Big Island

Try checking out a local island event during your visit, you'll never know who you'll meet! Here's our lucky leader with one of Hawaii's top regional cuisine chefs, Sam Choy, at a Ho'olaulea in Waimea on Big Island during Autumn's Aloha Festivals in Hawaii.

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The Island of Hawaii is commonly referred to as "The Big Island" to help differentiate it from the state of Hawaii. But this name is appropriate for another reason; it is nearly twice as large as all the other islands in the state combined. Reflecting the island's natural diversity, Hawaii's population is a mix of individual cultures interacting while still retaining their own unique qualities. Its warm and sunny western coast and tropical Hilo with waterfalls and valleys have made Hawaii and tourism synonymous.

Approximate Air Travel Time

• New York City: 12 hrs
• Miami: 11.5 hrs
• Philadelphia: 11 hrs
• Boston: 11.5 hrs
• Los Angeles: 5 hrs
• Chicago: 8.25 hrs
• Dallas-Fort Worth: 8.5 hrs
• San Francisco: 5 hrs

Areas Within Hawaii

Hilo

Hilo, one of the state's largest settlements, is a busy seaport located on Hilo Bay and is the Big Island's tourist center. Constant rain keeps this beautiful east coast region blooming year-round. Two favorite flowering spots are the Nani Mau Gardens and Liliuokalani Gardens Park. At the Hilo Public Library you'll see the historic Naha stone, which King Kamehameha the Great legendarily moved in fulfillment of a prophecy about "moving a mountain." In the distance, the snow-topped dormant volcano Mauna Kea looms above the tropical surroundings. Hilo is also home to the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and the Lyman Mission House & Museum. South of here is the renowned Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with its two active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Of course, Hilo has plenty of restaurants and shopping, too. For some of the island's best catches, head to the Suisan Fish Market. There are several good beaches and lots of great hiking trails.

Wailuku River State Park

This nature reserve offers fascinating geologic and scenic attractions. The Wailuku River, with excellent vistas all the way down to the ocean, leads to the Rainbow Falls. Aptly named, these cascades hit the water below and the resulting mists create colorful rainbows. Also within the park are the gorgeous PeePee Falls. The reserve also loops through a lush, tropical rain forest.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Located in the southern region, this park contains 2 of the world's most active volcanoes. If measured from its base on the ocean floor, 13,677-foot Mauna Loa is the second tallest mountain on Earth. Projecting out of Mauna Loa's southeastern slope, Kilauea is the world's most active volcanic crater. Since its latest eruption cycle began in 1983, Kilauea's lava flow has added more than 600 acres of new land to the Big Island's coast. The remainder of the park's varied landscape includes the Kau Desert on Kilauea's leeward side, with a luxuriant forest on the mountain's windward slope. The park is also home to the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, established on the rim of Kilauea Crater.

Kona (Kohala Coast)

On the west side of the island, this region on the west side of the island is known for its sunny, dry climate, hence its nickname "The Gold Coast." North Kona is home to some of the island's best beaches, and the best resorts. This is also the home of the International Billfish Tournament, as well as the location of the only US coffee plantations, where you can find the superb Kona coffee bean. Kailua-Kona is the main town on this side of the Big Island, with great shopping and most of the tourist activity.

Topography

The Island of Hawaii is the youngest of the Hawaiian chain, which was created by a succession of underwater volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The Big Island measures 4,038 square miles, but continues to grow at a rate of 42 acres per year due to the constant eruption of its active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. It is the very definition of natural diversity, with snow-clad mountains, barren deserts, lava flows, dense rain forests, lush secluded valleys, natural waterfalls, grassy rolling hills, and black-, white-, and green-sand beaches.

Climate

Hawaii's tropical location results in only two distinct seasons: a dry season in the summer months and a rainy season in the winter months. While the temperature varies only slightly year-round, the weather on the island actually depends on where you are. Thanks to interior valleys and coastal plains separated by high mountain peaks, Hawaii has microclimates. You can actually travel from a desert climate on Kilauea's leeward (western) side, drive through some snow-capped mountainous terrain, and arrive in a tropical rain forest on its windward (eastern) side all in the same day!

