A December morning in Kailua finds the trade winds shaking the ironwood and coconut palms beside the beach park, while kayakers haul their boats toward the twin islands offshore, the sand still cool beneath their feet. Houses on the quiet streets hang lights from their lanai rails, and a few Santa-hatted paddlers show up on the water. This is Oahu’s windward town in the holiday month: warm, breezy, a little showery, and unhurried for those who come to walk the beach, eat well and take it slow.
What is the weather like in Kailua in December?
Kailua in December brings warmth and a gentle breeze, along with scattered quick showers and lots of sunshine in between, so beach days need no jacket, though a light rain layer helps for clouds drifting in off the ocean.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 81.2 | 70.9 | 10.2 | 78.9 |
| December | 78.9 | 68.6 | 9.3 | 77.8 |
| January | 78.4 | 66.3 | 8.1 | 77.0 |
December mornings arrive gentle and slightly chilly, nice for a lanai coffee or a stroll on the sand in a light shirt. By midday the sun is strong enough for a swim, and the afternoon is the easiest stretch for the beach. Evenings cool off enough that you may want a thin sweater or a light hoodie at an outdoor table, though nobody needs a coat.
Honolulu and Waikiki, on the leeward side, are usually sunnier if a gray day settles over Kailua. A few days in the month bring a heavier, steadier rain.
Daylight lasts a little under eleven hours in mid-December, so the sun goes down early in the evening and the light turns golden and low in late afternoon. That makes the hours before sunset the best for photographs on the beach.
Can you swim in Kailua in December?
In December, Kailua’s ocean stays warm enough for a long, comfortable swim, but winter swells and wind can stir up rougher conditions on certain days.
Kailua Beach is a wide, long stretch of pale sand, and its shape and the offshore reef often take the edge off the waves, which is why it is such a favorite for kayaking, paddleboarding and kitesurfing. Winter brings bigger surf to Oahu’s north shores, and while Kailua faces the trade winds rather than the big northern swells, wind chop and shore break can still appear. The water in December is often clear, but it varies from day to day.
Lanikai, at the quieter end of the bay, has a narrow beach and calm, shallow stretches that families and casual swimmers often like, and snorkelers can look for fish near the rocky edges on gentler days. Surfers and bodyboarders may find small waves at times.
Whatever the day looks like, check the signs and flags and follow the lifeguards, and keep away from the reef. Pack a rash guard for skin that burns fast, a mask for watching below the surface, and sunscreen with minerals.
What to do in Kailua in December
December in Kailua feels like a holiday on island time: wreaths on the doors, lights in the trees and tables full of family gatherings. The town does not have a big public festival of its own to point to, so the month is about the beach, the food and the neighborhoods, and about what the winter ocean is doing that day.
Many people come in the holiday weeks, and the beach parks feel lively on sunny weekends. Mornings are the quieter hours for a stroll on the sand, and the wind tends to be gentler early before it picks up around midday.
Kailua Beach and the water
The beach is the center of the month. Walk the length of the sand in the morning, watch the kayaks head out to the Mokulua islands and the windsurfers and kitesurfers cut across the bay. Rental shops in town can set you up with a kayak or a paddleboard, and many visitors spend a long morning on the water and a lazy afternoon on the sand.
The trade winds are the thing to plan around. They are strongest in the afternoon, which makes for good sailing and kiting but means paddlers do better early. If you are new to the water, pick a calmer morning and stay near the shore. The shade of the ironwood trees at the beach park is welcome at midday, and a picnic there is an easy way to spend the hours when the sun is high.
Lanikai and the coastal walk
Lanikai is the little neighborhood at the south end of the bay, known for its narrow beach, its calm water and its view of the two islands offshore. Walk the quiet residential lanes to reach the sand, and respect the homes and the access paths along the way. The beach is small, so mornings are the easiest time to find a spot.
Above the neighborhood, a ridge trail climbs to well-known pillbox lookouts with wide views of the coast, and December’s softer light and cooler mornings suit the climb. The trail can be muddy and slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip and carry water. It is best done early, and sunrise or late afternoon gives the most color.
Town, markets and winter food
Kailua town is a relaxed grid of shops, cafés and small restaurants, a good place for a poke bowl, shave ice, fish tacos or a plate lunch after the beach. Coffee shops and bakeries serve the morning crowd, and local farmers and craft sellers set up at markets around town through the week. Shave ice on a warm December afternoon is a small ritual of its own.
The holiday season brings seasonal treats to bakeries and stores, and many families make traditional island dishes for gatherings, so you may see kalua pork, laulau, haupia and other local favorites on menus and in take-out cases. Evenings are mild enough to eat outside, and a short walk through the neighborhood to see the holiday lights is a pleasant way to end the day.
