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Climate & seasons

When to visit Honolulu?

By La rédaction · Updated 6/10/2026

The Editors
The Editorsauteur principal✓ Verified

"Janvier : haute saison absolue, baleines, surf North Shore, tarifs stratosphériques."

Expert on Honolulu · 1 contributions

Reviewed by :Africa & Americas Desk — Mowando·Editor

The best periods

The best time to visit Honolulu is avril à mai et septembre à octobre. The most recommended months are Mars, Avril, Mai, Juin, Juillet, Août, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre.

Avr, Mai, Sep, Oct

Inter-saisons — la fenêtre optimale

  • ✅Climat parfait (24-28 °C, mer 25-26 °C), faible humidité, alizés rafraîchissants
  • ✅Tarifs en baisse vs haute saison (juillet-août, décembre-mars)
  • ✅Foule modérée à Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, plages North Shore
  • ✅Floraisons abondantes en mai, conditions parfaites snorkeling et plongée
  • ❌Quelques jours de pluie possibles (Kona storms hors saison)
  • ❌Surf North Shore moins puissant qu'en hiver
Déc, Jan, Fév, Mar

Hiver — saison du surf et des baleines

  • ✅Saison du surf de classe mondiale North Shore Oahu — Pipeline, Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, vagues 3-10 m, compétitions Vans Triple Crown novembre-décembre
  • ✅Baleines à bosse (décembre-avril, observation excursions 80-120 USD)
  • ✅Climat parfait (24-28 °C, mer 24-25 °C), fuite des rigueurs européennes
  • ✅Festival Honolulu janvier, Whale Festival Maui février
  • ❌Haute saison absolue — hôtels Waikiki 400-800 €/nuit, vols Paris-HNL via LA 1 200-1 800 € A/R
  • ❌Réservations 6 mois à l'avance pour décembre-février
  • ❌Surf North Shore dangereux pour débutants (vagues 5-10 m janvier)
Juin, Jui, Aoû

Été — vacances scolaires américaines et asiatiques

  • ✅Climat le plus chaud (28-30 °C, mer 27-28 °C), eaux calmes pour snorkeling et plongée
  • ✅Festivals (Aloha Festivals septembre, King Kamehameha Day juin)
  • ✅Journées longues, coucher du soleil 19h30-20h
  • ❌Foule maximale — vacances scolaires américaines + asiatiques (Hawaï très visité par Japon et Corée)
  • ❌Tarifs hôtels et activités au plus haut
  • ❌Possibles cyclones (rare mais Iniki 1992 Kauai, Lane 2018, Hone 2024)
  • ❌Foudre et pluies tropicales l'après-midi côté windward
Nov

Novembre — transition optimale

  • ✅Climat encore parfait (25-28 °C, mer 25-26 °C)
  • ✅Début saison surf North Shore (Vans Triple Crown débute)
  • ✅Premières baleines à bosse arrivent fin novembre
  • ✅Tarifs raisonnables hors Thanksgiving
  • ❌Thanksgiving fin novembre tarifs en hausse
  • ❌Quelques jours pluvieux possibles

Month-by-month climate

Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine in Honolulu across the 12 months.

JanFévMarAvrMaiJuinJuiAoûSepOctNovDéc
Min19°19°19°20°21°22°23°23°23°22°21°20°
Max27°27°27°28°28°29°30°31°31°30°28°28°
Mer24°24°25°25°26°26°27°28°27°27°26°25°
Pluie90mm65mm50mm25mm20mm8mm10mm12mm25mm50mm75mm90mm
Soleil/j7h7h8h9h10h11h11h11h10h9h8h7h
Janvier
19° - 27°
Sea : 24°
Février
19° - 27°
Sea : 24°
Mars
19° - 27°
Sea : 25°
Avril
20° - 28°
Sea : 25°
Mai
21° - 28°
Sea : 26°
Juin
22° - 29°
Sea : 26°
Juillet
23° - 30°
Sea : 27°
Août
23° - 31°
Sea : 28°
Septembre
23° - 31°
Sea : 27°
Octobre
22° - 30°
Sea : 27°
Novembre
21° - 28°
Sea : 26°
Décembre
20° - 28°
Sea : 25°

Tourist crowds

Monthly attendance levels (0 = empty, 100 = saturated).

Jan
95
Fév
95
Mar
90
Avr
80
Mai
75
Jui
90
Jui
95
Aoû
95
Sep
85
Oct
80
Nov
85
Déc
95

Average flight prices

Average round-trip Paris → Honolulu by month.

