Each December morning, light comes down Kau’s slopes and reaches a black sand beach, where Hawaiian green sea turtles come ashore to rest close to the water’s edge. Coconut palms rattle in the trade wind, a few early visitors walk the shoreline with their shoes in hand, and the lava rock is still cool underfoot. On the Big Island’s calm southeast coast, Punaluu offers wide skies, unhurried days, and a shoreline that seems a world away from the resort strips.
What is the weather like in Punaluu in December?
December in Punaluu is warm and soft, with sunny stretches broken by short passing showers, so you can plan outdoor days without much worry. The numbers sit close to the neighboring months.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 82.0 | 68.8 | 4.8 | 79.2 |
| December | 80.5 | 67.1 | 4.4 | 78.4 |
| January | 79.4 | 65.0 | 4.3 | 77.4 |
Mornings are the best hours here. Fresh air and clear light greet you, and with the beach almost deserted, that is the simplest time to observe the turtles from a respectful distance. In the afternoon, shorts and a T-shirt feel right because of the warmth, and the ground underfoot can get surprisingly hot from the sun on the black sand.
Punaluu sits on the island’s windward side, so it gets more rain than the Kona coast, which lies on the far side of the mountains. Most rain arrives in short spells, frequently at night or in the evening, and an entirely overcast day is rare. Over the month, a handful of days bring measurable rain, and only about one of them is a real soaker.
When evening comes, the air turns cool enough that a light layer feels good on a porch or a restaurant patio. With a little more than eleven hours of daylight, evening comes early, and once the clouds move away the stars above Kau shine brightly. The sea stays pleasantly warm, and a rash guard or a light sweater is plenty after you dry off.
Can you swim in Punaluu in December?
You can enjoy a comfortable dip in the warm water, yet Punaluu is a beach to see rather than a calm bay for swimming. The sea sits in the upper 70s, which feels refreshing rather than cold, and a quick swim after a morning walk is pleasant for most people.
The shore here is open to the ocean, and winter swells can bring waves and currents along this coast. On certain days the waves stay mild around the boat ramp and the protected corners, while on others they hammer the lava rock.
Before entering the water, check the signs, obey any warnings that are posted and speak with a lifeguard when one is on duty. Nervous swimmers and young children are usually happier wading at the edge and watching the waves from the sand.
Bring a mask if you want to look around the rocky edges, but treat the water as a place to be careful, not a lagoon. The green sea turtles are protected, so give them space on the sand and in the water, and never touch them. Water shoes help on the rocks, and a towel is useful because the black sand heats up fast and gets everywhere.
What to do in Punaluu in December
December here is not about a festival circuit. It is about the shoreline, the quiet roads and the slow rhythm of a small Kau community in the weeks around the holidays. Lights go up on a few houses and shops, there is a friendly mood at the roadside stands, and the crowds that fill the Kona resorts rarely reach this far.
Black sand beach and the turtles
The black sand beach is the reason most people stop. The sand is made of lava that broke apart upon meeting the ocean, and it sparkles in the low morning light. Palms line the back of the beach, and a freshwater spring seeps in near the shore.
Along the rocks green sea turtles feed on algae, and they often rest on the sand, so in December you may spot several. Watch from a distance, keep your voice low and never block their path to the water. They are protected, and the experience is better when you let them be.
Come early, when the light is soft and the beach is calm. Midday brings tour stops and hot sand, so by then it is a good time to move on to a snack or a drive. Wear sandals you can slip off, because the beach is a place to walk barefoot at the edge of the water.
Winter on the Kau coast
The coast road invites unhurried exploring. Cattle country rolls up toward the mountain, and small turnouts give views of dark cliffs and white surf. Winter swells can make the shoreline dramatic, so a walk along the rocks is more about watching the ocean throw spray than swimming.
Humpback whales spend the winter around the islands, and from a high point on a clear day you may spot spouts or a breach out past the surf. It is a chance, never a promise, but a pair of binoculars and some patience on a headland often pays off.
The nearby town of Naalehu and the small communities along the highway offer bakeries, fruit stands and plate lunch counters. Stop for a local lunch, a baked treat or a cold drink, and talk to whoever is behind the counter. In December, holiday baking and potluck food show up in the little shops.
Rainy hours and slow afternoons
When a shower rolls in, Punaluu rewards patience. Rain often passes within an hour, leaving the sand dark and shiny and the air smelling of wet earth. A rainbow over the bay is a common reward.
If the weather settles in, drive toward the volcano side of the island for a cooler, misty day, or stay put with a book and a plate lunch. This is a place where a gray afternoon feels restful rather than ruined.
