Hawaii in March
March is a month of real tradeoffs in Hawaii. Spring break waves roll through all month. Whales linger, surf mellows late month, prices stay firm.
Weather
Warm, highs near 80F (27C)
Crowds
Prices
What's on in March
December through April, peaking January through March
Humpback whale season. Thousands of humpbacks winter in Hawaiian waters, with the Maui channels the epicenter. Morning whale-watch sails run daily in season.
The week after Easter, in Hilo
Merrie Monarch Festival. The world's premier hula festival. Competition tickets are scarce and Hilo lodging books out far ahead, but free events run all week.
Things to do in Hawaii
- 1
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.
- 2
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 ↗
- 3
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.
- 4
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 ↗
- 5
Pearl Harbor. Reserve USS Arizona Memorial tickets ahead; walk-up availability is limited. Give it a half day and go early. official site ↗
- 6
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.
- 7
Na Pali Coast, Kauai. See it by boat tour in the calmer summer months, by air year-round, or on foot via the Kalalau Trail's day-hike section, which requires a Haena State Park reservation.
- 8
A proper luau. The good ones book out weeks ahead in peak season. Look for shows that lead with hula and history rather than just the buffet.
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.
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.
Hawaii in March: quick answers
Is March a good time to visit Hawaii?
March is a month of real tradeoffs in Hawaii. Spring break waves roll through all month. Whales linger, surf mellows late month, prices stay firm.
What is the weather like in Hawaii in March?
Warm, highs near 80F (27C).
Is Hawaii crowded in March?
Hawaii is busy in March, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.
What is happening in Hawaii in March?
Humpback whale season (december through april, peaking january through march); Merrie Monarch Festival (the week after easter, in hilo).