Jan
$1,512
Fév
$1,404
Mar
$1,404
Avr
$1,188
Mai
$1,080
Jui
$1,404
Jui
$1,620
Aoû
$1,620
Sep
$1,296
Oct
$1,188
Nov
$1,296
Déc
$1,620

Frequently asked questions

How many days for Honolulu and Oahu?+
Minimum 5 nights on Oahu to grasp the island (Honolulu + Pearl Harbor + Diamond Head + Waikiki + North Shore + Hanauma Bay + Lanikai). 3-4 nights insufficient given massive -12h jet-lag from Paris. Ideal 5-day programme: Day 1 arrival + Waikiki jet-lag recovery (beach, beginners surf lesson Waikiki Beach Boys $80-100/h); Day 2 Pearl Harbor minimum half day (USS Arizona Memorial free + $1 booking 60 days ahead, USS Missouri $35, USS Bowfin Submarine $25, Pacific Aviation Museum $30, $90 Combo Pass recommended); Day 3 Diamond Head morning hike 1h ($5 entry + $5 parking, mandatory booking) + Hanauma Bay snorkelling afternoon ($25 mandatory 2-day-ahead booking via pros.hnlinfo.com); Day 4 North Shore (1h30 north, Pipeline-Waimea-Sunset beaches, hippie Haleiwa village, Giovanni's shrimp trucks, winter Vans Triple Crown surf competitions November-December); Day 5 Lanikai-Kailua windward coast (30 min east, 2 of America's most beautiful beaches, Mokulua Islands kayaks) OR Polynesian Cultural Center Laie $65-100. In 10-14 days Hawaii, add Maui (Road to Hana, Haleakala, Lahaina, 5 nights) and/or Big Island (Kilauea volcanoes, Mauna Kea, multicoloured beaches, 4 nights).
How to book Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial?+
The USS Arizona Memorial is Honolulu's major historical attraction — floating monument built 1962 above battleship sunk December 7, 1941 (1,102 sailors still at the bottom, deeply moving). Mandatory booking only via official site recreation.gov — $1 booking fee, free tickets, 60 days ahead (tickets sell out in 5-10 minutes on booking opening days, be on time 7am Hawaiian / 7pm Paris). Some tickets are also released 24h ahead (a Sunday for the following Tuesday), but to avoid — be on recreation.gov exactly at 60 days. Without booking, possible to show up at Visitor Center at 7am opening for walk-in tickets (10-20% of places, 2-3h queue in high season, often sold out before 9am). Visit programme: free Visitor Center (23-min historical films, recommended free exhibition), US Navy ferry shuttle to Memorial (15 min trip, 15 min on monument, 15 min return, total 45 min). $90 Combo Pass recommended for also visiting USS Missouri Battleship ($35, ship where Japanese surrender was signed September 2, 1945, WWII end), USS Bowfin Submarine ($25, 1942 submarine), Pacific Aviation Museum ($30, 1941 restored hangar). Plan 4-6h complete visit. No bags allowed on Memorial ($6 paid locker on site). Proper dress required (no swim shorts). Very moving — moment of silence on bottom sailors, white flowers placed.
Where to stay in Honolulu?+
Waikiki for convenience (beach, restaurants, nightlife, easy access from HNL airport 25-40 min taxi). Hotels by category: 5-star luxury — Halekulani (legendary House Without a Key bar since 1907, €600-1,200/night, considered one of Hawaii's best hotels), Royal Hawaiian Hotel (1927 iconic Pink Palace, €400-800, Waikiki's first major hotel built by Matson Navigation), Moana Surfrider Westin (1901 first major Waikiki hotel, €400-800, Diamond Head view from Banyan Court), Four Seasons Resort Oahu (Ko Olina west coast 30 min Honolulu, €700-1,500, ultra-luxury family). Mid-luxury 4-5 star — Hilton Hawaiian Village (3,000-room family resort, €300-600/night, private lagoon, many restaurants), Hyatt Regency Waikiki (€250-450), Hilton Grand Waikikian (€350-600), Sheraton Waikiki (€250-450). Mid-range — Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (€250-450), Outrigger Waikiki Beach (€250-400), Ohana Waikiki Malia (€180-280). Budget — Vive Hotel Waikiki (€180-280), Coconut Waikiki Hotel (€150-250), HI Honolulu hostels €50-100/night (dorms). Alternative Ko Olina (west coast 45 min, calm, Aulani Disney family resorts €500-1,000), North Shore (Turtle Bay Resort €400-800, surf, more authentic). Avoid: hotels near HNL airport (time loss to Waikiki).
How to reach Honolulu from Paris?+
No direct flight from Paris or Europe to Honolulu. All flights transit via continental US. Most common itinerary: Paris CDG → Los Angeles LAX direct (Air France daily 11h30 outbound, 10h45 return) → Los Angeles → Honolulu HNL (Hawaiian Airlines 5 flights/day 5h30, Delta, American, United 5h30). Total 18-22h with 2-3h LAX stopover, €900-1,800 return by season. Alternatives: Paris CDG → San Francisco SFO direct (Air France daily 11h45) → SFO → HNL (Hawaiian 5h30) = 18-20h. Paris CDG → Seattle SEA (KLM/Air France via Amsterdam or Delta direct 10h) → SEA → HNL (Hawaiian 6h) = 19-21h. Paris CDG → Tokyo NRT (JAL/ANA direct 12h) → NRT → HNL (Japan Airlines/Hawaiian 7h) = 22-24h (option if Japan + Hawaii combo trip). Book on hawaiianairlines.com (frequent LAX-HNL domestic flight $200-450 return by season) in code-share with Air France for final checked baggage and minimum 3h LAX stopover recommended to avoid connection stress. From HNL airport to Waikiki: flat rate taxi $38-50 + 18% tip = $50 total (25-40 min by traffic), Uber/Lyft $30-50, SpeediShuttle shared $20 (1h multiple stops), TheBus $3 (1h+ with luggage complicated). Skyline rail (under construction) will link HNL to Waikiki by 2031.
What budget for Honolulu/Oahu?+
Hawaii is one of the most expensive US states. Reference budget €250-350/day/person in Honolulu. Flights Paris → Honolulu via LA or SF €900-1,800 return by season (Air France direct + Hawaiian Airlines code-share LAX-HNL or SFO-HNL). Waikiki accommodation: 3-4* mid-range €250-450/night (Outrigger Reef Waikiki, Hyatt Regency Waikiki), 4-5* boutique €350-600 (Sheraton Waikiki, Hilton Hawaiian Village), 5* luxury €600-1,200 (Halekulani €600-1,200, Royal Hawaiian 1927 Pink Palace €400-800, Moana Surfrider Westin 1901 €400-800), budget Vive Hotel €180-280/night, HI Honolulu hostels €50-100/night. Mandatory resort fees $35-50/night extra (wifi, gym, parking). Food: cafe breakfast $15-25/person, lunch $20-40, dinner $50-100/person pre-tip 18-20% + 4.712% Oahu tax (count +24%), fine dining $150-300 (Halekulani's Orchids $200-300, Roy's Waikiki $100-180). Excellent Japanese cuisine (very good value, sushi $30-60), Asian cuisine Honolulu Chinatown $20-40. Traditional plate lunch (rice + protein + macaroni salad) $12-20. Activities: Pearl Harbor USS Arizona free + $1 booking, USS Missouri $35, 4-site Combo Pass $90, Diamond Head $5+$5, Hanauma Bay $25 mandatory booking, Polynesian Cultural Center $65-100 with luau, Waikiki Beach Boys surf lesson $80-100/h, whale excursion $80-120 half day Dec-April, diving $130-200/outing, scenic helicopter Oahu $350-500/person, resort luau $130-180/person. Transport: car rental $60-100/day (useful for North Shore and Lanikai, not essential if staying Waikiki), TheBus Oahu $3/ride (1 line, slow but tourist to Pearl Harbor, North Shore), Uber/Lyft $15-30 typical ride. Hotel parking $30-50/day extra. Total 5 nights for 2 people excl. flights: €3,500-7,000 by category.

