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

As August ends, Hawaii wakes up to a September that brings rest and revelry in equal measure. Early each morning, Waikīkī’s southern shores catch the glow of the sun. The summer waves rolling in are still gentle, so beginners have the perfect conditions to try surfing. It’s also the tail end of Hawaii’s summer surf season, which begins in May.

If you visit Hawaii in September, you can hit the sweet spot where you get a mix of warm seas, real culture, and thinning crowds. Hotel prices dip post-Labor Day (so you can get great upgrades if you’re lucky), trails like Manoa Falls are still lush but less muddy, and community events like the statewide Aloha Festivals are a sight to behold.

You’ll find that the mornings are calm. But by lunchtime, the stillness in the air is replaced by steady tradewinds, so the afternoons feel breezy and just right for beach hopping, walking tours, or long drives. The traffic’s lighter, last-minute bookings actually work, and some of the best seasonal deals aren’t even listed online. That’s where an advisor on TravelJoy can make a difference, by helping you unlock the kind of subtle experiences most visitors miss.

September in Hawaii stands out because it’s a true interlude between the summer crowds and the winter holiday rush. The heat lingers, but there are fewer tourists out and about. This means you can sneak a peek into the local island life in all its authenticity. Across the islands, daytime temperatures sit in the mid-80s inland and in the high 70s near the ocean. This is just what you need to make swimming, snorkeling, and other water sports enjoyable.

Visiting Hawaii in September also means diving into real island life with fewer elbow‑to‑elbow waits. Now that the peak tourist wave has passed, you’ll see more locals — kamaʻāina —back at their favorite cafés and beaches. Dinner reservations are easier to make, and even the smaller local festivals feel personal because the vendors have the time to chat and get to know you. All in all, the late‑September block‑party vibe feels festive but not exhausting, with the islanders mingling with travelers in a casual mix.

On the downside, upcountry Maui and the Big Island lose a bit of daylight and see slightly shorter days. The island compensates for this with vineyard tours and farm visits that are more enjoyable without the peak-season rush. An advisor on TravelJoy can help you line things up just right, whether that’s snagging a table at a popular hula workshop, booking hard to get diners, or timing your trip to catch the floral parade.