Kona, Hawaii Weather by Month: Rain, Temperature, and Microclimates

Oct 18

4 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Kona weather is warm and dry at the coast all year. Highs run from about 81 degrees in winter to about 87 in late summer, and the Kona airport gets under 10 inches of rain a year. Go a few miles up the hill and it changes a lot. Upslope Kona gets about five times that rain, and most of it falls in the summer, which is the opposite of the rest of Hawaiʻi. Maile Woodhall of Kona Organic Real Estate is a Kona born Realtor who helps buyers pick the elevation and weather that fit how they want to live.

Key takeaways

The coast is sunny and dry. The Kona airport averages about 9.9 inches of rain a year and about 78 degrees.
Elevation changes everything. A NOAA station at about 1,530 feet above Kona averages about 47.7 inches of rain a year.
Kona's rainy season is summer. Upslope, April through October is the wettest stretch, usually as afternoon clouds and showers.
South Kona is in between. The station at Hōnaunau on the coast averages about 24.7 inches, with the most rain from July to September.
Visit a home in the afternoon before you buy. That is when the clouds come in upslope.

Kona weather month by month

These are 30 year averages (1991 to 2020) from NOAA. Temperatures and coastal rain are from the Kona airport at Keāhole. Upslope rain is from the Lanihau station at about 1,530 feet.

January: high 81, low 69. Rain 1.4 inches at the coast, 2.9 upslope.
February: high 82, low 68. Rain 1.2 inches at the coast, 2.0 upslope.
March: high 82, low 70. Rain 1.0 inch at the coast, 3.3 upslope.
April: high 83, low 71. Rain 0.6 inches at the coast, 5.1 upslope.
May: high 84, low 73. Rain 0.6 inches at the coast, 4.2 upslope.
June: high 85, low 74. Rain 0.8 inches at the coast, 5.4 upslope.
July: high 86, low 75. Rain 0.5 inches at the coast, 5.0 upslope.
August: high 87, low 76. Rain 0.5 inches at the coast, 4.7 upslope.
September: high 87, low 75. Rain 0.5 inches at the coast, 4.8 upslope.
October: high 86, low 75. Rain 0.9 inches at the coast, 5.1 upslope.
November: high 84, low 72. Rain 0.8 inches at the coast, 2.5 upslope.
December: high 82, low 70. Rain 1.1 inches at the coast, 2.7 upslope.

Why Kona's rainy season is summer

Most of Hawaiʻi gets its rain from trade winds and winter storms. Kona sits on the dry side of the island, sheltered by Hualālai, Mauna Loa, and Mauna Kea. On most days a sea breeze pushes warm, moist air up the slopes. By early afternoon it builds into clouds over the upland, and in summer those clouds often bring a shower. The coast below usually stays sunny.

That pattern is why Kona coffee grows upslope and why the coast is a beach and resort area.

How elevation changes daily life

Coast, from Kailua-Kona to Keauhou and the Kohala Coast: hot, sunny, and dry. Air conditioning is common. Yards need water.
Upslope, around Holualoa and the coffee belt: cooler nights, green yards, and afternoon clouds. Many homes have no air conditioning. Some people deal with more humidity and mold in the wet months.
South Kona: a mix of both. The coast is drier and the upland around Kealakekua and Captain Cook is greener.

There is no single "Kona weather." Two homes ten minutes apart can feel like different climates.

Vog and hurricane season

Vog is volcanic haze from Kīlauea. When Kīlauea is erupting, the winds often carry vog around to the Kona side. How much you notice depends on the eruption and the day. The Hawaiʻi Interagency Vog Information Dashboard shows current conditions.

The Central Pacific hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Most years no hurricane hits the Big Island, but every household should have a plan.

Choosing a home by weather

Ask yourself how you want to spend a normal afternoon. If it is at the beach in the sun, look near the coast. If it is in the garden with cooler air, look upslope. Visit at different times of day and in different months if you can.

Maile Woodhall grew up in Kona and knows how each area feels in August and in February. She can preview homes at the time of day that matters and report back.

Common questions

What is the weather like in Kona, Hawaii?

Warm and dry at the coast all year. The Kona airport averages highs of about 81 degrees in winter and 87 in late summer, with under 10 inches of rain a year. Upslope areas are cooler and much wetter.

When is the rainy season in Kona?

Summer. Upslope Kona gets the most rain from April through October, mostly as afternoon showers. The coast stays fairly dry all year.

Does it rain a lot in Kona?

Not at the coast. The Kona airport averages about 9.9 inches a year. A NOAA station at about 1,530 feet above Kona averages about 47.7 inches.

What is the best month to visit Kona to look at homes?

Any month works. To see upslope homes at their wettest, visit in summer in the afternoon. To see the coast at its hottest, visit in August or September.

About the author: Maile Woodhall (pronounced Miley) is a licensed Hawaiʻi REALTOR (RS-88019) with The Agency Team Hawaii, eXp Realty (RB-21841), born and raised in Kona. Questions? Call or text (808) 482-5800.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, stations Kailua Kona Keāhole Airport (USW00021510), Lanihau (USC00515330), and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau (USC00518552). Hawaiʻi Interagency Vog Information Dashboard. NOAA Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Averages are not forecasts.