Hawaii Weather is Dynamic

If you don't like the weather, just wait ten minutes!

Kauai and Oahu’s mid-pacific, sub-tropical location have blessed these islands with the planet’s mildest weather – it's rarely sweltering hot (average daily temperature is 85º) and it's never cold (the locals break out sweaters and long pants on chilly winter nights when the temperature dips below 70º).

Flying Weather and Scheduling Your Hawaii Air Tour

Because safety and passenger comfort are a top concern at AirVentures, all of our air tours are subject to rescheduling at the pilot’s discretion. If the visibility is not optimal or the conditions are not safe, we will need to reschedule your tour for a later date or time. For this reason, we strongly suggest that you schedule your Kauai or Oahu air tour for the beginning of your vacation – so if weather requires, you’ll still have ample time to reschedule. Rough weather, when it happens, rarely lasts more than a few days in Hawaii.

Tradewinds Regulate Hawaii’s Weather

Most of the year, Hawaii experiences winds from the northeast in the range of 10-25 knots. These winds are so predictable that the old sailing ships called them the “trade winds,” since they could be relied upon for trade voyages. This weather pattern is primarily affected by a consistent high-pressure zone in the north Pacific which drives cool, moist breezes towards Hawaii. These cool winds are warmed by the ocean as they get closer to the islands and arrive at the “perfect” temperature Hawaii is famous for.

August through April are generally the lightest wind months of the year. May, June, and July have the most consistent tradewinds. The hallmark of the winter season is the combination of light winds and cool nights. When the wind blows in the winter, however, it is generally the strongest of the year.

Rainfall in Hawaii

Through most of the year, the tradewinds are forced up-slope by the mountain heights where their moisture condenses into clouds which produce rain (a phenomenon known as the orographic effect). Most of the rain falls in the mountains and valleys on the windward (northeastern) side of the islands and the interior. It is this weather phenomenon that creates Hawaii’s rich, green, tropical environment.

This “daily” rainfall has little effect on our air tours since the most common routes take us around the dryer perimeter of the islands.

The wettest months are from November to March when Pacific low-pressure systems drop down from Alaska catching Hawaii in their “tail.”

Surf and Beach Conditions

Wave action varies dramatically between island coasts and seasons. Summer waters are typically gentle on all beaches. During the winter on many north shore beaches, Pacific storms drive ocean swells towards the islands, creating Hawaii’s legendary big waves.

Wave conditions are often very localized, so if the waves are too big on your beach, you can usually find calmer water at a more sheltered beach. Strong currents can make any beach unsafe at any time during the year, particularly in the winter. Ask your hotel staff or a lifeguard about ocean currents or look for warning flags and posted beach conditions.

ALWAYS exercise extreme caution near Hawaii’s coastlines during ANY time of year and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.