Best Time to visit the Big Island of Hawaii

While its tropical climate makes this a perfect destination all year, Hawaii's busiest tourist season is from mid-December through mid-April. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall have beautiful weather and the fewest visitors, making it the most ideal time to visit.

Things To Do & See on Hawaii's Big Island

Volcano Helicopter Tour

Take a helicopter tour of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and enjoy a spectacular bird's eye view of the world's most active volcano, Kilauea, as it creates new coastline.

Cruise/Land Tours

Take a romantic sunset dinner cruise with entertainment along the famous Kona Coast, or one of the many driving tours that take you through the island with stops at coffee plantations, black-sand beaches, the city of Hilo, and Rainbow Falls.

Atlantis Submarine Odyssey

If you are the adventurous sort, climb aboard the Atlantis for a submarine tour of Konas Reef. As you cruise past the natural coral beds, you'll get a terrific view of moray eels and all the other extraordinary marine life that thrives in these waters.

Valley/Waterfall Hiking Adventure

There is also plenty of great hiking, thanks to the prominent valleys, plantations, and waterfalls that make up the island's eastern side. There are many trails in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park, and along Kauai's Na Pali Coast.

Waipio Valley

This is the largest and most spectacular valley on the lush eastern side. Enclosed by steep cliffs, the best way to get here is by hiking. Once inside, you will enjoy a hint of jungle, tropical flowering plants, and waterfalls. Secluded and immersed in the "spirit" of Hawaii, this valley is home to wild horses and a few isolated farmers.

Scuba Diving

Diving is good year-round, and there are several spots where depths reach up to 130 feet. Plenty of underwater caves, canyons, lava tubes, vertical walls and sunken ships keep even the most experienced diver happy and busy. Turtle Pinnacle off Honokohau Harbor offers some great views of large sea turtles. A host of big sealife sightings reward patient divers at The Pentagon, a shallow site off the island's northeastern coast.

Golf

Golfers will love the top-ranked courses along the sunny Kohala coast. The greens actually wind through lava fields, providing some fantastic scenery at high quality courses, including the Mauna Kea Resort Golf Course and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

Horseback Riding

Saddle up for a horseback ride and have one of the fantasy experiences of a lifetime. Few things are more exhilarating than riding a horse through rain forests and across a shore being pounded by the surf. The entire time, you'll be surrounded by stupendous scenery and lots of wildlife.

Botanical Gardens

If you love flowers and exotic plants, visit one of the island's many noteworthy botanical gardens. Nani Mau Gardens includes 20 acres of native Hawaiian plants, tropical flowers, trees, pools, waterfalls, and sun-dappled paths. The extravagant and formal Japanese Liliuokalani Gardens are filled with lush green trees, tropical plants, and beautiful ponds.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Exploring the lush greenery and thrilling active volcano is a great hike and one of the most popular activities on the Big Island. Don't forget to take a flashlight if you want to see the sunset and walk around the jagged coastline afterwards.

Dining on Hawaii's Big Island

Dining on the Big Island has become an attraction in itself, and quite a few chefs enjoy something of a celebrity status. This reputation speaks not only to how they cook, but also what they cook. While enjoying rich and varied influences from the many countries and ethnic groups that figure in Hawaiian heritage, the cuisine retains a distinctively local flavor by featuring fresh ingredients in every meal. The island's fertile volcanic soil produces the finest fruits, beans, herbs, and vegetables, all staples of Hawaiian diet. Add the products of local ranchers and fishermen with a cultured appreciation for aesthetic surroundings, and the Big Island creates a recipe for an exceptional dining experience.

Nightlife on the Big Island

Because of its distinctive natural state (i.e., blissfully minimal development), the Big Island is best suited for romantic nights and is not a big party town in Hawaii. Nonetheless, most major resorts have live entertainment every night. The premier tourist areas of Kona and Kohala often have big-name artists performing. Old-style community theaters, like the People's Theatre in Honoka and Pahoa's Akebono Theater, still thrive in some of the smaller towns and are an ideal way to get entertainment with a local flavor.

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