Humpback whales also come to Hawaii’s waters in winter, and on a clear day you might, if you are lucky, see a tail or a spout from a coastal lookout. They are a chance, not a promise, so keep your eyes on the horizon and bring binoculars if you have them. If the weather turns, the town has bookstores, boutiques and cafés for a slow rainy afternoon, and the leeward side of the island, with Honolulu’s museums and shops, is a short drive away for a drier change of scene.
A two-day itinerary for Kailua in December
Day 1. Get to Kailua Beach at first light, while the sand sits untouched, a light breeze blows and the ocean stays calmest. Stroll the whole stretch of sand, then grab a kayak or paddleboard and spend the morning out on the bay ahead of the trade winds. When noon comes, make your way into town for a shave ice plus a poke bowl or a plate lunch, then take it easy in the shade through the peak heat of the day.
In the afternoon, return to the beach park for a swim or a picnic under the ironwoods, then walk to the quiet end of the sand as the light turns gold. Sunset comes early in December, so plan dinner at a casual restaurant in town afterward, and stroll past the holiday lights on the way back. If rain sets in, spend the afternoon in the cafés and shops downtown.
Day 2. Go to Lanikai early for the calm morning light and a walk along the quiet lanes. If you feel like a hike, the ridge trail above the neighborhood is best before the day warms up and while the views are clear. Wear grippy shoes and bring water.
After the climb, have a relaxed lunch at a café or a food truck, then spend the afternoon on a farmers market visit or browsing the small shops. Late in the day, find a spot on the coast to look for whales and watch the sunset. On a rainy day, drive to the leeward side for museums and shops in Honolulu, then return for dinner in town.
Is Kailua busy in December?
Kailua is moderately busy in December, with the heaviest crowds in the holiday weeks around Christmas and New Year’s, and a calmer pace in the first half of the month.
Families on school break fill vacation rentals, and the beach parks are lively on sunny weekends. Restaurants in town can be full at dinner, and parking near the beach fills early on a clear day. The first weeks of December are quieter, with a more local feel, and weekdays are easier than weekends at any time.
Book rooms and vacation rentals early for the holiday weeks, since Kailua has many rentals and they are popular with families. For the quieter early-December dates, booking a bit later is usually fine. Rental cars are worth reserving ahead for the holiday stretch, and a dinner table at a popular restaurant is smart to reserve in the same weeks. Stays carry the state and county accommodation taxes described below.
What to pack for Kailua in December
Pack for warm days, breezy evenings and a shower or two, and keep the bag light since most of the time is spent in the sun and on the sand.
- For the brief showers that drift down from the mountains, pack a light rain jacket.
- A sweater or hoodie, for breezy evenings outside.
- For the water and the sun, bring swimwear and a rash guard.
- Pack mineral sunscreen and a hat, because even when the sky is cloudy the sun stays strong.
- Shoes with grip, for the muddy ridge trail.
- Water shoes or sandals, for the rocky edges and hot sand.
Good to know before you go
December falls just after the end of the Central Pacific hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Winter weather here means trade winds, passing showers and the occasional gray day, so keep plans flexible. On sunny days, spots by the beach go fast, and with a rental car you can easily get to trailheads and the island’s leeward side.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State transient accommodations tax | 11% | Guests staying in Kailua |
| Oahu county accommodations tax | 3% | Guests staying in Kailua |
Kailua in December vs November and January
Moving the trip to November means slightly warmer air and sea and a touch more rain, with fewer holiday crowds. The beach feels more local and rooms are easier to find, though you miss the festive lights and the whale season gets going later.
Moving to January brings cooler nights, a bit less rain and the quieter weeks after the holidays, once families head home. The sea cools slightly and the winter swells on north shores are often bigger, while Kailua stays breezy and pleasant.
Choose November if you want warmth and fewer people, December if you want the holiday mood and a lively beach, and January if you want a calmer town and drier days. Whale watching stays a chance in all three months.
Is December a good time to visit Kailua?
Absolutely, December suits travelers seeking warm water, simple beach days and a cozy holiday mood minus summer’s heat. Families, couples and anyone who likes to kayak, walk and eat well will enjoy it.
It suits less those who want guaranteed dry weather every day or a big nightlife scene, since showers pass through and the town goes to bed early. Surfers chasing huge waves will do better on the north shore.
Once you get there, make your first stop the beach for a stroll on the sand and a glance at the water, then relax over a poke bowl in town. What is special about December in Kailua is the way the trade winds, the strings of holiday lights and the long golden evenings on the bay all arrive together.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USC00513117, 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
- NWS Honolulu (HFO), Climate of Hawaii
- Hawaii Department of Taxation, Announcement 2025-03 ; City and County of Honolulu, OTAT FAQ, checked September 25, 2026
- NWS Honolulu / Central Pacific Hurricane Center, « 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook », weather.gov/hfo/hurricaneOutlook2026, checked September 24, 2026