Best time to visit Kauai

[TheHolleys87]

We’ve been to Kauai twice, once staying at KBV and once at Bali Hai. Next time we’d like to base ourselves in Poipu, looking at sometime in 2022 so we can put in an RCI OGS 2 years in advance. We can travel any time of the year, so what month would be your choice in terms of weather and crowds?

 

[vacationtime1]

We’ve been to Kauai twice, once staying at KBV and once at Bali Hai. Next time we’d like to base ourselves in Poipu, looking at sometime in 2022 so we can put in an RCI OGS 2 years in advance. We can travel any time of the year, so what month would be your choice in terms of weather and crowds?

May, imho, but it can rain there any time of the year and it is beautiful there most times of the year.

Full disclosure: we are now scheduling our Hawaii trips when the weather is worst at home.

 

[slip]

I agree May. We usually go the first two weeks. We always went when the weather was worst at home too. Don’t have that now.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Can anyone speak to what the weather is generally like in early December?

 

[geist1223]

Whenever you can get a nice place to stay with reasonable flight costs. We have been there in June, September, January, and February. Never had severe heavy rain during the day light hours. Guess we were lucky. We avoid middle of summer. Too crowded. The worse rain storm in over 100 years was in April a few years ago.

 

[brianfox]

We go to Poipu first three weeks of every July. Can be very hot and very muggy. Rains almost every night. 10 minute flash rain out of nowhere during the day is common, even when days are typically bright and sunny. Never seems too crowded for us (as a reference, we consider Waikiki to be perpetually crowded).

 

[Lv2Trvl]

Aloha. We stay in Poipu every December for the last 15+ years. Always go right after Thanksgiving and return home a little before Christmas. Although this past year we were on Oahu for Thanksgiving week, then over Kauai. It is winter, but nice. You never know. It's cooler and some years rain every day. But remember Poipu is the sunny side and drier than the north. We have been there when we didn't see the sun for a week and other times the only rain was overnight. When the storms hover over the islands there's no escaping the rain. Usually the wind just blows them out. Our other favorite times are early May and October.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[slip]

Can anyone speak to what the weather is generally like in early December?

Can be a little rainy but in general it shouldn’t bother you too much. Of course there will be years with exceptions. It will be better than Wisconsin in December.

We stayed in Kapaa during most of December a few years ago and they weather was great.

 

[chellej]

We have gone in April, May , July, Sept, and Oct.

Our favorite is May. Crowds are a little smaller, days a bit longer, fares and car rentals are lower. We are going in Jan of 2021 so we will see how winter is.

 

[vacationtime1]

Can be a little rainy but in general it shouldn’t bother you too much. Of course there will be years with exceptions. It will be better than Wisconsin in December.

We stayed in Kapaa during most of December a few years ago and they weather was great.

We spent Christmas week at the Waiohai on Kauai one year. It was "cold" there -- "only" 79 degrees.
Which made it 96 degrees warmer than it was at our son's college in Appleton, Wisconsin that day.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I concur with May - though we've never actually been there in May because DW is a school teacher. We have been there in April, June, July, and August (almost every year), so we've got it bracketed.

May is one of the lesser traveled months because school is in session, whale season is over, and people on the mainland are not looking for a respite from winter. So less crowded. Also the weather in Hawaii has started to move more into summer patterns, but if the trade winds fail it won't be as hot and humid as it is in July and August during Kona (non-trade wind) weather.

Late September might also be a good time, especially if you want to spend time on North Shore beaches. With school in session crowds are lesser than in July and August, and winter weather hasn't yet arrived (meaning that North Shore beaches should still be suitable for swimming and snorkeling).

But anytime you can go is enjoyable. As others have mentioned, make the decision based on air fare and accommodation availability.

 

[mjm1]

We have stayed in Princeville in October and Lihue and Poipu in early December. October worked out pretty well as it rained primarily at night when we were there. We were also fortunate during our stays in early December. However, my brother and his wife were in Poipu the following week (2nd week of Dec,) and had more rain. As others have said, the rain will vary. That said, we are planning a return visit in 2021 and will look at early May as an option. No matter what, we enjoy being in Hawaii.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[TheHolleys87]

Thank you, everyone! I’ll be looking at early May! We stayed at KBV in early January and in Princeville in late May. DH and I hoped to spend some time on the North Shore beaches during that May trip, but every morning was chilly (for Hawaii) and rainy, and we couldn’t. So I definitely remember those Poipu beaches!

 

[artringwald]

This site gives the average rainfall and temperatures for Kauai:

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/WeatherGuide.aspx#kauai

Kauai weather is very unpredictable. Even a day in advance you can't tell. Yesterday the sun came out, then rain, then sun... about 5 times. If you keep an eye out, you'll see many rainbows. We've been in Poipu about 3 weeks, and have seen at least some sun almost every day. I just went out on the lanai to get a picture for you of the current conditions at The Point at Poipu, and guess what? There was a rainbow that I would have missed if I didn't read this thread. Thanks for posting!

 

[TheHolleys87]

This site gives the average rainfall and temperatures for Kauai:

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/WeatherGuide.aspx#kauai

Kauai weather is very unpredictable. Even a day in advance you can't tell. Yesterday the sun came out, then rain, then sun... about 5 times. If you keep an eye out, you'll see many rainbows. We've been in Poipu about 3 weeks, and have seen at least some sun almost every day. I just went out on the lanai to get a picture for you of the current conditions at The Point at Poipu, and guess what? There was a rainbow that I would have missed if I didn't read this thread. Thanks for posting!

Thanks for the link to the weather site! Very useful! We've been to Hawaii enough times to understand about the weather changing frequently and being different for different parts of the island (compass points as well as elevation) but haven't been to Kauai enough to be as familiar as we are with the BI.

 

[artringwald]

For those interested in other islands, Hawaii Gaga has rain and temperature charts for them too.

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/WeatherGuide.aspx