1st trip to HI? If so, I think you're focused on the wrong thing. 2 (or 3) reasons:
We have gone multiple times in November- mostly Thanksgiving in the past, but more flexibility now that we're retired - and this is quite light. On the Big Island, anyway. This year we're going early November.
We have been going to Maui for the month of December for 25 years. The first two weeks in December are generally quiet. Week 51 is very busy and Week 52 is a zoo. The first week in January slows down quite a bit.
This is great advice. I do see a big difference is prices of flights, car rentals, etc but the timeshares are always full. You will see less school aged kids off-peak but even that has changed since covid.
I used to live on Maui and I can tell you that school gets out earlier there (May) then where we. are on the mainland in New England (late June). Once school is out there the beaches are busier. We love Kihei, Maui so we use our timeshare for a week on Kauai, Ohau or Big Island and then rent or use VRBO on Maui. Late April is great, the weather will be nice. After labor day is good too but it will be a little hotter. We leave in a few weeks and will be staying at Marriott Ko'Olina on Oahu and then at The Royal Mauian (VRBO) on Maui.
I have visited Kauai over 30 times and I think the “bridge “ season is best early April to mid May.
In general it will rain more with sometimes numerous showers during the day. This of course varies by year.
| 2019 | 30 yr Avg ending 2019 | |
| Jan | -6% | -4% |
| Feb | -10% | -5% |
| Mar | 7% | 6% |
| Apr | -3% | -5% |
| May | -2% | -5% |
| Jun | 11% | 6% |
| Jul | 17% | 14% |
| Aug | 9% | 12% |
| Sep | -16% | -10% |
| Oct | -9% | -6% |
| Nov | -7% | -7% |
| Dec | 10% | 6% |
What is your favourite way to island hop? Fly?
The only ferry is Lanai to Maui and back so flying is really the only option to island hop.
On our last trip we stay at the Hale Koa Resort and it was awesome. IMHO, Everything is located at this resort. I would rate at a solid Ten (10).@pedro47, in my experience, the shoulder seasons are "generally" less crowded, as others have already said. We always liked traveling to Hawaii during the middle two weeks of May. Weather was great, never too hot, Winter rains had calmed down, kids weren't yet out of school, and all in - it was a great time to visit Hawaii. Best of all, going in May, things are lush and green. If you go in the Fall, a lot of landscapes are sunburnt and dried. So we like Spring better. That said, late September into October is also pretty good on most islands, as long as you plan ahead. We aren't "lay on the beach" people, so if the weather is cooler, or even a bit cloudy, it makes for a more interesting visit.
But there is a balance to be had. If you're visiting or staying on the rainy side of an island, you may want to go during a higher season, to have less rain. Unless it's Kauai, where the trick is to go north if it's raining down south, or south when it's raining up north. On an island like Oahu, where the Koolaus divide things into "windward and leeward," sides, so "wetter and drier" sides, you can alternate which side of the island to spend your time, to minimize the rain. But then, there are times where a good Hawaiian rainstorm can be invigorating. (Going to the Pali Lookout on Oahu on a windy, stormy day can be exhilarating.)
At the end of the day, if you're doing a timeshare exchange to get there. you may be limited by the availability of the timeshare you're offered. Then the quality of your trip boils down to where you will be staying, and what you expect you might want to do with your time.
You being military - are you eligible to book the Hale Koa in Waikiki? If so, pursue that. I've stayed there numerous times, and it was really nice - for what it is. It made a great jumping off point for things to do on Oahu, and a great beginning or ending point for a two-island vacation.
Lots of options, and no one right answer.
Shoot me a note if you want other ideas.
Dave
