Hawaii in December gets misread two ways. First-time visitors picture “tropical Christmas” — sunny beaches, palm-tree wreaths, 80°F all day — and don’t price in the wet-season rainfall, the windward Ko’olau cloud cover, and the holiday-week pricing that runs 2–3× the May floor. Frequent visitors writing the month off because it’s expensive and wet miss what makes December genuinely special: humpback whales arriving, North Shore swells peaking, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing wrapping at Pipeline, and a few specific weeks where weather, pricing, and crowd density actually line up well.
This guide separates the December reality from the December marketing. Short version: December 1–18 and January 2–7 are genuinely good Hawaii windows; December 19–January 1 is the most expensive, most crowded, and often wettest stretch of the entire year. If you can travel either side of that holiday surge, December rewards. If you can only go during the holidays, lean into the experience rather than expecting bargains.
Hawaii December weather: what to actually expect
December is solidly in Hawaii’s wet season (November–March). The trade winds soften and become less reliable; Kona winds (south or southwest) can flip the normal weather pattern and bring rain to typically-dry leeward zones; humidity rises; the inversion layer that keeps mountains visible in summer breaks down more often.
That said, “wet season” in Hawaii does not mean Costa Rica or Bali in the rainy season. Daytime highs in December still average 78–82°F on every island’s leeward coast. Sea temperatures stay around 76–77°F (warmer than the Mediterranean in August). Most rain falls overnight or in brief 20-minute showers; full all-day rain on the leeward side is uncommon (3–5 days per month).
December rainfall by island and zone
Average December rainfall, expressed as monthly inches at representative weather stations:
- Waikiki (Oahu leeward): 3.6 inches
- Kailua-Kona (Big Island leeward): 1.8 inches
- Kihei (Maui leeward): 2.4 inches
- Poipu (Kauai leeward): 3.1 inches
- Hilo (Big Island windward): 13.6 inches
- Hana (Maui windward): 11.2 inches
- Princeville (Kauai windward): 9.8 inches
The leeward/windward gap matters enormously. A traveler in Kihei sees 2.4 inches of December rain spread over 6–8 days; a traveler in Hana, 80 miles away by road, sees 11.2 inches spread over 18–20 days. Where you stay decides what weather you get. December is not the month to stay on the windward side of any island unless you specifically want rain.
For background on how Hawaii’s seasonal rainfall actually works, see our Hawaii rainy season guide.
Temperature in December
Sea-level December averages, leeward side of any island:
- Daytime high: 78–82°F
- Nighttime low: 65–68°F
- Sea temperature: 76–77°F
You will not need cold-weather clothes at sea level. You will want a light layer for evening; the breeze can drop the perceived temperature meaningfully after sunset. At elevation — Volcanoes National Park (~4,000 ft), Haleakala summit (~10,000 ft), Mauna Kea visitor center (~9,200 ft) — temperatures drop significantly, and Mauna Kea summit conditions are sub-freezing. For specific Mauna Kea planning, see our Mauna Kea stargazing guide.
Why December is unique in Hawaii
Humpback whales arrive in force
First Hawaii humpback sightings happen in late November, but it’s December when boat-based encounters become reliable. By the third week of December, sightings are essentially guaranteed on a Maui whale-watch tour and very common on Oahu and Big Island tours. Numbers continue climbing through January and February, peak in February, then taper through March. December gives you both the whale season and the early-season novelty before peak crowding.
For the full picture, see our Hawaii whale season guide and our whale watching how-to.
North Shore swells at peak
December is the heart of North Shore Oahu’s big-wave season. The Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay regularly produce 15–25 foot faces. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing — the most prestigious annual surfing event — typically wraps in mid-December at the Billabong Pipe Pro. Even non-surfers walk away from a North Shore visit with one of the most visceral natural-spectacle memories Hawaii offers.
Be safety-honest about it: do not swim on North Shore beaches in December unless conditions are clearly calm and a lifeguard confirms it. Shore break drowns visitors here every year. The drama is the watching, not the swimming. Our Hawaii surf season guide covers swell timing in detail.
