United States, North America

Hawaii in November

A fine value month until Thanksgiving week spikes. First winter swells light up the North Shore for spectators.

GoodWarm, highs near 83F (28C), windward showers increase

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

The straight answer

November is a good month to visit Hawaii. A fine value month until Thanksgiving week spikes. First winter swells light up the North Shore for spectators.

Weather: Warm, highs near 83F (28C), windward showers increase
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What November is like in Hawaii

November is a fine value month. Highs are near 83F (28C), windward showers increase, and the first big winter swells light up the North Shore. Prices and crowds are low until Thanksgiving week, which spikes. On the Big Island, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates the harvest.

This month suits couples, coffee lovers, and families on a fall break. It is a good pick if you avoid Thanksgiving week. Stick to south-facing, lifeguarded beaches as the winter surf builds. If you want the calmest seas, go in September or October instead.

Make the most of November

What is especially good about Hawaii this month.

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

Farm tours and tastings in Kona during the harvest season.

First big swells

The North Shore wakes up for winter, and surf contests start. Watch from the sand.

Pre-holiday deals

Hotels are reasonable until Thanksgiving.

What to pack for November

A light rain jacket
Reef-safe sunscreen
Binoculars for surf watching
A warm layer for Haleakala

Our timing tip

Book a trip for early to mid November and avoid Thanksgiving week, when prices jump.

Book Hawaii for November.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Hawaii
Opens a hotel search for Hawaii in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for November
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 November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in November

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.

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

November, in Kona on the Big Island

A harvest-season celebration in America's most famous coffee district, with farm tours and tastings.

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 November, quick answers

Is November a good time to visit Hawaii?

November is a good month to visit Hawaii. A fine value month until Thanksgiving week spikes. First winter swells light up the North Shore for spectators.

What is the weather like in Hawaii in November?

Warm, highs near 83F (28C), windward showers increase.

Is Hawaii crowded in November?

November is one of the quieter months in Hawaii; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Hawaii in November?

North Shore big-wave season (november through february); Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (november, in kona on the big island).