On a December evening in Kapaa, strings of colored lights go up along the storefronts, the air smells of plumeria and woodsmoke, and someone is always playing slack-key guitar to a crowd in shorts. Kauai keeps its green, its waterfalls run full, and the north shore wears the long swells of winter. This is Kauai in December: a warm, lush island with a festive streak, a lively ocean and a mix of beach days and rainforest days.
What is the weather like in Kauai in December?
Kauai in December stays warm and lush, mixing bright spells with brief rain, and conditions run slightly cooler and damper than they do during the summer months.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 81.2 | 71.3 | 6.8 | 79.6 |
| December | 79.1 | 68.6 | 6.9 | 78.5 |
| January | 78.6 | 66.0 | 4.4 | 76.9 |
December mornings come gentle and full of light, and by afternoon the warmth invites shorts and a swim while skipping August’s swelter. Evenings cool off pleasantly, so a dinner on a lanai is comfortable in a light layer. Daylight is short by island standards, about ten hours and fifty minutes in mid-month, so the sun sets early and plans are best front-loaded.
Rain arrives as quick showers carried by the trade winds, often at night or in the early morning, and it clears fast, leaving rainbows over the hills. Around Lihue and Kapaa, the east side receives a blend.
Princeville and Hanalei, on the north shore, get more rain than anywhere else on the island, and a day there can turn gray with rain that never lets up. The south shore around Poipu is the driest and sunniest, which makes it the fallback when the north looks gloomy.
Up at Waimea Canyon and Kokee, the rim is far cooler than the coast and the mornings can be misty, so bring a real layer. Pack a light rain jacket for everyone, since a shower can come in from nowhere.
Can you swim in Kauai in December?
Sure, you can swim for a long time in that warm water, but in winter which beach you choose counts for much more than how warm it is.
December brings big north swells, and the north shore beaches (Hanalei Bay, Kee, Tunnels) often have heavy surf, strong currents and shore break. Some days a beach there is fine to wade, and some days the lifeguards close the water to everyone. The south and west sides, around Poipu, Kekaha and Salt Pond, are usually gentler in winter, and the protected corners of Poipu are a favorite for families, though conditions still change by the day.
Snorkelers do best on the south side on a calm morning, when the water tends to be clearer. Surfers and bodyboarders will find plenty to watch and, for experienced riders, to ride on the north. Nervous swimmers and young children should stay where lifeguards are posted.
Read the signs and flags at every beach, ask the lifeguard before you go in, and bring a rash guard, since the sun is still strong after a shower. Keep a respectful distance from any monk seal or turtle resting on the sand.
What to do in Kauai in December
Christmas is the heart of the month, island style. Towns light up with holiday decorations, craft fairs and parades turn up in the weeks before December 25, and Santa famously arrives by outrigger canoe or fire truck rather than sleigh. Church choirs sing in Hawaiian and English, and the mood in the streets is relaxed and friendly, with shave ice stands still doing business in the sun.
Nature also puts on a winter show. Humpback whales spend the cooler months in Hawaiian waters, and from a coastal lookout or a boat you may see spouts and breaches. The big north swells draw surfers and spectators to the shore.
Meanwhile the interior is at its lushest, with waterfalls strong after the winter rains. For food, look for plate lunches, fresh poke, grilled fish and pie from roadside stands, and the warm banana bread that locals pass around at the holidays.
Waimea Canyon and Kokee
The red, green and rust-colored walls of Waimea Canyon are the island’s great landscape drive, reached from the west side by climbing the highway up toward Kokee. Lookouts along the road give wide views, and in winter the waterfalls on the far walls often run strong after rain. Kokee State Park, higher still, has cool forest trails and misty meadows.
Go early, when the air is clear and the light rakes across the canyon, since clouds often build later in the day. Pack something warm, since the beach is far hotter than the rim. It works well for photographers, hikers, and anybody looking to get away from the beach for a while. Following Hurricane Lowell in September 2026, the Hawaii Division of State Parks puts closures on its Important Park Notices page, so look at that before heading up.