Tropical Christmas itself
The novelty is real: outdoor luaus instead of indoor holiday parties, beachside Christmas dinners, holiday parades on Front Street (Lahaina) and Kalakaua Avenue (Waikiki). The Honolulu City Lights display at Honolulu Hale runs from early December through early January and is a genuine charmer. Kapaa Hometown Christmas (Kauai) and Festival of Light (Kauai) round out the Christmas-in-Hawaii cultural offerings. If “Christmas in the tropics” is a bucket-list experience, December delivers.
The Honolulu Marathon
The Honolulu Marathon runs the second Sunday of December — December 13, 2026. The race fills Waikiki hotels in the surrounding days; if you’re not running it, target dates before December 10 or after December 15 to avoid the crowd surge. The race itself is non-trivial for sightseeing-day planning: roads close from 4:30 AM through midday, traffic in and around Waikiki is severely restricted.
When in December to actually go
December 1–18 (the value window)
The first 18 days of December are mostly a great Hawaii window. Holiday pricing hasn’t started; weather is still mostly dry by wet-season standards (rainfall builds toward the end of the month); whales are arriving; North Shore swells are filling in. The Vans Triple Crown is running.
The Honolulu Marathon weekend (December 11–13, 2026) is the one carve-out — Waikiki gets crowded, room availability tightens, traffic deteriorates. Outside Oahu, this weekend is unaffected.
Hotel rates in this window typically run 20–35% above the May floor — meaningful but not crushing. Flight prices are similar. Tuesday–Thursday departures are routinely 25–40% below weekend tickets.
December 19–January 1 (avoid unless committed)
This is the single most expensive, most crowded two-week window of the entire Hawaii year. Honeymoon-suite rates at major resorts run $1,800–$3,500/night. Mid-tier Waikiki hotels that sell for $280/night in May go for $650–$900/night. Direct mainland flights book months in advance; last-minute fares from the West Coast routinely exceed $1,400 round trip.
The crowd density on Maui and Oahu beaches is genuinely Disneyland-grade. Hanauma Bay reservations are gone two weeks out. Restaurant reservations require booking by mid-November. Road of Hana (Maui) has bumper-to-bumper traffic. Volcanoes National Park parking fills by 9 AM.
If your travel forces this window — you have family-vacation schedules, a wedding, an in-laws-required trip — accept the pricing, book by August, and lean into the experience rather than fighting it. Don’t compare it to May; compare it to “what I’d be doing if I were on the mainland in December instead.” For most travelers, even an expensive Hawaii week beats a cold mainland alternative.
January 2–7 (the immediate-post-holiday window)
The first week of January is functionally part of the December “wet season” but already past the holiday surge. Pricing drops sharply on January 2; many travelers reading this should think of “Hawaii in early January” as the same product as Hawaii in mid-December but cheaper. Whales are at peak numbers; North Shore is still firing; weather is statistically slightly drier than late December.
Best islands for December specifically
Maui in December (top choice)
Maui’s leeward (south and west) side delivers December’s best combination of weather, whale access, and amenities. Kihei and Wailea see ~2.4 inches of December rain; Lahaina/Ka’anapali similar. Whale watching from Lahaina Harbor is the most reliable in the state — Auau Channel between Maui and Lanai concentrates whale numbers more densely than anywhere else in Hawaii.
The Road to Hana (windward side) gets a lot of December rain — book Hana for a sunny-forecast day or skip it entirely on this trip. For more on Maui-specific seasonal timing, see our best time to visit Maui guide.
Big Island in December (strong second)
The Kohala Coast (Kawaihae, Hapuna, Mauna Kea Resort area) is the driest stretch of any Hawaiian island in December — under 1.5 inches average. You get Volcanoes National Park (still erupting), Mauna Kea stargazing on clear nights, and decent whale watching from the Kohala coast. Hilo side is genuinely rainy — skip it for this month.
If you base in Kona, see our Kona guide for context, and our things to do for activity planning. The Hawaii volcano viewing guide covers Kīlauea timing.
Oahu in December (good if you want the urban December experience)
Oahu offers the most December cultural programming — Honolulu City Lights, Honolulu Marathon, Vans Triple Crown, big New Year’s celebrations. Waikiki and Hawaii Kai stay reasonably dry; Kailua and the windward side get more rain. If December activity calendar matters to you, Oahu wins; if pure beach weather matters most, Maui or Big Island win.
