Hawaii stands out as a beautiful place to visit, but people question when they should go. After all, prices vary depending on the time of year, and you want to ensure you visit when you don’t face any weather issues.
Choosing the right time to visit Hawaii can pose some challenges, but you may want to consider September. If September seems appealing, you must go through the pros and cons. By doing so, you can figure out if you should visit during September or another month.
Make sure you understand why you want to visit Hawaii before you go. Then, knowing the key reasons for your visit, you can keep those points in mind while you look through the pros and cons.
Why Hawaii?
As you look into visiting Hawaii, you may question why so many people go to the area. Sure, you hear how people enjoy it, but why should you bother going? However, Hawaii provides plenty of benefits that make it an ideal location for a vacation.
The Wonderful Weather
Hawaii remains a beautiful location when it comes to weather. If you look into the averages throughout the year, the temperature never drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above 90 degrees. Most people view that as the most comfortable temperature in a tropical setting.
The Hawaii weather in September makes this an ideal location for anyone who wants a nice vacation. Since it doesn’t get too hot or cold, people will feel comfortable most of the time. However, a few people may find it too cold during the winter, so see how your local temperature compares to Hawaii.
You also must note the humidity in Hawaii. Since it’s close to the ocean, you’ll get tons of moisture in the area. That means the air will feel moist and make it easy for you to sweat, so keep that in mind as you plan your Hawaii trip.
Overall, people view the area as paradise due to the beautiful weather. While it may rain, you’ll get mostly blue skies and wonderful days visiting Hawaii. That makes the area ideal for anyone who likes outdoor activities.
The Beautiful Water
Alongside the fantastic weather, you can enjoy great water as you go to the beach. People recognize Hawaii for its excellent clear water beaches. That means as you go into the water, you can look at the ground and see the sand while you swim.
However, the water does get darker during the colder months, so keep that in mind while you visit. The area also has plenty of beaches to meet your needs. For example, you can find beaches with big waves if you like to surf or small waves if you have kids.
Since Hawaii offers plenty of beaches, you can enjoy your time there no matter which island you visit. So even if you don’t plan to swim in the water, you can enjoy some time on the shore, making it an excellent place for anyone who wants to visit.
In short, if the idea of visiting the ocean appeals to you, you can’t do much better than the beaches in Hawaii. After all, you can soak in the rays as your children enjoy some time in the water.
Amazing Hiking Trails
Many people visit Hawaii to enjoy the weather and spend some time outdoors. If you like hiking trails, you need to visit Hawaii since you can find plenty of enjoyable ones. You can find hiking trails on an island, leaving you with plenty of options to choose your ideal hike.
As you visit Hawaii, you can look at nature while you enjoy the area. For example, you can look at the trees, find the various animals, and enjoy the weather. Some hiking trails even lead to waterfalls and places where you can swim, so feel free to look into the options available.
You can also take some mountain hiking trails to get fantastic views. With plenty of hiking trails in the area, you can easily pick a path that works for you. For example, some courses are shorter, so you won’t get as tired after the hike.
However, you need to go on trails as you visit Hawaii. You don’t want to walk through areas without pathways since you can damage the environment and even harm the ecosystem in Hawaii.
Tons of Food and Culture
Hawaii offers food and culture, so you can visit various Hawaiian food places and try them. For example, you can get loco moco, a Hawaiian dish with hamburger, rice, and gravy. You can also seek out other delicacies such as Spam musubi.
You can find hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Hawaii and easily enjoy the different food there. Hawaii also influenced different cultures, including Japan, the Philippines, Samoa, Tonga, and many others.
Alongside the food from those cultures, you can experience plenty of great cultures as you visit the area. For example, you can listen to Hawaiian music, watch some hula dancers, and even see fire dancing. With the variety available, you’ll enjoy yourself as you visit the islands.
If you go to Oahu, you can visit the Polynesian Cultural Center to learn about the culture. You should also check the various islands to see what food and culture you’ll enjoy as you visit Hawaii.
Plenty of Natural Sites
People like to visit Hawaii since they can enjoy nature. For example, if you see the Big Island, you can look at the volcano and visit the beach with black sand. You can also find beautiful beaches on any of the islands.
Some places also have beautiful sites, such as Turtle Beach on Oahu. Turtle Beach received its name since giant sea turtles will swim onto the shore and rest.
Unfortunately, you can’t interact with the endangered turtles, but you can look at them and take pictures. If you run into any turtles while you swim, you need to move away from them so you don’t face any fines.
Find out where you can swim or snorkel with turtles in Hawaii with help from our guide.
Not only that, but you have beautiful forests you can look at when you visit Hawaii. Each island also offers different sites, so you can hop online and determine the areas you want to see.
In short, you’ll come across natural sites in Hawaii that you can’t experience anywhere else. Then, you can figure out which islands have the places you want to share and plan your trip accordingly.
The Pros
As you look into visiting Hawaii in September, you’ll notice multiple pros you can enjoy. Check them to see if the pros make the visit worth it. That way, you’ll understand why you should consider a trip to Hawaii in September.
