Summer Is Over; Fall Into Hawaii
While the date is only August 26, the seasonal change we usually see in Hawaii around September 1, has already occurred. This is autumn in Hawaii.
Days are shorter, cooler, the sun more angled, and the light more beautiful. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting an average fall temperature of 79 degrees, 2 degrees below normal.
Hawaii’s Dry and Wet Seasons
We still likely have two to three months remaining before the traditional rainy season begins. Good news for those planning a fall escape to the islands.
Dry season runs from May through at least October.
Aside from an occasional tropical storm, the rain pattern is mostly away from the beach, in what is called “mauka” or mountain showers.
Mauka showers, driven by the prevailing trade winds, cross the island mountains from the northeast to the southwest, leaving the south and west sides warmer and dryer.
While mountains and valleys receive rain, it’s usually dry at the coast, which typifies our micro-climatic conditions.
Wet season is mid-November to late December and ends in April.
During this time Hawaii has usually two very rainy months, and sometimes more. It’s not possible to predict when this will be.
When the rains come, they can be inescapable and longer lasting. The longest non-stop period I can recall was three years ago, when we had 43 days of virtually continuous rainfall.
Come enjoy Autumn in Hawaii, the best time of all.
hi guys – thanks again for the site info. i’ve never been to the islands and would be coming from la. what i’m really looking for is a great swimming beach, relaxed beach bars, pretty views – a laid back escape. looks like flying to oahu is the least expensive from la – can i find that experience in waikiki? don’t have a huge budget – saw some hotels like the aqua waikiki beachside, outrigger reef – that seemed affordable and by the beach – but there are so many choices and i’m a little overwhelmed. have any suggestions on hotels, locations – etc.
i heard that waikiki is pretty touristy and busy. any info would be appreciated.
Hi K,
I suggest you invest a bit of time using guide books, like the Hawaii Revealed series. They have them at libraries. See what appeals and what does not, in terms of islands, hotels, etc. then let us know your thinking and we’ll try to help. Waikiki, being part of Honolulu is a reasonably large city, with crowding and arguably less spectacular beaches than the neighbor islands. It is certainly possible to have a great time there nonetheless.
Aloha, Rob