Hawaii Weather: Trade Winds, Rainbows & Island Sunshine
Is it going to pour, vog, or maybe something worse? The summers are baked by the sun and cooled by the trade winds, while winters bring warm rains and rainbow overload. Here's what else is going on around Hawaii that will impact your time outside.
Matt, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Matt was born and raised on Oahu and currently makes the North Shore playground his home. He has lived in four states, half a dozen countries, and more houses across Oahu than he can remember. Each move requires relocating something like 40 surf, foil, and paddle boards and the sobering realization that they all have to fit somewhere. He is an adventure journalist, backcountry snowboarder, rock climber, mountain biker, and relentless swell tracker who loves scouting out obscure waves in far-flung corners of the world. Favorite constants include swell checks, tide charts, and vegan sushi at Tane. At Snappy Scout, Matt edits Hawaii guides with saltwater honesty and local precision.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What's the Weather Really Like in Hawaii?
The forecast, the fashion, and the fine print locals wish someone had told them sooner.
Summer temps be like
Permanent beach day vibes (westside sizzles, Kona side extra toasty)
Winter lows are
Barefoot hoodie weather; mauka (mountains) can be chilly, Mauna Kea occasionally gets snow.
The humidity makes me
Glisten or stink, depending on perspective.
Unique weather patterns
Frequent showers on windward ridges; Kona storms when the trades die down; vog on the Big Island (and occasionally on the other islands); winter swells on the North Shore; rainbows every day.
Local weather fashion tip
Slippahs (flip-flops) year round; aloha shirts count as business casual; downtime is spent in board shorts and bikinis.
Bugs be like
Mosquitoes with the thickness, B52 cockroaches doing flybys, centipedes with grudges (and painful stings), coqui lullabies at 2 a.m.
You're stuck indoors again today because
There's a hurricane watch and you can't handle another panicked Costco run.
Green thumb enthusiasts love
Papaya from a backyard seed, mangoes dropping on the driveway, lilikoi (passion fruit) vines taking the fence hostage, more starfruit and mountain apple than you could ever eat, plumeria leis on demand, orchids thriving on gentle neglect, taro if you like muddy ankles.
Your friend with allergies is always saying
Vog and mold are plotting my demise.
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Hawaii
If The Eddie runs between December and February, the entire island shows up to watch Hawaii's biggest event in its biggest waves. Kam Highway shuts down between Foodland and Chuns, with 50,000+ people crowding the sand, pavement, and every square inch around Waimea Bay. Drive out the night before, post up, and enjoy the circus.
— Matt Rott
Hawaii Local Expert
Ready to See If Hawaii Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Hawaii guide for the bigger picture.