Kauai in December (lowest priority for first-timers)
Kauai is genuinely beautiful in December but also genuinely rainy. Princeville and Hanalei (north shore) average 9–10 inches of December rain. Poipu (south shore) is much drier at ~3 inches but still wetter than Maui or Big Island leeward equivalents. If you’re a return Hawaii visitor seeking quiet beaches and don’t mind dialed-back weather expectations, Kauai works. For first-time visitors, weather risk is real.
December activities ranked
Tier 1 (December-specific must-do)
- Whale watching (Maui especially; also Oahu and Big Island) — see our marine wildlife timing
- North Shore Oahu surf-watching
- Christmas-in-Hawaii cultural events (Honolulu City Lights, Lahaina parades)
- Volcanoes National Park if Kīlauea is in active eruption — see our volcano viewing guide
Tier 2 (still great in December)
- Snorkeling in dry-side spots (Kealakekua Bay, Two Step, Honolua Bay when calm) — see our snorkel timing guide and Maui snorkel spots
- Sunset dinners — December sunsets are typically 5:45–5:55 PM, perfect for early dinner timing
- Luaus — winter pricing is high but availability is decent; book 4–6 weeks out
- Beach days on leeward coasts when forecast is clear
Tier 3 (proceed with caution in December)
- Road to Hana — high cancellation rate due to rain; only attempt on clear-forecast days
- Long hikes — trail conditions deteriorate fast in wet weather; ridge trails become genuinely dangerous
- Beginner surfing on South Shore — south swells are quiet in December; for true beginners, North Shore winter is dangerous and South Shore is flat. Lessons may be canceled.
- Open-water swimming on north-facing beaches anywhere
December packing checklist
- Swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts (everyday)
- Light long-sleeve shirt for evenings
- Light rain jacket or packable umbrella — critical, not optional
- Light fleece or hoodie for evenings and trade-wind exposure
- Sturdy shoes for trails — trails will be muddy
- Reef-safe sunscreen — even cloudy days burn (Hawaii law requires reef-safe formulations)
- Layers for any elevation activity (Mauna Kea, Haleakala, Volcanoes NP) — temperatures drop 30°F+
- Day pack for hikes and beach days
What you don’t need: heavy jacket (unless going to Mauna Kea summit), boots, multiple long-pants outfits, real cold-weather gear.
December pricing reality
Hotel rate ranges, mid-tier Waikiki property, double occupancy:
- Dec 1–10: $280–$420/night
- Dec 11–13 (Marathon weekend): $420–$600/night
- Dec 14–18: $340–$500/night
- Dec 19–26: $620–$900/night
- Dec 27–Jan 1: $750–$1,200/night
- Jan 2–7: $280–$420/night
Round-trip airfare from West Coast hubs (LAX, SFO, SEA, PDX) to HNL, economy:
- Dec 1–15: $380–$650 if booked 60+ days out
- Dec 16–22: $500–$850
- Dec 23–28: $800–$1,400
- Dec 29–Jan 2: $900–$1,600
- Jan 3–7: $380–$600
Practical December planning timeline
- July–August: Book Dec 19–Jan 1 flights and hotels if traveling in that window. Availability drops sharply after Labor Day.
- September: Book mid-December flights. Lock major activities (luaus, helicopter tours, dinner reservations at top restaurants).
- October: Book early-December flights for value pricing. Book Mauna Kea tour operators, whale watch boats, snorkel charters.
- November: Verify hotel pre-arrival; book rental cars (rentals tighten significantly in December); book luaus for any remaining trip.
- 2 weeks out: Reserve Hanauma Bay (Oahu) and any other reservation-required activities
- 3 days out: Check weather; finalize Hana / hiking / outdoor itinerary based on forecast
Hawaii December vs other months
For full context on how December stacks up against the rest of the year, our best month to visit Hawaii overview ranks all twelve months. For island-by-island comparison, see best time to visit each Hawaiian island. December’s specific competition:
- vs. May: May is cheaper, drier, less crowded, but no whales and no North Shore drama. May wins on value; December wins on experience.
- vs. February: February is cheaper, fewer crowds, whales at absolute peak. February is the better whale-season window if you don’t need the Christmas overlay.
- vs. September: September is cheaper, less rain, no holiday surge. September is the better second-half-of-year value window.
