On a March morning in Princeville, the clouds slide off the green wall of the Hanalei mountains and the first light turns the bay a soft silver. Somewhere below the bluffs a surfer is paddling out, and on the lawns of the resort a rooster is making a point of it.
The north shore is lush from the winter rains and the waterfalls are still running. It is a month for walking cliff paths, watching the ocean for whales, and eating well in Hanalei.
What is the weather like in Princeville in March?
March in Princeville is warm, green and showery: comfortable enough for shorts all day, with rain that can arrive at any hour and rarely stays long. The north shore is the wet side of Kauai, and the winter rains have not yet let go.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 77.2 | 62.6 | 9.3 | 75.3 |
| March | 76.5 | 63.3 | 12.9 | 75.3 |
| April | 79.6 | 64.8 | 12.8 | 75.8 |
Mornings are fresh and often bright, a good time for a walk on the bluff before clouds build against the mountains. Afternoons are warm without being sticky, though a passing shower can sweep across the golf course and be gone in twenty minutes. Most rain days bring a short soaking, while a truly heavy, all-day downpour is the exception.
Evenings cool off enough that a light layer feels good on a restaurant terrace or while watching the sunset over the bay. Daylight lasts a little over twelve hours in mid-March, so the day has room for a morning outing and a late beach stop. The trade winds keep the air moving, and the light after a shower is the kind photographers wait for: rainbows over Hanalei Bay are common.
Dress in layers and treat a rain jacket as part of the daily kit rather than an emergency item. Quick-drying clothes and sandals with a grip will serve you better than anything fancy. If a day looks gray at the coast, the sky often breaks up an hour or two later.
Can you swim in Princeville in March?
The sea is warm enough for a comfortable swim, though in March the north shore is better known for its waves than for placid water. Winter swells still roll in from the north Pacific, and the surf on open beaches can be big, so many days are for watching rather than swimming.
Hanalei Bay and the beaches around Princeville draw surfers and bodyboarders in winter, and the water is warm enough that a swimsuit or a thin rash guard is plenty. Some of the coves below the bluffs can look inviting from the path and still have strong shore break and currents. Check the beach signs, follow the flags and listen to the lifeguards before going in, and treat any day with a high-surf warning as a day to stay on the sand.
Snorkeling is usually more of a summer pastime on this coast, when the sea settles. In March, nervous swimmers and families with small children may prefer shallow edges, tide pools only when the water is quiet, or a hotel pool. Bring a rash guard, a towel and mineral sunscreen, and keep a respectful distance from any monk seal or turtle resting on the sand.
What to do in Princeville in March
March is the tail end of the north shore’s big-wave season, and the surf is the first show in town. Watching a swell break on the reef from the bluffs is free, dramatic and different every hour.
Humpback whales are also in Hawaiian waters in winter, and from a cliff path you may spot a spout or a breaching tail, usually in the calmer hours of the morning. Binoculars help, and patience helps more.
The mood in the streets is relaxed. Locals surf before work, farmers set up stands, and Hanalei town fills with people in sandy shorts looking for shave ice. March rains keep the taro fields and the mountains a deep, saturated green, which is the reason most people come this way in the first place.
Hanalei Bay and Hanalei town
Hanalei is a short drive from Princeville down the hill and across the one-lane bridge, and it is the center of north shore life. The bay is a long crescent beneath tall green peaks, with a pier at one end and a string of beach parks along its shore. Even when the surf is up, a stroll on the sand with the mountains behind you is worth the trip.
In town, you find small galleries, surf shops, bakeries and food trucks, along with plate lunches and fresh fish tacos. Morning is the easiest time for parking and for a walk, while afternoons are good for lingering over coffee when a shower passes. This place suits both families and couples, and if clouds gather, just bring a light rain jacket.
Cliff walks and viewpoints around Princeville
Princeville sits on a bluff, so the best free activity is simply walking its edge. Paths and viewpoints look over the bay, the mountains and the surf line, and on clear mornings you can see far along the coast. The trails can be muddy after rain, so shoes with tread matter more than anything else you bring.
Go early for the softest light and the best chance of spotting whales. Keep well back from unfenced edges, since the ground can be slick and the drop is real. Late afternoon is lovely too, when the sun lights the mountains from the side and the sea turns gold.
Waterfalls, taro fields and the road to the end
With the winter rain, the waterfalls on the north shore are at their fullest, and drives along the coast reveal ribbons of white on the cliffs. Past Hanalei, the road runs through taro fields and across a series of narrow bridges toward Haena, where the pavement ends against the Na Pali coast. This is a day that suits drivers who like to stop often and take their time.
Haena State Park, at the end of the road, requires a reservation, so plan it before you go and look at the state parks pages for current notices. Pack a picnic, bring a rain layer and expect to pull over for photographs more than once. Roads can be slick, and some stretches are one lane, so patience is part of the experience.
