Planning an April vacation to Hawaii offers the perfect opportunity to experience the islands’ lush beauty and warm hospitality. With mild spring temperatures and blooming tropical landscapes April is one of our favorite months for a Hawaii vacation. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring volcanoes, or simply soaking in the aloha spirit, this guide will ensure you’re prepared for an unforgettable Hawaii getaway.
How’s Hawaii’s weather in April?
Temperatures
The weather in April is typically wonderfully tropical. April’s weather is not as hot as the summer and early autumn months. For the islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii (Big) Island, you can expect the daytime high temperatures in the lower 80s Fahrenheit (roughly 27° to 28°C). The northernmost Hawaiian island, Kauai, will likely have daytime highs in the upper 70s (roughly 26°C). Daytime weather will be perfect for wearing shorts and short-sleeve shirts.
Nighttime lows will dip to the upper 60s Fahrenheit (19-ish °C). You may want to have a light sweater or jacket on hand in the evenings.
Rain
Historically, April is not a rainy month for Hawaii. Of course it’s a good idea to be prepared for a quick rain shower by wearing quick-drying clothing when you’re out hiking or sightseeing.
More weather information
For more information about Hawaii weather, check out our guide to Hawaii weather’s patterns and forecasts.
What should you pack for an April 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. 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 April.
Hawaii ocean conditions in April
No matter what time of the year you visit the Hawaiian Islands, you must respect the power of the ocean. Ocean safety is imperative to know.
In April, you are less likely to see the big ocean swells of winter that crash onto the north-facing shorelines of the Hawaiian Islands. So, it’s less likely that boat and catamaran tours will be canceled.
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.
Natural Occurrences in Hawaii in April
Some special seasonal occurrences to note are:
- Jacaranda trees are adorned with stunning lavender-hued blooms. Jacaranda trees are typically found in the upcountry areas of the islands, such as the Kula area on the slopes of Haleakala.
- Thought the peak of humpback whale season is over, you might see some whales lingering before their journey back to Alaska, especially in the earlier part of April.
There’s no seasonality with volcano activity, but, Kilauea has been erupting in a very interesting on-again-off-again eruption pattern. Since December 2024, there have been more than a dozen different eruption episodes. If this pattern continues and you’re vacationing on the Big Island, check to see what’s happening with Kilauea for your opportunity to see this incredible sight.
Hawaii Night Sky Viewing in April
Hawaii is an incredible place to stargaze! That is due to the limited light pollution. So, do take advantage of the opportunity to see the stars.
Here are some of the top things you’ll need to know for stargazing this April:
- See this link to find moonrise and set times. Ideally, you’ll want to minimize stargazing when the moon is shining as the light washes out the visibility of fainter stars and planets.
- The Lyrid Meteor Shower will occur April 16 through April 25 with the peak being on April 22 and 23. You can learn more from this link.
April Festivals and Special Events
Cultural festivals offer a fantastic way to learn more about Hawaii. Here are the major cultural festivals happening this April.
Hawaii, the Big Island
April 10-12 – Big Island Chocolate Festival with this year’s theme being ‘Cirque de Chocolate’
April 12 – Lapenhoehoe Music Festival
Maui
April 18-19 – Celebration of the Arts with this year’s theme being “From the Eyes of the Beholder” – note that organizers are saying this is going to be the 33rd and final year of this event.
April 26-27- East Maui Taro Festival
Kauai
April 13 – Kauai Ukulele Festival
Oahu
April 6 – Kapu’uola Hula Festival
April 10-13 – Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open, a pickleball event
April 26 – Waikiki SPAM Jam
More information to help you make your April Hawaii vacation plans:
The month of April can be somewhat busy with visitors, particularly families on Easter 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
