If you’re traveling to Hawaii in March, you’ll find delightful tropical weather, exciting humpback whale watching opportunities and much more! Here’s everything you need to know for planning your March visit.
How’s the weather in Hawaii in March?
Hawaii’s weather is warm and summery all year-round, even as the seasons transition from winter to spring. For the islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii (Big) Island, you can expect the daytime high temperatures in the lower 80s Fahrenheit (roughly 27°C). The northernmost Hawaiian island, Kauai, will likely have daytime highs in the upper 70s (roughly 25.5°C). Daytime weather will be perfect for wearing shorts and short-sleeve shirts.
Nighttime lows will dip to the mid-to-upper 60s Fahrenheit (19-ish °C). You may want to have a light sweater or jacket on hand in the evenings.
As far as rain goes, March tends to be one of Hawaii’s rainier months, but don’t panic because you’re more likely to experience sun than rain. When we’ve traveled to Hawaii in February, March and April, we’ve very, very rarely had to adjust our outdoor plans due to rain. Our advice is to keep a happy-go-lucky attitude and be prepared by wearing quick-drying clothes and have a breathable, waterproof rain jacket and/or and umbrellas just in case you get caught out in a shower. For more information about this topic of rain, see our article: Will it rain during my Hawaii vacation?
Rain may be off putting, but there are some great reasons that you want to experience at least a little bit of rain. First, rainfall is essential to make waterfalls have a solid flow. Next, Hawaii is always blooming with tropical flowers, thanks, in part to rain. Finally, a brief rain shower gives you an opportunity to see one of Hawaii’s famous rainbows.
For more information, check out our guide to Hawaii weather’s patterns and forecasts.
What should you pack for a March vacation in Hawaii?
With warm, tropical weather, short-sleeves and shorts are good daytime options. For hikes and sightseeing adventures, it’s always a good idea to pack quick-drying shirts, shorts or trousers. For daytime shoes, you’ll want to wear comfortable walking or trail trekking shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy — especially in March when you’re more likely to encounter muddy trails. See our guide to the essential shoes for a Hawaii vacation.
For evening wear, Hawaii is quite casual, so ladies might want to pack casual summer dresses or perhaps resort wear tops with nice shorts, skorts and trousers. For men, we suggest that your summery shirts, like polos or short-sleeve button downs, along with nice shorts. Because the temperatures will start to dip a bit after one of Hawaii’s amazing sunsets, a light sweater would be good to have on hand.
For our expert packing tips from our many trips to Hawaii, see our Hawaii vacation packing guide.
Finally, don’t forget your swimsuits and cover ups. The ocean temperatures are warm enough for swimming even in March.
Hawaii ocean conditions in March
No matter what time of the year you visit the Hawaiian Islands, you must respect the power of the ocean. Ocean safety is very important to know.
With March being a transition month from winter to spring, you might still encounter the big ocean swells of winter that crash onto the north-facing shorelines of the Hawaiian Islands. The height and power of these giant waves are truly awesome to see. Just observe them only from a safe distance. When the waves are high on the north shore, the water tends to be a bit calmer on the south shorelines. In general, water sports like swimming and snorkeling can still be enjoyed in March where and when conditions are calm.
Experts advise swimming at beaches with lifeguards. For snorkeling, I recommend you choose an organized-tour company as they are more informed of the safer spots and tend to keep an eye out for their snorkelers’ safety.
March Cultural Festivals & Special Events
Oahu
March 7, 8, 9 – Honolulu Festival is one of the bigger, annual cultural festivals for the Island of Oahu. Note that it ends with a bang with a spectacular fireworks show from Waikiki Beach on March 9th.
March 26 – Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you.
Hawaii, the Big Island
March 8 – Kona Brewers Festival celebrates their 30th anniversary this year.
March 26 – Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you.
Maui
March 26 – Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you.
Kauai
March 3 – Music and Community Hula Night
March 10 – Music performances by Madison Makanaokukahaku Scott & Kyle La Benz; Kim Sueoka & Alan Van Zee
March 17 – Hawaiian Soul Mele Aloha Aina
March 24 – Raiatea Helm and an Ensemble of Hawaii’s Top Musicians
March 26 – Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you. Note that Kauai is the birthplace of Prince Kuhio.
Seasonal Highlights
It seems that there’s always a special force of nature to enjoy in Hawaii. For March, here are the special seasonal highlights.
Humpback Whales
March is one of the three peak months for humpback whale watching. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for these magnificent creatures to surface to breath or slap their flukes or fins. If you’re really lucky, you might observe an amazing breach.
You can watch for whale activity from the shorelines, but for a more up close view, we recommend a whale watching tour. Learn more about humpback whale season in Hawaii.
Moon phases and night sky events
The biggest night sky event for March 2025 is the total lunar eclipse occuring March 14! That should be very exciting to see in Hawaii. The full moon will be on March 14 and the new moon will be on March 29.
Mercury will be visible low on the western sky after sunset. (Source SeaSky.com)
More information to help you make your March Hawaii vacation plans:
The month of March can be somewhat busy with visitors, particularly families on spring break. As such, we recommend you prebook park reservations, some activities and dinner reservations. See these articles with advice on what you should consider pre-booking.
- Reservations needed for Oahu vacation
- Reservations needed for Maui vacation
- Reservations needed for Hawaii, Big Island vacation
- Reservations needed for a Kauai vacation
If you need suggestions for what to see and do on your Hawaii vacation, check out our Hawaii vacation itineraries which ensure you get to experience all the “must see and do” sights and activities.
Sheila Beal
