Best Time to Visit the Big Island

There is no bad season to visit the Big Island, since the Kohala Coast and Kailua-Kona, where nearly all of the island's resort communities sit, stay warm, dry, and sunny nearly year-round with far less seasonal temperature swing than mainland destinations. The bigger seasonal differences here aren't about weather so much as crowd levels and humpback whale season, which typically runs December through April and adds its own layer of winter demand along the coast.

By KBM Resorts Local Experts · Last updated 2026-09-01

A leeward coast that barely changes

The Big Island is large enough to have real climate contrast between its two sides, but KBM's properties sit on the leeward, west-facing Kona and Kohala Coast, one of the driest and most consistently sunny stretches of coastline in Hawaii. Temperatures here stay comfortably warm across the calendar, generally in the 70s and 80s, so travelers choosing when to visit are really deciding based on crowds and rates rather than worrying about a bad-weather window. The east side of the island sees considerably more rain, but that's not where guests staying with KBM will spend their trip.

Winter (December-March): whale season and holiday travel

Winter is the Kohala Coast's busiest stretch, driven by holiday travel and the arrival of humpback whales in the waters off Waikoloa and Mauna Lani, with whale season generally running December through April and peaking January through March. Weather stays warm and largely dry even in winter, since the west side of the island is sheltered from the wetter patterns found elsewhere on the Big Island. If a lanai whale sighting is part of the plan, this window is worth the added crowds.

Summer (June-August): the driest, sunniest stretch

Summer brings the Kona and Kohala Coast's most reliably dry and sunny weather, paired with a second wave of demand driven by school-break family travel. Multi-bedroom units near Waikoloa Beach Resort and the broader Kohala Coast see steady interest through this window, and the calm, protected coves along the coast make for easy, dependable beach days regardless of which week of summer a trip falls in.

Shoulder seasons (spring and fall): the quiet window

Late spring, from April into early June, and fall, from September through early December, tend to bring the mildest crowds along the Kohala Coast and in Kailua-Kona, without any real drop-off in the area's warm, sunny weather. Spring often overlaps with the tail end of whale season, so travelers can sometimes catch a late sighting without the full winter crowd. These windows suit travelers who want the same dependable conditions with more breathing room at the beach and around town.

Weather and crowd patterns described here reflect typical, recurring seasonal trends rather than a specific year's forecast. Always check current conditions and any travel advisories on the National Weather Service or Hawaii Tourism Authority sites before finalizing travel dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Big Island have a rainy season?

Not on the Kona and Kohala Coast, where nearly all of the island's resort communities sit. This leeward side of the island stays comparatively dry and sunny year-round, even though the Big Island's windward east side sees considerably more rain.

When is whale season on the Big Island?

Humpback whales are typically present in the waters off the Kohala Coast from December through April, with the highest concentration generally falling between January and March. Ocean-view properties in Waikoloa and Mauna Lani are especially popular during this window.

Is there a big temperature difference between seasons on the Big Island?

Not on the Kona and Kohala Coast. Temperatures stay warm and fairly stable across the year, generally in the 70s and 80s, so the choice of when to visit tends to come down to crowd levels and whale season rather than avoiding a cold or wet stretch.

Explore Big Island

Have a question we haven't answered here? Visit our Hawaii & Park City vacation rental FAQ.