Questioning when is one of the best time to go to Honolulu? Here is the news on when to seek out essentially the most festivals, the smallest crowds, and the right seaside climate, plus what’s occurring month to month.
Editor’s be aware: Throughout COVID-19, please verify the newest journey restrictions earlier than planning any journey and all the time comply with authorities well being recommendation. Occasions could also be topic to vary.
Excessive season: December to April, June to August
Finest browsing and whale watching
That is prime time for surf breaks and the migration of humpback whales. However do not miss distinctive cultural festivities, both, like the Sailor Jerry Competition. Held in Chinatown, this pageant options music, stand-up comedy, motion pictures and tattooing. Sailor Jerry (aka Norman Collins) was the legendary tattoo artist who fulfilled the third a part of Honolulu-stationed WWII sailors’ and troopers’ proud motto – ‘stewed, screwed and tattooed.
You will be hitting Honolulu at its highest temperatures, room charges, and inflow of vacationers, however the climate remains to be unbelievable. E book any ticketed occasions and make restaurant and resort reservations far upfront – and rise up a bit of early in case you’re nervous about snapping your trip pictures with out randos photobombing the view.
Shoulder season: November to December, September
Finest time for cultural choices and the outside
After the summer time rush and warmth are over, and earlier than the uber-crowded winter tourism season begins later in November, Honolulu is at its most accessible in October. Crowds at standard points of interest skinny, trails are much less crowded and the climate is mellow.
You can spend days having fun with the solitude of the forests and peaks across the metropolis. A few of Oʻahu’s hottest mountain climbing trails lead into the plush, windy Koʻolau Vary simply above downtown.
Off-season: Might and October to November
Finest time for beating the crowds
With mellow temps, dry climate, and pods of humpback whales passing by Oahu, Might is a unbelievable time to go to Honolulu – particularly as a result of crowds are comparatively small. You can get higher resort and airfare offers, and a bit of elbow room on prime trails and seashores.
Within the fall, you may additionally see costs dip with the temperatures, and fewer crowds forward of the winter rush. That is additionally a unbelievable time to expertise Honolulu like an area, dipping right into a wealth of festivals and cultural choices that crop up outdoors the excessive season.
Month-by-month breakdown
Here is a month-to-month information to what you may anticipate by means of the yr in Honolulu. All occasions are topic to vary.
January
A part of a Hawaii-wide circuit, Oʻahu Fringe Competition presents uncensored performing arts, usually off the cuff. Most venues are downtown.
Key Occasions: Oʻahu Fringe Competition
February
Chinatown’s annual swirling new yr festivities embody a parade with lion dances and crackling firecrackers. Crimson-colored decorations are in every single place.
Key Occasions: Lunar New 12 months, Nice Aloha Enjoyable Run
March
Three days of Hawaiian and Asian-Pacific cultural alternate with music, dance and drama performances, an arts-and-crafts truthful, a parade and fireworks.
Key Occasions: Honolulu Competition
April
A celebration of Hawaiian music beginning in April with workshops, reside concert events and hula performances leads as much as Hawaii’s prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, that are the native model of the Grammy’s.
Key Occasions: Na Hoku Hanohano Awards
Might
Held on Memorial Day in Might, the souls of the useless are honored with a Japanese floating-lantern ceremony after sundown at Magic Island in Ala Moana Regional Park. Greater than 5000 lanterns are floated and over 50,000 folks flip as much as watch.
Key Occasions: Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii
June
In June, the concert events and hula performances of Mele Mei lead as much as Hawaii’s prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, that are the state’s model of the Grammys – a major honor in a tradition the place music is necessary. In the meantime, considered one of Hawaii’s largest hula contests additionally takes place, with a whole bunch of dancers competing at downtown’s Neal S Blaisdell Middle in late June. Members come from everywhere in the world.
Key Occasions: Pan-Pacific Competition, King Kamehameha Hula Competitors, King Kamehameha Celebration, Sailor Jerry Competition
July
Colourful Chinese language dragon boats race to the beat of island drummers on one lengthy summer time Saturday. Additionally in July, the state’s oldest and largest noncompetitive hula occasion sees Hawaii’s main hula halau (colleges) carry out over a summer time weekend.
Key Occasions: Hawaii Dragon Boat Competition, Prince Lot Hula Competition, Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competitors
August
An enormous annual market for Hawaii-made merchandise, together with every part from artwork to meals to furnishings to crafts to cheesy souvenirs.
Key Occasions: Made in Hawaii Competition
September
September’s Aloha Festivals are a month-long statewide celebration of Hawaiian music, dance and historical past. Honolulu hums with performances and events.
Key Occasions: Aloha Festivals
October
A few of Honolulu’s largest festivals spill over into Waikiki, most notably the annual Honolulu Pleasure parade. Star cooks, sustainable farmers and meals lovers come collectively for over three weeks of wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, excursions, and eating occasions highlighting the state’s high farmers, fishers, ranchers, bakers, meals producers and cooks on the Hawaiʻi Meals & Wine Competition.
Key Occasions: Hawaiʻi Meals & Wine Competition, Speak Story Competition
November
The King Kalakaua Competition features a live performance of conventional monarchy-era music by the Royal Hawaiian Band at ʻIolani Palace each November 16, a parade down Waikiki’s Kalakaua Ave, and a lei-draping ceremony on the King Kalakaua statue positioned on the intersection of Kalakaua Ave and Kuhio Ave in Waikiki.
Key Occasions: King Kalakaua Competition, Hawaiʻi Worldwide Movie Competition, Honolulu Style Week
December
December boasts unbelievable climate and palm bushes strewn with vacation lights, making for a one-of-a-kind mixture of Christmas cheer and sunny sweatathons just like the Honolulu Marathon as crowds pour in for the winter excessive season. Roam the lobbies of the larger, fancier accommodations to see them go massive on vacation shows – and stick round for the New Years fireworks over Waikiki Seaside.
Key Occasions: the Honolulu Marathon, Honolulu Metropolis Lights