A two-day itinerary for Punaluu in December
Day 1 starts early on the beach. Be there as the sun clears the ridge, when the black sand is cool and the turtles are most likely to be resting near the shore. Walk the length of the beach, watch the surf from the lava edge and spend a slow hour taking photos. Sunrise comes in the early morning, and December light is gentle until mid-morning.
Late morning, head to a local bakery or a roadside stand in the nearest town for a plate lunch or fresh fruit. Spend the early afternoon on a quiet drive along the coast, stopping at pullouts for the ocean views.
Come back toward the beach before the day cools, and if the sky is clear, stay until the light turns gold. Dinner is simple, a casual local spot or something you cook yourself, and sunset comes early with just over eleven hours of daylight in total.
Day 2 is for the wider Kau country. Start with coffee and a slow breakfast, then take a drive up through the ranchland and small farms to see how people live away from the resorts. Visit a farm stand, a craft shop or a small local market, and let the day follow whatever turns up on the road.
In the afternoon, return to the coast for a last walk on a different stretch of shoreline, looking for whale spouts if the sea is clear. If a heavy shower arrives, switch to an indoor plan: a long lunch, a cafe stop or a drive toward the cooler volcano side. Finish with a quiet evening and the stars, which are bright when the clouds break.
Is Punaluu busy in December?
Punaluu stays fairly quiet even in a holiday month, because it is a stop on the road rather than a resort. Tour groups pass through in the middle of the day, and the beach can feel busy for an hour or two, but mornings and late afternoons are usually calm.
The busiest times are the weeks around Christmas and New Year, when families come to the island and rooms across the Big Island fill up. Rental cars and rentals move in that same rhythm, so for the holiday weeks you should book early, and for the first half of the month a bit later. Small lodgings near Punaluu are limited, so they can fill earlier than you expect.
Restaurants in the area are few, and many are casual and close early. Plan dinner before the end of the day, and keep a few snacks in the car. Because the town is small, a table is rarely a problem, but the choices are narrower than in a resort area.
No special permit is needed to visit the beach itself. If you plan a longer day that includes a national park or a popular trail elsewhere on the island, check the rules for that site before you go, since reservations can matter at some places.
What to pack for Punaluu in December
Pack for warm days, cool evenings and a shower that may arrive without much warning. Light, quick-drying clothes work best.
- Since this windward coast gets frequent passing showers, bring a lightweight rain jacket.
- Water shoes or sturdy sandals for the rocks and hot sand
- A rash guard or light sweater for cooler evenings after a swim
- Pack mineral sunscreen and a hat, because once the showers let up, the sun beats down strong.
- Binoculars for whale spouts and distant surf
- A small day bag with water and snacks, because services are sparse
Good to know before you go
December falls just after the Central Pacific hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Winter swells are the bigger concern on this coast, so watch the surf and follow local signs. Because things are spread far apart and there are few services, having a car is the sensible way to get around, and rooms and cars go first during holiday weeks.
| 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 that pass it on |
Punaluu in December vs November and January
Moving the trip to November brings slightly warmer air and sea, and the days are a little longer. Hurricane season is still winding down and runs through November 30, while the holiday crowds have yet to show up, making this a calmer month for travelers seeking quiet.
January is a touch cooler, with a slightly cooler sea, and the winter swells are often at their strongest. Whale watching is typically in full swing, and the post-holiday weeks are calmer than late December. Rooms are easier to find once the new year settles in.
Choose November if you want the warmest water and fewer people. Choose December if you want a holiday mood without leaving the quiet side of the island. Choose January if whales and a calmer calendar matter more than a few degrees of warmth.
Is December a good time to visit Punaluu?
December suits travelers drawn to peaceful beaches, simple drives and an unhurried rhythm, while it suits far less anyone hoping for hours of gentle-water swimming or plenty of nightlife energy. The weather is warm, the showers are short and the light is lovely in the morning and at dusk.
People who enjoy wildlife, scenery and unhurried time will love it, especially with turtles on the sand and the chance of whale spouts offshore. Families with small children and nervous swimmers may prefer a calmer beach elsewhere on the island and treat Punaluu as a stop. Once you get there, take a walk along the beach early in the day, when the sand has not yet warmed and the turtles are asleep. What stays with you from December here is the contrast: dark sand, white surf, green turtles and a rainbow that often appears after a passing shower.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USC00518600, 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 USW00021504
- NWS Honolulu / Central Pacific Hurricane Center, « 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook », weather.gov/hfo/hurricaneOutlook2026, checked September 24, 2026
To plan your stay
- Best Time to Visit Punaluu: Weather by Month, Crowds, Swimming and Festivals
- Punaluu in January: Weather, Sea Conditions, Black Sand Beach and What to Do
- Punaluu in November: Black Sand Beach, Winter Seas, Weather and a Two-Day Plan
- Punaluu in February: Weather, Sea Conditions and What to Do on the Ka'u Coast