The best times to visit Hawaii

Known as the Aloha State, Hawaii is blessed with consistent temperatures throughout the year, meaning there's never a bad time to visit. Hawaii really only has two seasons: summer (kau) and winter (hooilo). Amazingly, it even snows, however at sea level the coolest it ever gets is a pleasant 26 degrees. Here we outline the best time to visit Hawaii.

May to October – summer

Why you should go: Summer is the warmest time on the islands, and humidity is high too. There's little rainfall, and surf is at its lowest – so think balmy tropical island weather. In summer, the average daytime temperature at sea level is 29 degrees, however the trade winds mean there's usually a cooling breeze. When the trade winds switch to the south or west, the weather can become stormy, hot and sticky. Islanders call this kona weather, meaning leeward or south, pointing to the direction from which these weather systems arrive.

Lap up the sights, sounds and sunsets of Oahu's world-famous Waikiki Beach.Credit: Shutterstock

Although summer is known as low season, June through to August is actually the busiest time to visit – coinciding as it does with the US summer break, and Australia's winter school holidays. Travellers with flexibility should look to book in the shoulder season of September-November, as lower occupancy levels mean you can usually bag some great airfare and accommodation deals. Travellers can save on accommodation if they choose to visit Maui in October and February as opposed to January, when prices are generally at their highest.

No first-time visitor to the islands should miss lapping up the sights, sounds, shopping and sunsets of Oahu's world-famous Waikiki Beach. If crowds aren't your thing, the island's north, east and west coasts, referred to by locals as the "country" (with Waikiki being the "city") offer a more local vibe. Been there, done that? Then venture beyond to Oahu's neighbouring islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, the Island of Hawaii or Kauai.

Of the roughly 300,000 Australians who visit Oahu each year, only approximately 70,000 make it across to Maui, and that number decreases for the other neighbouring islands. Yet Hawaii's landscapes vary dramatically, from sandy beaches, to lush rainforests and black volcanic earth, so it pays to venture beyond Oahu's shores.

Don't miss
Some of the most spectacular lava viewing imaginable happens on the island of Hawaii (Kilauea). While the most recent eruption has paused after 61 days you can still visit Volcanoes National Park home to Kīlauea, Hawaii's youngest volcano and Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on the planet. Once in a lifetime, doors off, helicopter flights circle Kiauea Volcano to see what's left in the wake of its most recent historic eruptive episode and view otherworldly landscapes (like a river of frozen lava leading to the Pacific Ocean). See paradisecopters.com/tours/island/hilo-doors-off-lava-and-rainforest-adventureBoat tours also run off the island's east coast when eruptions are occurring, providing incredible viewings of lava flowing into the sea. To get the latest information on what's happening with the volcanos in the national park see nps.gov

Key events
The ukulele – Hawaii's most loved instrument – is celebrated at this fun, colourful and spectacular annual festival held on Oahu. See ukulelefesthawaii.org

The gruelling Ironman World Championships are held annually on the island of Hawaii. Watch qualifiers from throughout the world battle it out in this prestigious race. See ironman.com

Dukes OceanFest (August 19-27 this year) celebrates Hawaii's original ambassador of Aloha, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Throughout the festival at Waikiki, amateur and professional athletes compete in a variety of ocean sports including surfing, stand-up paddling, a one-mile ocean swim, lifeguard competition, surfboard water polo, a wounded-warrior canoe regatta and more, sponsored by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. See dukesoceanfest.com

November-April – winter

Winter is Hawaii's peak season. Although Hawaii's wettest months are from November to March, winter rains don't generally disrupt holiday plans since the weather is localised. This means that if it's raining in one area, there's almost always a sunny spot to be found around the coast.

During the winter months, it's common to find snow on top of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii. Mauna Loa is also the tallest mountain in the world when measured from the ocean floor, rising to more than 10,000 metres – significantly higher than Mount Everest at 8848 metres above sea level.

A highlight of travelling to Hawaii in the February-April shoulder season is whale watching. Lahaina and Kaanapali in Maui are great spots to see migrating humpback whales as they travel to the island's warm waters to breed.

If you detest crowds, avoid Christmas through to New Year as it seems the whole of America descends for the festive break. By travelling from August through to mid-December, you can usually find cheaper accommodation rates, while beaches and resorts are less crowded too.

Don't miss
Get up close and personal with whales on Maui by booking a cruise or joining an incredible SUP tour. Whales are also often seen from the shore at Kaanapali or Lahaina. February is considered the ultimate time to see whales. See paddleonmaui.com

Take a walk or zipline over Kauai's lush, prehistoric forests. Known as the Garden Isle, Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands. See skylinehawaii.com/kauai

Escape the hustle and bustle of Waikiki like royalty – literally. The Kahala Hotel and Resort tucked away behind Diamond Head is frequented by royalty and A-listers alike for its privacy and grandeur. If the budget doesn't extend to staying, sample what is arguably Hawaii's most lavish buffet breakfast at the resort's Plumeria Beach House, followed by a dip at the secluded Kahala Beach. See kahalaresort.com

Key events
Check out the world's finest surfers in action at this back-to-back surfing contest at Haleiwa Ali'i, Sunset and Banzai Pipeline beaches on Hawaii's North Shore. See vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com

Waikiki holds a street festival every April devoted entirely to the "Hawaiian steak" – the Spam Jam Festival. The festival celebrates Hawaii's love of the tinned meat. See spamjamhawaii.com