The true meanings of the monsoon season in Hawaii
I had gone to Maui and the Big Island in Feb. and was expecting low expectations and returned with the greatest experience I had in Hawaii.
The other thing that most Hawaii travel guides won't say out loud is that Hawaii doesn't have a monsoon season like India, Thailand or Vietnam.
Hawaii has a wet season (roughly November through March) when the rain starts to build, trade winds shift to blow more frequently onshore and the north and east sides of all of the islands get wetter and wilder.
Those very guides leave out the one thing which may make the wet season in Hawaii the best time to go depending on which island, what you want to do and how much you want to pay, of course.
This article is the real world description of what it's like to be in Hawaii during the wet season not in a brochure.
Is Hawaii really suggested during monsoon?
Hawaii is located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean and the weather is not controlled by a typical monsoon system but rather by trade winds.
During the wet season, it rains more, the waves rise higher on the north shores, roads flood in some places and there are much greener landscapes all over each island.
The first and most crucial thing to know about visiting Hawaii is that it is not a single drop of rain.
Rainfall is much more abundant on the windward (north and east) sides of each of the Hawaiian islands than on the leeward (south and west) sides.
On Maui, the route between Kihei & Maui, and between Kihei & Kihee, isn't even a bit damp when it's full sunshine in Hana on the east side, on the same afternoon.
Once you know this one geographical fact, your planning for a trip to Hawaii in the wet season will be drastically different.
What Does Hawaii Looks Like Everyday During The Wet Season?
In Hawaii, rain is hardly ever dull and all day.
It lasts usually a short amount of time, and intense rains followed by sunshine, dramatic clouds and a rainbow.
Hawaii is one of the most rain-bowed places on earth and the wet season is the most so.
It is incredible what a difference four days made on the Big Island, I was able to see seven different rainbows. This is not an understatement.
Waterfalls are their strongest in wet season – the falls in the Road to Hana on Maui and Akaka Falls on the Big Island look awesome after the rain.
The whole scene changes to a greenish hue that photographers spend a whole career to capture.
South and west facing beaches on Maui, Oahu and Kauai are mostly swimmable (even in the wet season), including Wailea, Maui, Ko Olina, Oahu and Poipu, Kauai.
During the peak season (June-August and December) Hawaii is one of the world's most expensive locations.
A beachfront resort room in Wailea, Maui during July costs $600–$900 (~₹50,000–₹75,000) per night.
The same room in February costs $280–$450 (~₹23,000–₹37,000) per night.
Direct flights from India to Honolulu via Tokyo, Seoul or San Francisco also see a 30-40% decrease during the wet season window as compared to the peak summer months.
Rental cars are a must to explore any of the Hawaiian islands and are much more affordable and readily available during the wet season.
During high season summer 2023, you can expect a daily rent of $150–$300 in Hawaii. During the rainy season, a rate of $45-$80 per day can be expected.
Wet season is Hawaii that you can actually afford to visit if you are an Indian traveller.
Humpback whale season is November to May, with January, February and March months being best for viewing. This is no side activity it is one of the world's real wildlife shows. Seeing a humpback whale breach 50 metres from your boat is a life-changing event, and a humpback whale has never been spotted at such close range, close to the surface. Tours leave from Lahaina on Maui, Kona on the Big Island and Honolulu on Oahu and cost $40-80 per person. This is only possible in wet season.
The most significant waves are seen on Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach on The North Shore of Oahu from November to February. It's free to watch the pro's ride these waves from the beach. The Triple Crown of Surfing is a series of events in November and December, featuring world-class athletes, and is free to those who wish to participate.
On the Big Island, Akaka Falls is much more dramatic after the rains of the wet season; Road to Hana on Maui is much more dramatic after the rains of the wet season, and Wailua Falls on Kauai is much more dramatic after the rains of the wet season. During dry seasons, some of these falls dry up into a stream. During the wet season, they thunder.
What Wet Season Hawaii Is Not Responsible for guaranteeing You
Swimming on north and east facing beaches is always smooth and serene, these beaches can get rough in wet season.
Dry hiking trails on the windward side of islands — some trails turn into muddy and slippery after rains.
Consistent sunshine — if you only want sunny days for a beach holiday, wet season will get you some days when the sun is absent.
The Honest Verdict
Yes, but in certain circumstances. Dry season (April to October) is the ideal time to be guaranteed sunshine and beach swimming all day long.
Wet season Hawaii is not only worth it, but it offers the following: whale watching, big wave surfing, powerful waterfalls, greener landscapes, dramatically lower prices and fewer tourist crowds. It's a better Hawaii.
When I met the travellers at my Maui guesthouse in February, all those who had been back in the wet season for many years came back to the same thing: they gave peak season a try, saw the prices and the throngs of people, and never came back.
Wet season Hawaii is Hawaii, moinus the tourists and up the natural experience.
