An October morning in Hilo finds the Saturday farmers market already noisy, with vendors shouting above crates of papaya, apple bananas and orchids, as a light rain blows in off Hilo Bay and no one reaches for an umbrella. Mauna Kea shows its summit between the clouds, the waterfalls run full, and the town moves at its own unhurried pace. This is a month for travelers who like green things, slow mornings and a Big Island that feels lived in rather than staged.
What is the weather like in Hilo in October?
Warm, humid and often wet: October in Hilo means shirt-sleeve temperatures, a soft tropical rain that comes and goes, and sunshine in between the showers.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 83.3 | 69.8 | 15.3 | 80.5 |
| October | 82.4 | 69.0 | 16.7 | 80.5 |
| November | 80.3 | 67.6 | 17.3 | 79.4 |
On the Big Island’s windward coast lies Hilo, where trade winds drive moist air up the slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. The result is a town that keeps its lush color and gets rainfall on almost every day in October.
It usually arrives as a passing shower, sometimes a heavy one in the afternoon or overnight, and then the sky opens again. A few days can turn gray and drizzly all the way through.
Mornings are often the clearest part of the day, with soft light over the bay and the best views of the mountains. You can wear shorts and a T-shirt during the day thanks to the warmth, while evenings remain gentle enough for a jacket-free meal outdoors. Daylight lasts nearly twelve hours in mid-October, so you have a full day for waterfalls and gardens before dusk.
Plan around the rain rather than against it. Do the outdoor things early, keep a light rain jacket in your daypack, and wear shoes that can get wet. Drive twenty minutes to the dry Kona side or up to the cooler volcano rim and the weather can feel like a different island.
Can you swim in Hilo in October?
You can certainly enjoy a long, comfortable swim since the water is warm, but Hilo isn’t a classic beach town, and its best spots are small, rocky, or tucked into protected corners.
The sea off Hilo stays warm into autumn, so you can stay in for a while without a wetsuit. What the east side lacks is wide sand. What waits for you there is black lava rock, little coves and a handful of park beaches, among them Richardson Ocean Park, which has black sand, plus the calm pools that line the Keaukaha shoreline. Local families swim and snorkel at these spots, and you may see sea turtles resting near the shore.
Waves and currents on this coast can change quickly, and runoff after heavy rain can cloud the water. Check the flags and signs and ask the lifeguard on duty before you go in, especially if you are traveling with children or are not a strong swimmer.
Pack water shoes for the lava rock, plus a mask, a snorkel, and a towel that can stay damp without worry. For wide, calm sand, travelers usually drive over to the Kona and Kohala coasts.
What to do in Hilo in October
October is a good month to take Hilo on its own terms: market mornings, rainforest walks, waterfalls running strong and an afternoon in a museum or a coffee shop when the clouds roll in. The Big Island’s Ironman World Championship in Kona usually brings athletes and extra energy to the island in the month, though it is a Kona event and Hilo stays the quieter side.
Downtown Hilo is walkable and easy to enjoy slowly. Old wooden storefronts hold bookshops, bakeries, art galleries and small restaurants, and the bayfront has long views toward Coconut Island. In October the town is in a steady rhythm, with locals doing their errands and visitors wandering between shops and cafés.
The farmers market and downtown
The Hilo Farmers Market is the town’s front porch, with its biggest crowd on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Stalls pile up with tropical fruit, fresh-cut flowers, baked goods, local honey, Big Island coffee and plate lunches. Come early for the best selection and cooler air.
Afterward, walk the surrounding blocks for small galleries, secondhand shops and a bowl of saimin or a malasada at a neighborhood bakery. Rain does not spoil the market, since much of it is under cover, but a light jacket is useful. It suits nearly everyone, and it is an easy first stop on a day you want to keep flexible.
Waterfalls and rainforest gardens
Rainbow Falls sits near town and is a quick stop, best when the morning light sometimes throws a rainbow into the mist. Akaka Falls State Park, a short drive north, has a paved loop through bamboo, ferns and orchids to a tall, thin waterfall. In October the rain keeps both falls full and the forest dripping.
A botanical garden along the Hamakua coast adds more color, with palms, heliconia and ginger in bloom. Go in the morning, wear shoes with grip because paths get slick, and carry a rain layer. These stops suit families, photographers and anyone who wants a gentle walk rather than a long hike.
Volcano country and museums
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a drive up from Hilo, and the crater rim is cooler and often rainy, so bring layers. Steam vents, lava tubes and the Kilauea caldera views make it the biggest day out from town. Check the park’s current conditions and any reservation notices before you go.
When the clouds sit low in Hilo, the town’s museums and cultural spots are good indoor stops. The Imiloa Astronomy Center on the hill above town mixes Hawaiian culture with astronomy, and the Lyman Museum is a quiet look at island history and geology. They are easy pairings with a late lunch downtown.
For food, look for local plate lunches, fresh poke, shave ice, malasadas and good Big Island coffee. Seasonal fruit stands along the roads are worth a stop, though the exact fruit depends on the week.
