TRAVEL TIPS & GUIDES

Hawaii in February: Your guide to weather, events & travel

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Written by

Matt Byrd

Last updated

July 3, 2025

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Hawaii in February is a sight to behold. At every turn, there’s something beautiful to see. Pink cherry blossoms line the roads of Waimea, just as Mahina proteas begin to bloom on Maui’s misty slopes. Offshore, humpback whales make it to the ocean’s surface as their migrations peak. This is a month of vivid contradictions, like the thundering surf on Oʻahu’s North Shore, calm mornings in volcanic uplands, and cooler evenings that invite you to linger outdoors longer.

All in all, you don’t need a packed itinerary if you’re in Hawaii. Instead, you need to time it perfectly and be in the right place at just the right time. But planning around these fleeting moments can be a tough job if you’re doing it yourself. To make it easier, you can rely on an advisor from TravelJoy. They can help you catch the cherry blossoms at their peak or book a whale-watching cruise from Lahaina.

Is February a good time to visit Hawaii?

Yes, February is one of the most comfortable times to be in Hawaii, weather-wise. Daytime highs hover around the upper 70s to low 80s across most islands. The evenings are cooler, with temperatures dipping into the high 60s. This means beach days that don’t leave you feeling exhausted, and breezy nights that are perfect for open-air dinners.

Showers are more frequent on the windward sides, especially in Hilo or Hana, but they usually pass quickly. Meanwhile, the leeward coasts — like Kona and Waikīkī — stay sunny and dry. The waterfalls also run full at this time of the year, so you can include a scenic hike and drive to some popular options like the Akaka Falls, Waimoku Falls, or Mānoa Falls.

It’s technically the high season, but in many parts of Hawaii, February feels more relaxed than late December and early January. You’ll still find visitors, especially around the Presidents’ Day weekend, but nothing close to the spring break or summer crowds. So, you’ll have a better shot at room upgrades, tours won’t feel as crowded, and it’s easier to find a good spot at a boutique hotel or vacation rental.

On the flip side, the ocean can be a little rough on the north-facing beaches. While this is great for watching the pros surf, it doesn’t offer many opportunities for a swim. If that’s what you want to do instead, you could always choose the calmer southern shores. An advisor on TravelJoy can help you pick the right base depending on what you want to do and when.

High temperature
79°F / 26°C
Low temperature
66°F / 19°C
Rainfall
2.6 in / 65 mm
Sun & daylight
7.5 hours / 11.3 hours
Seasonal tips

- Still mild

- Good time for rainforest hikes

- Whale sightings continue

- Plan around rain showers

- Bring hiking shoes

Where to go in Hawaii in February

Waimea, Big Island
You’ve got to time it right because Waimea’s cherry blossoms are truly worth the journey. The whole town goes pink for about a week. There’s also a festival with hula performances, local food stalls, and community parades. It’s also cooler up there, so the afternoons are perfect for browsing small-town cafés and watching families picnic under blooming trees.
North Shore, Oʻahu
The waves are still huge in February, but it’s calmer than the holiday rush. You can actually find parking, relax on the beach, and watch the surf roll in without being shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists. At spots like Banzai Pipeline or Waimea Bay, you can catch world-class surfers riding walls of water while kids sell banana bread and musubi from pop-up stands.
Kula, Maui
Upcountry Maui is where you need to go to feel the shift in season. The slopes of Haleakalā are greener during this time, and farms in Kula start showcasing the season’s early blooms. You’ll find roadside stands selling passionfruit butter and fresh-baked guava loaves. This is also a good time to stay overnight and wake up for sunrise at the crater because there are fewer people and clearer skies.
Lahaina, Maui
February in Hawaii marks the peak of the whale-watching season, so the boat tours can sell out fast. It is advisable to line up your tour on a clear day when the whales are more likely to be putting on a show. Back on land, you can stroll through Front Street, where the locals sell handmade shell leis and bars play slack-key guitar in the late afternoon.

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Things to do in Hawaii in February

Event
Location
Timing
Valentine’s Day Sunset Cruises
Romantic sunset cruises sail past Hawaiian coastlines
Maui/Oahu
February 14
Hilo Chinese New Year Fest
Hilo celebrates lunar new year with lion dances and food
Hilo
Mid-February
Great Aloha Run
Community race unites thousands through downtown Honolulu
Oahu
Late February
Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational
Artists capture island beauty in outdoor painting sessions
Lahaina
February 17–25
Honolulu Ukulele Festival
Ukulele music and workshops draw crowds in Honolulu
Honolulu
Mid-February
Hawaii Island Storytelling Days
Local legends come alive through storytelling events
Kona
February weekends
Orchid Growing Series
Botanical talks explore orchid cultivation on Big Island
Big Island
February Sundays

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