United States, North America

Hawaii in January

Whale season in full swing and the post-holiday crowd still thick. First week is peak-priced; late month eases slightly.

TradeoffsWarm, highs near 79F (26C), passing windward showers, big north-shore surf

Na Pali Coast cliffs, Kauai, Hawaii — HawaiiPhoto: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0

The straight answer

January is a month of real tradeoffs in Hawaii. Whale season in full swing and the post-holiday crowd still thick. First week is peak-priced; late month eases slightly.

Weather: Warm, highs near 79F (26C), passing windward showers, big north-shore surf
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What January is like in Hawaii

January in Hawaii is warm, with highs near 79F (26C), passing showers on the windward sides, and huge winter surf on the north shores. Humpback whale season is in full swing, especially around Maui. The first week is still holiday-priced and crowded, and things ease only a little later in the month. North- and west-facing beaches are often too rough for swimming.

This month suits winter escapers and whale lovers who do not mind paying high-season prices. Families should stick to calm, lifeguarded south-shore beaches. If value matters more than whales, May or September gives you better weather for far less money.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about Hawaii this month.

Peak whale watching

January through March is the heart of humpback season. Morning whale-watch sails leave daily, with the Maui channels the best spot.

North Shore big waves

Giant swells hit Oahu's north side, and the world's best surfers follow. Watch from the beach, early in the day.

Escape the mainland winter

Warm air and warm water while much of the country is frozen is the whole appeal.

What to pack for January

Reef-safe sunscreen
A light rain jacket for windward showers
Binoculars for whale watching
A warm layer for Haleakala, where it gets near freezing at dawn

Our timing tip

Skip the first week of January if you can; prices and crowds from the holidays soften a bit once schools go back.

Book Hawaii for January.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Hawaii
Opens a hotel search for Hawaii in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Hawaii
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Hawaii
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Hawaii for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in January

Humpback Whale Season in Maui

Roughly December to April, with the peak from January to March

Thousands of humpbacks come to Hawaii to breed and calve, and the channels off West Maui are the best place to see them.

Humpback whale season

December through April, peaking January through March

Thousands of humpbacks winter in Hawaiian waters, with the Maui channels the epicenter. Morning whale-watch sails run daily in season.

North Shore big-wave season

November through February

When the biggest swells arrive, surf contests run on short notice and traffic on Kamehameha Highway crawls. Go early in the day.

Things to do in Hawaii

Full guide

Snorkel a leeward reef

Morning is the calm, clear window nearly everywhere. Book protected spots like Hanauma Bay or a Molokini boat trip ahead; both cap daily visitors.

Tickets and tours →

Haleakala sunrise or sunset

Sunrise entry requires an advance reservation with the park. Sunset needs no reservation and is nearly as good, with a fraction of the alarm-clock pain.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Road to Hana

Leave by 7am, pick five stops instead of twenty, and consider staying a night in Hana to have the coast after the day-trippers leave.

Tickets and tours →

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Whether lava is visibly flowing varies month to month and year to year. The crater rim, steam vents, and lava tube deliver regardless; check park alerts for current activity.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Pearl Harbor

Reserve USS Arizona Memorial tickets ahead; walk-up availability is limited. Give it a half day and go early.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Watch winter surf on the North Shore

From roughly November through February, giant swells hit Oahu's north side and the world's best surfers follow. Free, unforgettable, and strictly a spectator sport for visitors.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Travel in May or September through October. These months move the needle more than any tactic inside a peak-season trip can.
Do famous spots at dawn: Hanauma Bay, Lanikai, the Pipeline overlooks, and Haleakala all belong to early risers, and Hawaii's early sunsets make dawn starts easier than they sound.
Reserve the capped attractions the moment your dates are set: Hanauma Bay, Haena State Park and the Kalalau day hike, Haleakala sunrise, and Pearl Harbor all limit daily entries.
Stay leeward, day-trip windward. The dry-side resorts deliver reliable pool-and-beach days, and the lush sides are best visited early, before tour buses and afternoon showers.

Know before you go

Hawaii has no closed season: hotels, restaurants, beaches, and parks run all year. Seasonality here shows up in prices and ocean conditions, not shutters.
Winter surf effectively closes north- and west-facing beaches to swimming from roughly November through March. Lifeguarded south-shore beaches stay swimmable; obey posted warnings, because the ocean here is genuinely dangerous when it is up.
Several marquee natural sites require advance reservations with limited daily slots: Haleakala sunrise, Haena State Park on Kauai, Hanauma Bay on Oahu, and Diamond Head for non-residents. Book these before you book dinner.
Volcano viewing is never guaranteed. Eruptions at Kilauea start and stop; the national park remains open and spectacular either way, but plan the trip around the park, not around seeing lava.

Hawaii in January, quick answers

Is January a good time to visit Hawaii?

January is a month of real tradeoffs in Hawaii. Whale season in full swing and the post-holiday crowd still thick. First week is peak-priced; late month eases slightly.

What is the weather like in Hawaii in January?

Warm, highs near 79F (26C), passing windward showers, big north-shore surf.

Is Hawaii crowded in January?

Hawaii is busy in January, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Hawaii in January?

Humpback whale season (december through april, peaking january through march); North Shore big-wave season (november through february).