A two-day itinerary for Hilo in October
Day 1 starts at the farmers market in the early morning, when the air is cool and the produce is freshest, followed by a coffee and a walk through the downtown shops. Around midday, drive to Rainbow Falls and then to the Keaukaha shoreline for a swim and a picnic if the water looks inviting and the lifeguard is on duty. Sunset comes in the early evening, so finish with a relaxed dinner in town.
If the day turns rainy, move indoors to the Lyman Museum and the small galleries downtown, then settle into a café with a pastry. The showers tend to pass, so keep a loose plan and step out again when the clouds thin.
Day 2 is for the road. Head north in the morning toward Akaka Falls and the rainforest gardens along the Hamakua coast, where the light is best and the paths are quietest. Have lunch at a small roadside spot or a bakery, then return toward Hilo in the afternoon.
If you want a longer outing, spend the afternoon at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park instead, dressing for cool, damp weather at the rim. In the evening, return to town for a casual dinner of fresh fish or a plate lunch and an early night. If rain settles in, the Imiloa Astronomy Center is a good indoor choice.
Is Hilo busy in October?
No, Hilo is generally quiet in October, with fewer visitors than in summer or around the winter holidays.
Schools are in session on the mainland, so family travel thins out, and Hilo has never been the main resort base on the island. The visitors you meet are mostly independent travelers, volcano-bound day trippers and people passing through on the way to Kona or the national park. Restaurant tables are easy to find, and rooms are usually easier to book than at peak times.
The exception is Kona, where the Ironman World Championship in October can tighten flights, rental cars and rooms across the island. If your trip overlaps with it, book flights and cars early and look to Hilo for a calmer base. If you want a calm week, a few weeks of lead time typically does the trick, but for holiday weeks you should reserve far ahead.
Some places, such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, may have reservation or entry notices, so check the official park information before you go. Smaller guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts can fill on weekends, so a call ahead helps.
What to pack for Hilo in October
Pack for warm days, regular showers and a cool, damp trip to the volcano.
- A light rain jacket, because showers can arrive at any hour on the windward side.
- Quick-dry shorts and T-shirts, since the air stays humid and cotton dries slowly.
- Shoes with grip that can get wet, for slick waterfall paths and lava rock.
- A warm layer for the volcano rim, which is cooler and often rainy.
- Mask, snorkel and water shoes for the shoreline pools.
- Bring mineral sunscreen and a hat, since between the showers the sun makes its appearance.
Good to know before you go
October falls inside the Central Pacific hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, so keep an eye on forecasts and stay flexible with outdoor plans. Because rain is simply part of everyday life in Hilo, the easiest way to reach the waterfalls and the volcano is to drive. Lodging carries state and county accommodation taxes, summarized here.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State Transient Accommodations Tax | 11.00% | Guests staying in lodging |
| County of Hawaii Transient Accommodations Tax | 3% | Guests staying in lodging |
| General Excise Tax pass-on (county) | Up to 4.7120% | Customers of businesses |
Hilo in October vs September and November
Moving the trip to September gives you slightly warmer days and a little less rain, with the sea at about the same warmth. The town is similarly quiet, so the change is mostly a drier feel and a bit more sunshine for the waterfalls and the shoreline.
Moving to November means more rain days, a touch cooler air and a slightly cooler sea. The hurricane season ends at the end of that month, and the big winter surf begins to build on the north shores of the islands. Hilo itself stays green and wet, and visitors begin to increase toward the holidays.
Travelers who want the driest feel on the east side may prefer September, while those who like a lush landscape with fewer people will be happy in October. If you are chasing surf or the early holiday mood, November is the better pick.
Is October a good time to visit Hilo?
Yes, October suits travelers who like a green, unhurried Big Island and do not mind carrying a rain jacket.
You will love it if you enjoy farmers markets, waterfalls, gardens and slow days with a coffee in a small-town café. It also works well for volcano visitors who want a base with fewer crowds. If you need guaranteed sun for a beach vacation, look to the Kona side or choose a different month for the east coast.
Once you get there, begin at the bayfront and the farmers market, and let the sky guide when you plan your volcano and waterfall days. What sets October in Hilo apart is the quiet: full waterfalls, warm water and a town that still feels like its own place.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00021504, checked September 8, 2026
- Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked September 8, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked September 8, 2026
- Hawaii Department of Taxation, Tax Announcement No. 2025-03 (Transient Accommodations Tax Law Changes from 2025 Legislative Session), files.hawaii.gov/tax/news/announce/ann25-03.pdf, checked September 24, 2026
- County of Hawaii, Department of Finance, Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) page, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/finance/transient-accommodations-tax-tat (live returned HTTP 403 on request, read via Internet Archive Wayback Machine snapshot dated August 14, 2026, same official content), checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii Department of Taxation, County Surcharge on General Excise and Use Tax page, tax.hawaii.gov/geninfo/countysurcharge/, checked September 25, 2026
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00021510
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USC00511303
- NWS Honolulu / Central Pacific Hurricane Center, « 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook », weather.gov/hfo/hurricaneOutlook2026, checked September 24, 2026