United States Honolulu Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Honolulu is high
Honolulu Weather in December — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 27° / 21°
- Rainfall
- 100mm · 11 days
- Crowds
- Very busy
As of 2026, Honolulu in December averages a high of 27°C and low of 21°C with 100mm of rain over about 11 days. Tropical light by day + light jacket for cool evenings. Packable rain jacket essential — Hawaiian rainy season. Sweater for North Shore evening surf-spectating.
December is high for Honolulu.
December is Honolulu's coolest month and the year's second-biggest tourist crush after Korean Lunar New Year. Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week ($1,200+/night at Halekulani, $1,500+/night at Four Seasons Ko Olina).
Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, the 1941 attack anniversary) brings memorial ceremonies at the USS Arizona Memorial (the public is usually excluded from the actual ceremony itself, but the day draws Pearl Harbor visitor surge). The 80th anniversary in 2021 drew 5,000+ veterans and dignitaries.
Travel score
Honolulu December Weather Stats
Avg High
27°C
Avg Low
21°C
Rainy Days
11
100mm total
Sunshine
7h
Daily avg
Humidity
70%
moderate
UV Index
7
High
Wind
14 km/h
Gusts 30
Sea Temp
25°C
swimming chilly
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
8 μg/m³
PM10
18 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
28°C
Nighttime
21°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
14 km/h
Max gust 30 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Christmas peak atmosphere
- Pearl Harbor Day commemoration
- Vans Triple Crown + Eddie Aikau winter wave season
- Honolulu Marathon
Cons
- Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week
- Wettest month (11 rainy days)
- Year-end tourist crush
December Events & Festivals
- Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, anniversary)
- Honolulu Marathon (2nd Sunday December, world's #1 for Japanese + Korean runners)
- Christmas-New Year peak
- Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational window
Honolulu in December — Full Picture
December is Honolulu's coolest month and the year's second-biggest tourist crush after Korean Lunar New Year. Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week ($1,200+/night at Halekulani, $1,500+/night at Four Seasons Ko Olina).
Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, the 1941 attack anniversary) brings memorial ceremonies at the USS Arizona Memorial (the public is usually excluded from the actual ceremony itself, but the day draws Pearl Harbor visitor surge). The 80th anniversary in 2021 drew 5,000+ veterans and dignitaries.
Honolulu Marathon (the 2nd Sunday in December, 25,000+ runners with 50%+ international participation, Japanese and Korean runners are the dominant non-US demographics) is the world's #1 marathon for foreign runners. Hotels and flights book solid 6-8 months ahead for marathon weekend.
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing continues through December at the North Shore. Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational waiting window remains open (requires 20-foot+ wave conditions to be called).
Weather pattern is the rainy season at its wettest (100mm rainfall, 11 rainy days) but typical pattern is short morning trade-wind showers clearing to sun by midday. Sea temperature 25°C still comfortable.
The smart December move: target December 1-15 (pre-Christmas-NYE peak, post-Thanksgiving) for the brief mid-December value window. Halekulani + Royal Hawaiian + Four Seasons Ko Olina all need 4-6 months advance booking for Christmas-NYE week.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Tropical light by day + light jacket for cool evenings. Packable rain jacket essential — Hawaiian rainy season. Sweater for North Shore evening surf-spectating.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
27.7°C
21°C
6/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
30°C
23.7°C
3.7/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
29.7°C
23°C
7/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current27°C
20.3°C
10.3/mo
Honolulu Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27° | 20° | 11d·100mm | 7h | 70% | 8 | Very busy | Peak | |
| February (Best) | 27° | 20° | 9d·80mm | 8h | 68% | 9 | Very busy | Peak |
| March (Best) | 27° | 20° | 7d·60mm | 8h | 67% | 9 | Busy | Shoulder |
| April (Best) | 28° | 21° | 6d·30mm | 9h | 65% | 10 | Busy | Shoulder |
| May (Best) | 28° | 22° | 5d·30mm | 10h | 65% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 29° | 23° | 4d·15mm | 11h | 63% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
| July (Best) | 30° | 24° | 3d·10mm | 11h | 65% | 12 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 31° | 24° | 4d·15mm | 11h | 65% | 12 | Very busy | Peak |
| September (Best) | 30° | 24° | 5d·25mm | 10h | 65% | 11 | Busy | Shoulder |
| October (Best) | 30° | 23° | 7d·50mm | 9h | 67% | 9 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| November (Best) | 29° | 22° | 9d·80mm | 8h | 70% | 8 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| 27° | 21° | 11d·100mm | 7h | 70% | 7 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Honolulu December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Honolulu?
Honolulu in December is high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Honolulu in December?
Honolulu December averages a high of 27°C and a low of 21°C.
Does it rain much in Honolulu in December?
Honolulu December averages 100mm of rainfall over about 11 rainy days.
What should I wear in Honolulu in December?
Tropical light by day + light jacket for cool evenings. Packable rain jacket essential — Hawaiian rainy season. Sweater for North Shore evening surf-spectating.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Honolulu in December?
Honolulu December sunrise is 06:55 and sunset is 17:55, with 11h 0m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Honolulu in December?
Honolulu December air quality (AQI) averages 30, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 8μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Honolulu in December?
In December, Honolulu is great for Waikiki + Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor Day (December 7), North Shore winter waves spectating.
Is December peak season in Honolulu?
Honolulu December crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Honolulu
View Other Months
Planning a December trip to Honolulu?
You've checked the weather — next come the budget and the route.
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.