Weather on the Big Island

The Big Island of Hawaii, containing nearly all of the earth's climate zones, including deserts, tropical rain forests, and high alpine zones, has more climatic diversity than any other land mass of its size. As a result of the island's size and effects of the volcanic mountains, the weather on the Big Island is determined more greatly by location than by season. The various elevations and exposures to the northeast trade winds result in a vast array of climates, range of temperatures and rainfall across the island. The East (Hilo) side of the island typically receives more rainfall annually, with the West (Kohala and Kona) and South (Kona and Ka'u) sides being more dry and sunny.

Average day-time temperatures in the coastal areas of the Big Island are mild during both winter and summer. They range from the mid 70's in the winter (November to April) to upper 80's in the summer (May to October), although summer daily highs can reach the low to mid 90's.

Water temperatures generally range from the mid 70's and rise to the low 80's during the warmer summer months.

Temperatures and Precipitation for Selected Places, Hawaii County

		Average temperature (F.)		Extreme temperature of record (F.)		Average annual precipitation (inches)
Station	Ground elevation (feet)	Coolest month	Warmest month	Lowest	Highest
Hilo Airport	30	71.2	75.9	53	94	128
Hawaii Volcanoes Nat'l Park Headquarters	3,970	57.6	63.2	31	93	101
Naalehu	800	70.2	75.1	50	93	47
Kailua-Kona	30	72.1	77.3	54	93	25
Puako	5	73.1	79.8	52	98	10
Waimea (Kamuela)	2,670	61.3	66.8	34	90	31
Honokaa	1,070	67.6	75.5	NA	NA	86
Mauna Kea summit	13,796	31.3	42.5	11	66	20

NA = Not Available

Source: Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Commission on Water Resource Management, data supplied February 14, 1995; and Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Website: www.hawaii.gov/dbedt