On a March morning in Kauai, the clouds hang low over the Na Pali ridges, roosters call from the edge of the taro fields in Hanalei, and somewhere offshore a humpback whale slaps its tail against the water. The island is green from the winter rains and the waterfalls are still running full. March here is a month for lookouts, long beach walks and slow lunches, with the cool season easing toward summer.
What is the weather like in Kauai in March?
March is warm and green, with sunny stretches broken by short showers, and the air is comfortable from morning until well after dark. The table puts it next to the months on either side.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain (in) | Rain days | Sea (°F) | Daylight on the 15th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 78.1 | 66.2 | 3.63 | 5.4 | 75.5 | 11 hours 28 minutes |
| March | 78.5 | 67.3 | 5.61 | 6.3 | 75.7 | 12 hours 4 minutes |
| April | 79.8 | 69.5 | 2.03 | 5.4 | 76.3 | 12 hours 43 minutes |
Mornings start soft and a little cool, ideal for a coffee on the lanai or an early walk before the sun climbs. By midday it is warm enough for shorts and a swimsuit, and the light turns bright and clear in the gaps between clouds. Evenings call for a light layer, especially on the north shore where nights run cooler than in Lihue.
Rain comes mostly as quick showers that pass over in minutes and often leave a rainbow behind. The north shore (Hanalei, Princeville) and the mountain slopes catch the most, while the south and west sides around Poipu and Waimea stay drier and sunnier. A heavier gray day can happen, so keep a plan B in your pocket.
Up on the rim of Waimea Canyon, near Kokee, the air is far cooler than on the coast, and mist can roll in without warning. Bring a real layer if you head up there for the views.
Can you swim in Kauai in March?
You can certainly take a long swim or snorkel in that warm ocean, but in March the water along north-facing shores is choppier than it is in summer.
Winter swells still arrive on the north and west sides, so beaches like Hanalei Bay, Tunnels and Kee can show real surf and strong currents. The south shore, around Poipu and Brennecke’s, is usually the more forgiving side this time of year, and families often settle there. Lydgate Beach on the east side has a rock-walled pool that suits young children.
Conditions change from day to day, so read the beach signs, watch the flags and listen to the lifeguards before you go in. Snorkelers should bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard, and give any turtles or monk seals on the sand plenty of room. Surfers will find the north shore lively, while nervous swimmers do better wading on the sheltered south side.
What to do in Kauai in March
March is the tail end of humpback whale season, and from the lookouts at Kilauea Point, Poipu and along the Na Pali coast on a boat you can still watch them breach and blow. Binoculars help, and so does patience, but a calm morning on the south shore often rewards you with a mother and calf close to shore.
The rainy months have left everything lush, so this is a fine time for waterfalls. Wailua Falls drops right beside the road, Opaekaa Falls glows from its overlook, and Hanakapiai Falls is the reward for the hardy on the Kalalau side. The island smells of wet earth and ginger, and the taro patches at Hanalei are a deep, bright green.
Waimea Canyon and Kokee
On the west side, the canyon serves as the main attraction, a red and green chasm that people commonly call the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. You drive up from Waimea town along a winding road with pullouts for views, and the colors change as clouds come and go. The rim is much cooler than the beach, so dress for it.
Go in the morning when the air is clearest, then continue to the Kalalau and Puu o Kila lookouts for views down to the Na Pali coast. Afterward, the shaded trails around Kokee are good for a gentle forest walk. Mist can close the views, so a clear morning is worth taking when you get one.
The north shore: Hanalei and Kilauea
Hanalei is a small town with a long crescent bay, a historic pier and a row of cafés and shave ice stands. In March the surf can be big, so many visitors come to watch from the sand and walk the pier rather than swim. Fresh poke, fish tacos and a bowl of acai make an easy lunch.
Nearby, Kilauea Point lighthouse looks out over seabird cliffs where albatross, boobies and frigatebirds wheel in the wind, and whales sometimes pass below. Allow a relaxed half day for the north shore, and plan for showers by keeping a light rain jacket handy.
The south shore and Poipu
Poipu is where the sun is most dependable, with golden beaches, tide pools and snorkeling in sheltered coves. Volunteers rope off the sand when monk seals occasionally come ashore, which means you keep your distance. The Spouting Horn blowhole shoots plumes of spray when the swell is up.
Evenings here suit a sunset drink and a table near the water, and the coast road toward the Tunnel of Trees is a lovely drive in late afternoon light. March is mellow enough that you can linger without the heat of summer.
For food, look for plate lunches, fresh ahi, kalua pork and the island’s farmers markets, where papaya, citrus and lilikoi are often on the stalls. Shave ice is welcome on any warm afternoon, and a Kauai coffee tasting makes a good rainy-day stop.
A two-day itinerary for Kauai in March
Day 1 is for the south and west. Start early at Poipu for a swim or snorkel while the water is at its stillest, then have a plate lunch near Koloa.
In the afternoon drive up to Waimea Canyon, when the sun lights the red walls, and stop at the Kalalau lookout before the mist settles. Sunset is a good moment to be back on the coast, and dinner can be fish at a casual spot in Waimea or Hanapepe.
If the weather turns, swap the canyon for the Kauai Museum in Lihue, a coffee tasting, or a slow browse through the art shops of Hanapepe. Days are just over twelve hours long, so there is time to fit a lot in.
Day 2 heads north. Leave early for Hanalei, walk the pier while the light is soft, and have breakfast at a café in town. Mid-morning, visit Kilauea Point to watch the seabirds and scan the water for whales, then take lunch at a food truck or market.
Spend the afternoon on a beach walk at Anini or Hanalei, swimming only if the flags and lifeguards say it is fine. Finish with a quiet dinner in Princeville or Hanalei, with a layer for the cooler night. On a wet day, the shops, galleries and cafés of Hanalei and nearby Kapaa are good places to wait out the showers.
Is Kauai busy in March?
March is moderately busy, with a lively stretch around spring break weeks and quieter days in between.
Mainland families and college groups fill beaches and resorts when school breaks line up, and Easter weeks, which move every year, bring another wave. Outside those weeks the island feels relaxed, with room on trails, lookouts and restaurant patios, and rooms are easier to find.
Book flights, rooms and rental cars early if your dates touch a school break or Easter, since the island has a limited supply of both. For quieter weeks, planning a month or so ahead is usually fine, though popular dinner tables and boat trips along the Na Pali coast are best reserved as soon as your dates are set.
Whale-watching boats and snorkel cruises are popular in this season, so they fill first. Weekdays tend to be calmer than weekends at the main beaches and the farmers markets.
What to pack for Kauai in March
Think layers and water, since the day can go from sun to shower to cool evening.
- A light rain jacket, for passing showers on the north shore
- A warm layer or fleece, for the cool canyon rim and evenings
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard, for long snorkel hours
- Sturdy sandals or trail shoes, for muddy paths and waterfalls
- Binoculars, for whales and seabirds from the lookouts
- A quick-dry towel and a dry bag, for beach days with showers
Good to know before you go
March falls well outside the official hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The bigger practical points are the winter surf on the north shore and the showers on the windward side, so build in some flexibility. Behind the wheel is the simplest way to explore Kauai, and giving each side one day keeps your itinerary manageable. Lodging taxes are added to the bill, and they are the fees most visitors notice.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State Transient Accommodations Tax | 11.00% | Guests of lodging, on the rental price |
| Kauai County Transient Accommodations Tax | 3% | Guests of lodging, on the rental price |
| General Excise Tax pass-on (Kauai County) | Up to 4.7120% | Customers, added by businesses |
Kauai in March vs February and April
Moving a month earlier, to February, brings a bit more rain on the north shore and bigger winter surf, but whales are at their busiest and the island is full of holiday visitors during the long weekends. The sea is a touch cooler, and the green is deepest.
A month later, in April, the air warms up and the showers ease, so beach days come more easily and the north shore calms down. The whales are mostly gone by then, and Easter or spring break traffic can fill the island again, depending on when the holiday lands.
Whale lovers and waterfall chasers should stay with March or lean earlier. Beach and snorkeling fans who like calmer water might slide toward April, while anyone wanting a mix of both usually finds March a pleasant middle.
Is March a good time to visit Kauai?
Yes, March suits travelers who want a green island, warm days and a little drama from the sea, and it is less ideal for anyone who needs guaranteed flat water on the north shore.
Hikers, photographers, whale watchers and families happy to base on the south side will love it. Those hoping for hot, dry weather on every coast, or for dependable swimming at Hanalei, may be happier later in the year.
On arrival, start with a sunny south-shore morning to settle in, and save the north shore and the canyon for the clearest days of your stay. What makes March memorable on Kauai is the overlap: whales still spouting off the cliffs, waterfalls still pouring from the rainy months, and the sea warm enough to enjoy. Together they make the island feel full of life, and you can see all three in a single day if the weather cooperates.
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
- 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