United States Honolulu Weather in January — Climate Guide
January in Honolulu is high
Honolulu Weather in January — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 27° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 100mm · 11 days
- Crowds
- Very busy
As of 2026, Honolulu in January averages a high of 27°C and low of 20°C with 100mm of rain over about 11 days. Tropical light by day (t-shirt + shorts + sandals) + light jacket for evening Waikiki dinners + occasional sweater for cool trade-wind mornings.
January is high for Honolulu.
January is Honolulu's coolest month and the continuation of the Christmas-New Year peak — 27°C / 81°F days, 20°C / 68°F nights. Hotels triple in price for the first 2 weeks (Halekulani $1,200+/night vs $600-800 shoulder season). The North Shore winter waves are at peak — Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay all hold 8-12 ft+ swells reliably, drawing the pro surfing competition season (Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational runs when conditions allow, December-February window).
Waikiki Beach swimming is comfortable but the south-facing beach gets occasional smaller swells. Diamond Head sunrise is the canonical January morning move (clear skies, 23°C / 73°F by 8 AM). Pearl Harbor reservations book solid 60+ days ahead — plan accordingly.
Travel score
Honolulu January Weather Stats
Avg High
27°C
Avg Low
20°C
Rainy Days
11
100mm total
Sunshine
7h
Daily avg
Humidity
70%
moderate
UV Index
8
Very high
Wind
14 km/h
Gusts 30
Sea Temp
24°C
swimming chilly
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
January 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
20°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
14 km/h
Max gust 30 km/h
Activities Recommended for January
January Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cool 20-27°C days
- North Shore winter waves at peak (pro surfing season)
- Korean Lunar New Year overlap (cultural celebrations)
Cons
- Hotels triple for the first 2 weeks
- Occasional winter rain (11 rainy days)
- Heaviest tourist crowds of the year
January Events & Festivals
- Christmas-New Year peak (continuing into early January)
- Korean Lunar New Year overlap (varies, late Jan/early Feb)
- Sony Open PGA Tour golf tournament (mid-January)
Honolulu in January — Full Picture
January is Honolulu's coolest month and the continuation of the Christmas-New Year peak — 27°C / 81°F days, 20°C / 68°F nights. Hotels triple in price for the first 2 weeks (Halekulani $1,200+/night vs $600-800 shoulder season). The North Shore winter waves are at peak — Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay all hold 8-12 ft+ swells reliably, drawing the pro surfing competition season (Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational runs when conditions allow, December-February window).
Waikiki Beach swimming is comfortable but the south-facing beach gets occasional smaller swells. Diamond Head sunrise is the canonical January morning move (clear skies, 23°C / 73°F by 8 AM). Pearl Harbor reservations book solid 60+ days ahead — plan accordingly.
Rain is occasional — short 20-40 min trade-wind showers that clear quickly. Cloud cover heavier than April-September. UV index 8 still requires reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ (Hawaii law).
The smart-money January move: target the third week (post-NYE, pre-Sony Open) for the value pocket within January — rates drop 30-40% from the holiday peak before the golf tournament demand returns.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Tropical light by day (t-shirt + shorts + sandals) + light jacket for evening Waikiki dinners + occasional sweater for cool trade-wind mornings.
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 January Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is January a good time to visit Honolulu?
Honolulu in January is high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Honolulu in January?
Honolulu January averages a high of 27°C and a low of 20°C.
Does it rain much in Honolulu in January?
Honolulu January averages 100mm of rainfall over about 11 rainy days.
What should I wear in Honolulu in January?
Tropical light by day (t-shirt + shorts + sandals) + light jacket for evening Waikiki dinners + occasional sweater for cool trade-wind mornings.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Honolulu in January?
Honolulu January sunrise is 07:10 and sunset is 18:05, with 10h 55m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Honolulu in January?
Honolulu January air quality (AQI) averages 30, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 8μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Honolulu in January?
In January, Honolulu is great for Waikiki Beach (south side calmer), Diamond Head sunrise hike, Pearl Harbor + USS Arizona.
Is January peak season in Honolulu?
Honolulu January crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Honolulu
View Other Months
Planning a January 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.