The north shore: Hanalei, Haena and Kilauea
Hanalei is the picture-book town of Kauai, with taro fields, a long pier and green peaks that drop into the bay. In December the surf is large, so most visitors come for the scenery, the coffee shops, the galleries and a walk along the sand. Past Haena, the pavement stops, and there you find the cliffs, the caves and the beginning of the Na Pali coast pulling people in.
Haena State Park works on a reservation system, and the state refunds a reservation for a day the park is closed. Heavy winter swells often keep boats away from the Na Pali coast, so treat a trip there as a chance, not a certainty.
Closer to Princeville, Kilauea Point has seabirds and long views, and it is a good place for whale watching from land. Expect rain on this side of the island, and plan for gaps between showers.
Poipu and the south shore
If storms are rolling through the north, Poipu is where the island stays sunny. Beaches here range from lively resort sand to quiet coves, and a rocky shoreline with tide pools and lava ledges is nearby. Spouting Horn sends seawater up through a lava tube, and the best displays come when the swell is up. Now and then a monk seal will come ashore and rest on the sand, and people have to keep their distance.
The area suits families, snorkelers and anyone who wants reliable sun in winter. Mornings are the calmest time on the water, and afternoons are for shade, shave ice and a long lunch. The town of Koloa, a short drive away, has old plantation storefronts, shops and casual restaurants. Sunsets from the south shore are long and colorful, but with early dusk, plan dinner for after the light fades. Other easy stops fill in the rest of a stay: the Wailua River and Opaekaa Falls on the east side, the old sugar town of Hanapepe with its galleries, and the farm stands scattered along the roads.
A two-day itinerary for Kauai in December
Day 1: Start at first light on the south shore, when the sea is quietest. Swim or snorkel at a Poipu beach, then have breakfast at a café in Koloa. Spend late morning at Spouting Horn and the lava shoreline, and take lunch at a plate-lunch counter. Head west in the afternoon toward Hanapepe and Waimea town for quiet streets and old storefronts.
Climb toward Waimea Canyon with the afternoon light, because the lookouts are warm and golden then and the road is calmer. Watch the weather, since cloud may cover the rim. Come down for dinner at a casual place near the water in Waimea or back in Poipu. If it rains all day, swap the canyon for galleries, a local museum and a long meal in Koloa.
Day 2: Drive to the east and north. Begin in Kapaa with coffee and a walk along the coastal path, then visit Opaekaa Falls and the Wailua River. Continue to Kilauea Point for seabirds and possible whale spouts, then settle into Hanalei for a late lunch. Walk the pier and the beach, and look at the surf from the sand.
As the afternoon fades, wander the shops of Hanalei and have dinner at a restaurant with a lanai. Daylight ends early, so keep the drive back in mind, since the one-lane bridges slow traffic. For a wet day, spend time in Hanalei cafés, a farmers market stop and an indoor activity like a craft class, then return to Kapaa for a hot meal.
Is Kauai busy in December?
Yes, especially in the weeks around Christmas and New Year, when mainland families fill the island, while early December is noticeably quieter.
The first weeks of the month feel relaxed, with easier tables at restaurants and fewer cars on the road to Hanalei. Then school breaks begin and the island gets busy. Beaches at Poipu fill up, rental cars become scarce, and popular restaurants book their evenings well ahead. Expect peak-season rates for rooms during the peak weeks.
Make it a rule to reserve lodging and rental cars well ahead for the holiday weeks, and closer to the date for early December. Restaurants with a view or a reputation fill first, so reserve those dinners when you book the trip. Activities such as boat trips, and reservations at Haena State Park, should be arranged ahead as well, since winter swells and rain can already trim the available days.
Even on busy days, the island absorbs its visitors well. Early mornings are calm everywhere, and the west side stays quieter than Poipu or Hanalei.