Our verdict

Honolulu is the essential Hawaii gateway and the par excellence first archipelago trip option. Our advice: minimum 5 nights on Oahu (practical paradox — Waikiki is touristy but offers the best connections, hotels and restaurants for the first days of recovering from the massive -12h jet-lag). Stay in Waikiki — luxury Halekulani (legendary House Without a Key bar, €600-1,200/night, 5-star), Royal Hawaiian Hotel (1927 iconic Pink Palace, €400-800), Moana Surfrider (1901 historic 5-star, €400-800), Hilton Hawaiian Village (3,000-room family resort, €300-600), mid-range Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (€250-450), Hyatt Regency Waikiki (€250-450), budget Vive Hotel Waikiki (€180-280). Favour April-May or September-October for optimal window (perfect climate, falling rates, moderate crowds). December-March for North Shore surf and whales but high season +50%. Paris → Los Angeles direct Air France 11h30 flight + Los Angeles → Honolulu Hawaiian/Delta/United 5h30 = 18-22h total with stopover, €900-1,800 return by season. Classic 5-day Oahu programme: Day 1 arrival + Waikiki Beach (jet-lag recovery, beach, Waikiki Beach Boys surf lesson $80-100/h ideal beginners); Day 2 Pearl Harbor (45 min west, minimum half day, USS Arizona Memorial free + $1 booking 60 days ahead, USS Missouri $35, return for Waikiki sunset); Day 3 Diamond Head + Hanauma Bay (Diamond Head morning 1h hike $5 entry + $5 parking, Hanauma Bay $25 snorkelling paradise mandatory 2-day-ahead booking); Day 4 North Shore (1h30 north, Pipeline-Waimea-Sunset beaches, hippie Haleiwa village, Giovanni's shrimp trucks, winter 5-10 m waves champion surf); Day 5 Lanikai-Kailua (30 min east windward coast, 2 of America's most beautiful beaches, Mokulua Islands kayaks) OR Polynesian Cultural Center (Laie, 1h north, $65-100, most authentic Oahu luau, 6 recreated Polynesian villages). Book Pearl Harbor 60 days ahead, Hanauma Bay 2 days ahead.

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