Back in Princeville, golf, spa afternoons and sunset drinks above the bay make a gentler alternative for days of heavy rain or big surf. Local farm stands sell tropical fruit, and fish markets and poke counters give the easiest quick meal of the trip.
A two-day itinerary for Princeville in March
Day 1 starts at the bluff. Walk the cliff paths at first light, when the air is cool and whales are most easily seen, then have a slow breakfast at a bakery or café. By mid-morning, drive down to Hanalei for the pier, the beach park and the shops, and keep a rain jacket in the bag.
Eat lunch from a food truck or a plate-lunch stand, then spend the afternoon on the sand or in the water only if the flags and lifeguards say it is a good day. Around sunset, head back up to Princeville for a drink or dinner with a view over the bay. With a little over twelve hours of daylight, you can fit in a long day without rushing.
Day 2 is the drive west along the coast. Leave after breakfast, cross the one-lane bridges, stop at roadside waterfalls and the taro fields, and continue toward Haena if you have the reservation. Eat a picnic lunch, take photographs and return by mid-afternoon, before the road gets busier.
If the weather turns, switch to an indoor day: browse the galleries and bookshops in Hanalei, linger over a long lunch, and book a spa treatment or a round of golf when the showers ease. In the evening, find a restaurant with a covered terrace and watch the weather play over the mountains.
Is Princeville busy in March?
Princeville is moderately busy in March, with a steady flow of visitors but none of the crush of the peak holiday weeks. Spring break brings families and groups from the mainland, so weeks near school vacations feel livelier than the ones in between.
Hanalei town and its few parking areas fill up first, especially around midday. Restaurants with ocean views and the most popular dinner spots tend to book up, so reserve tables a few days ahead and earlier for weekends. Rental cars matter here, since the north shore is not a place to get around without one, and they can run short in busy weeks.
For rooms, book early if your dates overlap with spring break, and a little later if you are traveling outside those weeks. Vacation rentals and resort rooms are both in demand in winter, as the north shore is a favorite for the season. Haena State Park needs a reservation, so make it before you arrive, and check the state parks notices for any changes in access.
Beaches are less crowded than in summer in the sense that big surf keeps many people out of the water. Trails and viewpoints are busiest in the morning, and the quietest hours tend to be late afternoon, when day visitors head back toward their hotels.
What to pack for Princeville in March
Pack for warm days, quick showers and muddy paths, and keep it light.
- A light rain jacket, because showers come and go all day on the north shore
- Shoes with good tread for slick cliff paths and trails
- Quick-drying shorts and shirts that handle humidity and drizzle
- A light layer for cool evenings on a terrace
- Mineral sunscreen and a rash guard for the sea and the sun between clouds
- Binoculars for whale watching from the bluffs
Good to know before you go
March falls outside the official hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The main practical points this month are the rain, the high winter surf and the need for a car on the north shore. Reserve Haena State Park ahead of time and check the state parks notices before you drive out. Lodging taxes are added to your bill, so expect them on top of the room rate.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State Transient Accommodations Tax | 11.00% | Guests of hotels and rentals |
| Kauai County Transient Accommodations Tax | 3% | Guests of hotels and rentals |
Princeville in March vs February and April
Moving earlier to February gives you a slightly drier month with fewer rain days, and the same warm sea. Winter swells are at their peak then, and whale watching is typically at its strongest, so surf and whale fans may prefer to go a few weeks sooner.
April is a touch warmer, and the sea edges up a little. Rain days remain about the same as March, but the swells begin to ease, and some beaches start to feel more welcoming for swimming. Crowds around Easter and spring break can make the month busy, depending on when the holiday falls.
Choose February if big waves and whales are the reason for the trip, and April if you want a bit more warmth and calmer seas. March sits between the two, with green landscapes, lively surf and a more relaxed pace than the busiest holiday weeks.
Is March a good time to visit Princeville?
Yes, March is a good time for travelers who love green landscapes, dramatic surf and unhurried walks, and who accept that showers are part of the deal. It suits hikers, photographers, whale watchers and couples looking for a quiet base on the north shore.
It is less ideal for anyone set on calm snorkeling or a guaranteed beach day, who may be happier on the drier south or west sides of the islands. On arrival, make your first move the reservation for Haena if you want to go, then pick up groceries and a rain jacket and walk the bluff at sunset to get your bearings. What is special about March here is the contrast: waterfalls still pouring down the mountains, a lingering swell on the reef, and a warm evening light over Hanalei Bay after the clouds clear.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USC00518165, 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 USW00022536
- 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 Princeville: Weather by Month, Surf, Crowds and Yearly Events
- Princeville in February: Weather, Winter Surf, Whales and Things to Do
- Princeville in April: Weather, Swimming, North Shore Days and a Two-Day Plan
- Princeville in January: North Shore Surf, Humpback Whales, Weather and What to Do