Roads are the true bottleneck, because there is just one main highway around most of the island, so allow slack in the schedule.
What to pack for Kauai in December
Think light, quick-drying and layered, because the day moves from sun to shower to cool evening and the canyon rim is a different climate from the beach.
- A light rain jacket, for showers that come and go, especially on the north side.
- For the chilly overlooks at Waimea Canyon and Kokee, bring a fleece or other warm layer.
- Reef-conscious mineral sunscreen and a rash guard, since the sun is strong between showers.
- Water shoes, for rocky shorelines and slippery stream crossings.
- For trails turned muddy by rain, pack trail shoes or a sturdy pair of sandals.
- A dry bag, to keep a phone and a camera safe on wet days and at the beach.
Good to know before you go
December falls outside the official hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30, but the island is still recovering from Hurricane Lowell, which passed just west of Kauai in September 2026 with damaging winds, heavy rain and high surf. Roads, trails and parks across the island were damaged, so check the Hawaii Division of State Parks Important Park Notices page before relying on any state park.
You will want a rental car to get around, and holiday weeks make booking one early wise. The taxes below apply to lodging.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State Transient Accommodations Tax | 11.00% | Guests, on lodging |
| Kauai County Transient Accommodations Tax | 3% | Guests, on lodging |
| General Excise Tax pass-on (Kauai County maximum) | 4.7120% | Customers, on purchases |
Kauai in December vs November and January
Moving the trip earlier to November gives you a slightly warmer sea and fewer crowds, since the holiday rush has not started. The north shore swells are usually smaller early on, so beaches there may be gentler, and the whales have only begun to return. The island lacks Christmas lights and festivities, but it feels quiet and unhurried.
Moving later to January brings drier weather on average, a cooler sea and cooler nights, with fewer showers overall. The holiday crowds thin out after New Year, so rooms and tables get easier. Whale watching is often at its busiest, and the north shore surf stays big, so it suits spectators and strong surfers more than casual swimmers.
Choose December if you want the festive mood and the lushest scenery, and you do not mind planning ahead. Shift to November for calm and a warm sea, or to January for drier days, whales and an easier time finding a room.
Is December a good time to visit Kauai?
Yes, for travelers who like a green island, a holiday atmosphere and a mix of beach, hiking and whale watching, and who accept that some days will bring rain and rough surf.
Families who want Christmas in the sun will love it, as will hikers, photographers and anyone who prefers dramatic waves to a flat sea. Couples and food lovers will enjoy long dinners on a lanai and evening light on the water. Folks hoping for the north shore ocean at its typical winter stillness, or a Na Pali coast boat outing on a set date, might find summer a wiser choice, yet day by day and beach by beach the conditions shift.
On arrival, check the state parks notices and the weather by side of the island, then lock in the activities that depend on conditions. Spend the first sunny morning on the south shore, and save the north for a day when the surf and sky agree. What is special about Kauai in December is the contrast within a single day: a lighted town street at dusk, a waterfall running hard in the hills, and a humpback spout far out on a winter sea.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00022536, 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 Kauai, Department of Finance, Transient Accommodations Tax page, kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Finance/Transient-Accommodations-Tax, 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 USC00518165
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USC00513099
- County of Kauai, press release « Hurricane Lowell Update », September 8, 2026, kauai.gov ; DLNR news release of September 16, 2026
- Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks, dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp (home page, avis of October 5, 2026)
- NWS Honolulu / Central Pacific Hurricane Center, « 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook », weather.gov/hfo/hurricaneOutlook2026, checked September 24, 2026
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in Kauai: Na Pali Views, Waimea Canyon, North Shore Beaches and Local Food
- Where to Stay in Kauai: Poipu, Princeville, the Coconut Coast and the West Side
- Kauai vs Oahu: Beaches, Things to Do, Weather and Getting Around
- Day Trips from Kauai: Waimea Canyon, Haena and the Na Pali Coast, Wailua and Polihale