United States, North America
Hawaii in May
One of the two best-value months of the year. School is in session on the mainland and the islands exhale.
The straight answer
May is one of the best months of the year to visit Hawaii. One of the two best-value months of the year. School is in session on the mainland and the islands exhale.
- Weather
- Gorgeous, highs near 84F (29C), light trade winds
- Crowds
- 2 of 5
- Prices
- 2 of 5
What May is like in Hawaii
May is one of the two best-value months of the year. Highs are near 84F (29C), light trade winds keep things comfortable, and the seas are calm. Mainland schools are still in session, so beaches are quiet and prices are low. Every island is at its easygoing best.
This month suits couples, homeschool families, and anyone who can travel outside school holidays. It is hard to beat. Only whale watchers should pick another month, since the humpbacks have left for the summer. Look at January through March for them, and accept higher prices.
Make the most of May
What is especially good about Hawaii this month.
Quiet beaches
With mainland schools in session, even popular beaches feel roomy.
Great snorkeling conditions
Calm, clear water on the leeward reefs makes for easy snorkel days.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Dry, mild weather is ideal for the crater rim, steam vents, and lava tube. Check park alerts for current activity.
What to pack for May
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Snorkel gear
- Light hiking shoes
- A light sweater for evenings
Our timing tip
Book Haleakala sunrise, Hanauma Bay, and Haena State Park reservations as soon as they open, even in a quiet month.
Book Hawaii for May.
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- Hotels for May
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in HawaiiOpens a hotel search for Hawaii in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in HawaiiWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in HawaiiTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Hawaii for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Things to do in Hawaii
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pearl Harbor
Reserve USS Arizona Memorial tickets ahead; walk-up availability is limited. Give it a half day and go early.
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.
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 May, quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Hawaii?
May is one of the best months of the year to visit Hawaii. One of the two best-value months of the year. School is in session on the mainland and the islands exhale.
What is the weather like in Hawaii in May?
Gorgeous, highs near 84F (29C), light trade winds.
Is Hawaii crowded in May?
May is one of the quieter months in Hawaii; most sights can be done without long waits.
Keep planning Hawaii.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
Also at their best in May
Before you book.
Sort these two things first.
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