Big Island of Hawaii Weather

Weather on the Big Island of Hawaii changes as rapidly as the terrain around it. No other island has the same diversity as the Big Island, not by a long shot. In some areas rainfall can be absolutely zero, not a drop falls all year long; and the terrain looks it - dry and barren. In other areas it can be rainy every day of the year (like Hilo or Puna), creating a lush paradise for visitors who enjoy that type of environment. Knowing both When to visit the Big Island of Hawaii and Where to stay on the Big Island is also important.

All year-round the Big Island is, for the most part, warm and tropical. Average temperature near the major resort areas (coastline) range from the mid-70's to mid-80's in winter and summer respectively. In the higher elevations like Volcano and Waimea, temperatures are frequently a great deal cooler, especially during the night. Hilo can also have lower temperatures depending on how far mauka (inland) you travel. And of course the summit of Mauna Kea and flanks of Mauna Loa or Hualalai can be quite chilly, if not downright frigid (it snows on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa).

If you're looking to avoid rain all together on your Hawaiian vacation, then the Big Island is a good choice. A large majority of the accommodations are in areas that receive very little rainfall. Below we've created a list of the driest to wettest locations on the island. The map below that list may also help you visuallize which areas are the rainiest and sunniest. Most of the rain that falls on the Big Island does so in the winter months when the tradewinds bring more moisture to the islands. This occurs primarily from late November through early March.

1.) The Kohala (Gold) coastline is almost always sunny year-round and offers the best chance for dry weather, averaging just 0-10 inches annually. Most of the accommodations here are higher end resorts.

2.) The accommodations in and around the Waikaloa area offer the next be selection for sun and dry weather at 10-20" a year. Accommodations here are similar to that of the Kohala coast above.

3.) The accommodations in Kailua-Kona offer fairly consistent and dry weather at 20-40" annually, more rain is likely if you move mauka (inland) and up the flanks of Hualalai. There is an abundance of accommodations here.

4.) Hawi and Honoka`a on the north Kohala coastline are wetter at 60-80" a year, and accommodations are more limited here.

5.) The small Inn's and B&B's in Volcano are our next area averaging between 60-120" a year depending on your exact location. Rain is frequent here at night.

6.) Any accommodations along the north Hamakua coast, which are limited, are fairly wet, at 80"-160" annually

7.) Hilo is the wettest major city in the United States at 120-160" annually, so you can expect lush surroundings and lots of rain (especially at night) in Hilo. Accommodations here are also surprisingly limited, though some small hotels and Inn's do exist.

More information about Hawaii weather can be found within our Hawaii Weather and Climate Patterns article.