Hawaii · Month comparison
March vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs March at #6. The best month nobody talks about — near-summer weather at shoulder prices with empty beaches.
March
#6 of 12 months
Strong option
Spring shoulder season begins — rains ease, whale watching continues, and prices soften.
- ↑The winter rains begin to ease in March — rainfall drops to 65mm, sunshine hours climb to 7.5 daily, and the trade wind weather patterns that define Hawaiian summer begin to establish on the drier south and west coasts
- ↑Road to Hana (Maui) is at its most spectacular in the weeks following the winter rains: the 64-mile road winds past 600 waterfalls, and March sees them running at full volume with lush, soaked vegetation at its most vivid green before the dry summer sets in
May
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The best month nobody talks about — near-summer weather at shoulder prices with empty beaches.
- ↑May delivers summer-quality weather — just 24mm of rain, 8.5 sunshine hours daily, and temperatures reaching 29°C — with none of summer's prices or crowds; it is statistically the best month for value-to-conditions ratio across the Hawaiian islands
- ↑Lei Day (May 1) is the Hawaiian cultural celebration of flowers and community — a genuine local event rather than a tourist production, with lei-making competitions, hula performances, and outdoor markets that offer an authentic entry into Hawaiian culture
| Factor | March | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 9 |
| Value score | 6 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 27°C | 29°C |
| Monthly rain | 65mm | 24mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7.5hrs | 8.5hrs |
March trade-offs
- ↓Spring break (mid-March to early April) sends US mainland families to Hawaii in large numbers — Waikiki, Kaanapali beach, and Kona Coast resorts spike in occupancy and price during the school holiday window
- ↓The transition from winter to spring can be unpredictable: some March weeks deliver perfect blue-sky beach days while others see sustained cloudy spells; flexibility in plans is more valuable in March than in July
- ↓North Shore Oahu surf remains significant into March — the famous breaks are still producing large swells and north coast beaches remain unsafe for casual swimming through the month
May trade-offs
- ↓Memorial Day weekend (end of May) brings a sharp demand spike — the final days of May see a significant jump in domestic US travel and prices; book accommodation for the Memorial Day long weekend well in advance or accept higher rates
- ↓Some visitor attractions and beach concessions are not yet at full summer hours in early May — a handful of seasonal operations (paddleboard rentals, snorkel tours on certain islands) are still in shoulder-season mode
- ↓May is genuinely post-whale season — anyone specifically visiting for humpback sightings will be disappointed; the whale boats still run but sightings are sporadic rather than reliable
Scores compare months within Hawaii. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →