On the first of May, schoolchildren across the islands arrive in garlands of plumeria, maile and ti leaf, and in Honolulu the parks fill with hula, ukulele and lei contests for Lei Day. The trade winds are steady, the mountains are still green from the winter rains, and the beaches have not yet taken on their full summer crowds. May is a quiet, bright month for the whole archipelago, with something for the beach, the trail and the volcano.
What is the weather like in Hawaii in May?
On the leeward shores of all the islands, May brings warmth, sunshine and little rain, while wet conditions cluster on the Big Island’s windward side near Hilo and, less so, along Kauai’s north shore.
| Place | Region | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain (in) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | Oahu, south shore | 84.8 | 71.5 | 0.82 | 1.6 | 77.0 |
| Maui | Maui | 86.5 | 67.7 | 0.71 | 1.7 | 76.8 |
| Kauai | Kauai | 81.6 | 70.9 | 2.18 | 4.4 | 77.9 |
| Kona | Big Island, leeward coast | 83.9 | 72.7 | 0.64 | 1.8 | 79.5 |
| Hilo | Big Island, windward coast | 80.7 | 67.3 | 6.99 | 14.2 | 77.1 |
The great divide is between sides of an island. Kona and Honolulu see only a couple of showery days all month, and Maui’s dry side is the warmest spot of the group, reaching the mid-80s by afternoon.
Hilo, on the other hand, gets a shower on most days, which is why its gardens and waterfalls are so lush. Rain there usually comes in passing downpours rather than all-day gray, though it eases a little from April.
Kauai sits in between, with a handful of showers that tend to fall on the north shore and the interior while Poipu stays sunnier. The ocean is comfortable everywhere, warmest off Kona.
Compared with April, the air has warmed a notch in Honolulu and Kona, and the rain has eased in Hilo. In the hills and on the summits of Haleakala and Mauna Kea it is far cooler than on the coast, so the shore forecast tells you little about the mountain.
Where to go in Hawaii in May
Oahu and Maui: city, surf and resort beaches
Oahu is the island with the most city life: Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and the North Shore. In May the swells that made the North Shore famous in winter have faded, and the south shores are more likely to be getting their summer waves, so check with the lifeguard and the beach signs before you swim. Mornings in Waikiki are for surf lessons and a walk to the Diamond Head trail, afternoons for the pool or a shave ice.
On Maui, the dry resort beaches at Kaanapali and Wailea sit alongside Haleakala and the winding Road to Hana, which runs through the wet windward coast. Maui’s dry side is hot and sunny in May, so the beach days are easy to plan, while Hana can still be showery. Up at Haleakala’s peak, temperatures stay chilly ahead of sunrise, while down along the shore it is balmy.
Kauai: green cliffs and quieter beaches
Among Hawaii’s main islands, none matches Kauai for lush scenery and quiet moods, and its standout attractions are the cliffs of the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon. May brings more showers here than on Maui or Oahu, mostly on the north shore around Princeville and Hanalei and in the uplands. For days at the beach, the south shore’s sunnier Poipu is the smarter choice.
It suits travelers who like to hike, drive slowly and watch waterfalls fill after a shower. Pack for a sudden rain in the canyon, and plan the beach hours for the south.
The Big Island: Kona sun, Hilo rain and the volcano
The Big Island is really several climates at once. Along the Kona coast, sunshine and dry weather prevail, and the ocean there is the warmest of all the islands, while coffee farms dot the slopes above the shore. Hilo, a short drive across the island, is rainy and rich with waterfalls, and works well for a day of gardens and the farmers market in the drizzle.
At the crater rim in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea keeps things cool and frequently damp, while up on Mauna Kea’s summit the air turns cold. Bring layers for both. Lanai and Molokai, the small quiet islands, have few hotels and little traffic, and they suit anyone who wants peace more than a program.
What to do in Hawaii in May
Lei Day on May 1
Lei Day is the islands’ own celebration, held every year on May 1. It is a day of flowers and Hawaiian culture: lei-making contests, hula performances, music and school pageants, with the biggest gatherings in Honolulu’s parks. Even if you miss the events, you will see people in fresh lei in shops, offices and schools.
A lei is a gift of aloha, so treat one with respect. Do not toss it in the trash, and when it fades, return the flowers to the earth or the sea as local custom suggests.
The last of the whale season
From November to May you will mostly find humpback whales around, and January through March is when they show up the most. By May the crowds of whales are thinning, so you may still see a spout or a breach from shore or from a boat, but it is a chance, not a promise. A 100-yard buffer around a humpback whale is required by law, and that rule covers boats, kayaks and swimmers just the same.
Hikes, beaches and volcano days
May is a good month to hike, because the heat is moderate and the trails are green. On Oahu, the Diamond Head trail is a short, steep climb to a view over Waikiki, and it needs a reservation.
| Site | Open | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond Head State Monument | 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., last entry 4:30 p.m. | $5 per non-resident, $10 per vehicle for parking |
Beyond that, spend mornings at the beach, snorkel when the water is quiet, and keep afternoons for a lava-rock coast, a coffee farm in Kona or the road to Hana. Many visitors pair a volcano day on the Big Island with an evening in Hilo or Kona.
Is Hawaii busy in May?
May is moderately busy, calmer than the summer family weeks and the year-end holidays, and a good month to find space on the beaches and trails. Mainland spring break has ended, and the long school vacation has not yet begun, though Memorial Day weekend at the end of the month brings a burst of visitors and locals to the beaches.
Summer and the year-end holidays are the busy months of the Hawaiian year, so May sits just ahead of the rush. Oahu stays the busiest island because of Waikiki and its city life, while Kauai, Lanai and Molokai feel calm. Popular sights such as Diamond Head and the Haleakala sunrise still fill up, so reserve them where a reservation is required.
Local events add their own crowds. Lei Day brings families to the parks in Honolulu, and the weeks around Memorial Day see more traffic on the roads to the beaches. Weekdays and early mornings are quieter almost everywhere.
What to pack for Hawaii in May
Light summer clothes carry you on every coast, but the islands differ by side and altitude. Kona, Maui’s resorts and Waikiki want swimwear and sun protection, while Hilo, Kauai’s north shore and the volcano rim want a rain layer, and the summits of Haleakala and Mauna Kea want something warm.
- A light rain jacket for Hilo, Hana, Kauai’s north shore and the volcano rim.
- For the Haleakala sunrise and Mauna Kea, bring something warm like a fleece.
- Sturdy shoes or trail sandals for wet, muddy paths and lava rock.
- Mineral sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for the dry coasts.
- Swimwear, a rash guard and a snorkel set if you plan to be in the water.
Good to know before you go
May falls just before the Central Pacific hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, so the month is outside the official season. Winter whale watching tapers off, and the summer south-shore swells begin to arrive, so beach flags and lifeguards matter. Travelers from the mainland do not need a passport or visa, and because short inter-island flights connect the islands and no car ferry exists, every island requires its own rental car.
Is May a good time to visit Hawaii?
May ranks among the top months to go if you are after sunny, warm beaches minus the biggest crowds, and your strongest picks are the Kona side of the Big Island plus the leeward coasts of Maui and Oahu. Families, hikers and couples will all find something to like, and the green mountains are a bonus after the winter rains.
Compared with April, the air is a little warmer and the sea has gained a degree or so, with Hilo drying out slightly from its wettest spring weeks. Compared with June, May is slightly cooler and the ocean a touch fresher, and the busy summer season has not yet fully begun. Rain on the windward side is the one real trade-off, and it is easy to plan around by spending beach days on the leeward coasts.
What marks May in Hawaii is the mix of the last whales of the season, the flower garlands of Lei Day, and the first south-shore summer waves. It is a month when the islands feel relaxed, green and open, with room on the trails and a table free at dinner.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00022521, 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
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00022516, checked September 8, 2026
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00022536, checked September 8, 2026
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00021510, checked September 8, 2026
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00021504, checked September 8, 2026
- NWS Honolulu (HFO), « Climate of Hawaii » summary, weather.gov/hfo/climate_summary, checked September 24, 2026
- NWS Honolulu / Central Pacific Hurricane Center, « 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook », weather.gov/hfo/hurricaneOutlook2026, checked September 24, 2026
- Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA), pages « Boating Guide » and « About the Sanctuary », hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov, checked September 24, 2026
- Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS (NOAA), « Boating Guide », checked September 24, 2026
- Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks, « Diamond Head State Monument », dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp, checked September 24, 2026
- DBEDT, press releases monthly July (blog/25-34), September (blog/25-42) and December 2025 (blog/26-04), checked September 24, 2026
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in Hawaii: Volcano Sunrises, Snorkeling Bays, Pearl Harbor and What to Eat
- Where to Stay in Hawaii: Choosing an Island, Oahu to Kauai Bases and the Hotel Tax
- Getting Around Hawaii: Interisland Flights, TheBus and Skyline, Rental Cars and Taxi Fares
- Know Before You Go to Hawaii: Agriculture Form, Sunscreen Law, Reservations and Taxes