- vs. June: June is drier, longer days, but no whales and pricing climbing fast. June is good for summer travel; December is better if you specifically want whales and tropical-Christmas vibes.
If hurricane season concerns came up in your planning, December is well past the active period — see our Hawaii hurricane season guide. If you’re thinking about December as a scouting trip for a future move rather than just vacation, our Hawaii weather before you move guide covers what year-round residency actually feels like climate-wise.
Common December trip mistakes
Staying on the windward side of any island in December. Hilo, Hana, Princeville, Kailua-Oahu — beautiful places, wrong month. Move to the leeward side.
Trying to surf or swim North Shore Oahu in December. The waves you see in photos are not safe for recreational use. Watch from sand. Take a beginner lesson on South Shore Oahu or south Maui instead — and even there, see what’s actually breaking, because south swells are quiet in winter.
Booking the Road to Hana for a guaranteed-date excursion. Weather can shut it down. Stay flexible; pick the day based on forecast 2–3 days out.
Underestimating the holiday-week pricing. The Dec 19–Jan 1 surge is real and not negotiable. If you find a “deal” too good to believe in that window, verify it’s not a property with a major issue (renovation, location problem, ocean view “category” that’s actually parking-lot view).
Trying to drive Mauna Kea summit road in a rental car. Don’t — see our Mauna Kea stargazing guide for the actual access rules.
Booking activities for Honolulu Marathon weekend without knowing it. The second Sunday of December (Dec 13, 2026) shuts down most of Waikiki for race operations. Plan activities outside Waikiki that morning or use it as a transit day.
Assuming “tropical Christmas” means warm at night. December evenings on most islands run 65–68°F with breeze; that feels chilly when you’re in beach clothes. Bring a layer.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Hawaii?
The first 18 days of December are very good, with whales arriving, North Shore at peak, holiday culture starting, and weather still mostly cooperative. December 19 through January 1 is the most expensive window of the year — go in if you have a specific reason, otherwise shift to early December or early January.
Will it rain my whole trip in Hawaii in December?
No, not if you stay on the leeward side of your chosen island. Leeward Maui (Kihei, Wailea, west Maui) averages 2–3 inches across the entire month, spread over 5–8 days of brief showers. Most December days are mostly sunny with some clouds. Windward sides get genuinely rainy; choose your hotel zone carefully.
Are humpback whales in Hawaii in December?
Yes — whales begin arriving in late November, are reliably present on Maui boat tours by mid-December, and peak in February. December is excellent whale watching, particularly second half of the month.
What’s the best Hawaiian island to visit in December?
Maui (leeward side) for the best balance of weather, whales, and amenities. Big Island (Kohala coast) for the driest weather and added volcano/stargazing options. Oahu for the most Christmas cultural programming and North Shore surf-watching. Kauai is wettest in December and best reserved for return visitors who already know its rhythm.
What should I pack for Hawaii in December?
Standard tropical packing plus a light rain jacket, a light fleece for evenings, and additional warm layers if you’re going to any elevation (Mauna Kea, Haleakala, Volcanoes NP). Reef-safe sunscreen is required by law. Sturdy shoes for muddy trails.
How much rain in Hawaii in December?
Highly location-dependent. Leeward sides average 1.8–3.6 inches across the month (Kohala 1.8, Kihei 2.4, Waikiki 3.6, Poipu 3.1). Windward sides see 9–14 inches (Hilo 13.6, Hana 11.2, Princeville 9.8). Most leeward rain falls in brief showers; sustained all-day rain is uncommon at sea level on the leeward side.
Is Hawaii expensive in December?
The first 18 days are 20–35% above the cheapest months (May, September). December 19–January 1 runs 2–3× the cheapest months — the most expensive window of the entire year. Plan and budget accordingly.
Can you swim in the ocean in Hawaii in December?
Yes on south-facing and leeward beaches with appropriate caution. North-facing beaches on every island can have dangerous winter swells; do not swim on the North Shore of Oahu, much of north Maui, or Kauai’s north shore without a lifeguard confirming conditions. Water temperature is 76–77°F — comfortable.
Are there hurricanes in Hawaii in December?
No. Central Pacific hurricane season ends November 30. December is well past hurricane risk. See our hurricane season guide for the full window.