Enjoy the Great Weather
September stands out as one of the warmest months you can visit Hawaii. It can reach just under 90 degrees, so some people may find the weather hot. However, it only goes down to about 70 degrees at night so you won’t get too cold during the evening.
Many people like to spend more time outside whenever it gets warm. Since you’ll enjoy the heat in Hawaii, you can find plenty of beach-appropriate weather when you visit during September. You also avoid rainstorms during winter so that rain won’t ruin your day.
While you may get some rain during September, people view October through April as the wet season. However, since you’ll miss the bulk of the shower, you can enjoy your visit. Also, even if it rains at the start of the day, it may clear up shortly, so you can continue with your plans.
The Start of Surf Season
If you want to try surfing, September may be an excellent month. Oahu views September to May as the surf season. During the rest of the months, the waves don’t get as big, so they don’t offer as much surfing potential as the other months.
Since September introduces the surf season, you can start riding the waves before they get too big. That way, you can still get some reasonable speed and have fun, but you won’t face the large and dangerous waves throughout the colder months.
Even if you don’t want to surf, you can find calmer beaches without waves to relax. On top of that, you can also watch people surf if you visit during September, so the month makes it great for participants and viewers.
If you’re hoping to experience the waves whilst on vacation we’ve revealed the best surf spots for kids and beginners in Hawaii to help you plan your trip.
Plenty to Experience and Enjoy
As you visit Hawaii, you’ll find plenty of activities to enjoy, even if you don’t go during the summer. You can start by checking out some of the events and points listed below.
- You can enjoy a luau while watching some performances.
- You can camp on the beach to see the sunset and waves.
- You can snorkel in the water to see the sea life.
When you visit Hawaii, you can always find a place where they have a luau. Luaus are great opportunities since you can eat as much as you want while enjoying some local food. Also, you can enjoy different performances like hula or fire dancing, depending on where you go.
Camping also works well since you can stay on the shore and look at the ocean. Not only can you take a dip, but you can also look at the sunset. Some people will even snorkel in specific areas to closely examine the water.
In short, even if you visit during September, Hawaii offers essential experiences you can always enjoy.
Check Out Hawaiian History Month
You can enjoy Hawaiian History Month when you visit the islands in September. While you can experience some events online, you can visit Hawaii to see what they offer during the month. If you want to focus on culture, you can get more out of your visit.
For example, some places will organize programs where they celebrate Queen Lili’uokalani’s birthday. As you look into Hawaii, you can find more information about Hawaiian History Month and understand how you can celebrate it as you visit.
You can also use the month to visit Hawaiian museums and similar locations. It remains an excellent time for those who love learning about culture, so take advantage of any unique activities or events you may experience during the month.
Fewer Tourists
Some people don’t want to deal with busy beaches or areas when they visit locations. If you like seeing fewer people around, you should visit Hawaii in September. Since most tourists visit from May to July, you’ll run into fewer people.
Fewer people can benefit from your vacation in multiple ways.
- You’ll get more space at the beach.
- You’ll have more options when you book hotels.
- You won’t have to wait long to eat at popular food locations.
On top of that, you can visit different tourist attractions without needing to wait in as many lines. In short, you make your experience more convenient and less time-consuming when you avoid the months that attract the most tourists to the islands.
The Cons
However, you’ll run into some cons as well. You need to review them and determine if you want to visit during September. That way, you can seek a different month if you don’t think the cons make the visit worth it during that time of the year.
Expensive Ticket Prices
Unfortunately, if you want to visit during September, you may need to spend more on airline tickets. Tickets show signs of spiking upward during the summer months. They do drop a bit in September, but they still cost more than in the winter months.
That means you get a better deal in September compared to June through August, but you still need to pay more money than on average. You can purchase your tickets ahead of time to save some money, but you still need to spend more overall.
September may not be ideal if you need to save money while visiting Hawaii. Instead, you may want to see it during December or January, but you won’t have as many activities to enjoy.
For more information on the expenses of visiting Hawaii, discover how much it costs to go to Hawaii on a family vacation.
You May Miss Some Summer Activities
Since so many people visit Hawaii during the summer, you’ll sometimes come across summer-only events in the area. For example, some businesses may plan out specific activities for everyone to enjoy that may even be free.
However, they don’t want to host the events if people don’t visit the area. So, to avoid this problem, they hold events during the summer since they can attract tourists and locals. That way, they maximize their profits while offering a fun time to anyone who decides to go.
However, if you visit during the other months, most locals need to work or go to school. Since you don’t get as many tourists in the area, businesses and groups don’t have a reason to hold these events.
While you’ll have plenty of activities to enjoy during September, you should note any specific ones you want to attend during the summer. That way, you don’t miss out on anything you want to do while you visit Hawaii.
Getting Time Off in September
You may find getting time off during September a challenge. In addition, since September happens right before the holiday season, some people don’t want to use their time off for September.
Even if you want to use your time off during September, your boss may not allow you to do so. Depending on the industry, your business may get the most work during the Fall season, so think about your work and what works best for you.
You must also consider whether you plan to visit anyone while you go to Hawaii. For example, if some of your friends work as teachers, spending time together will be challenging since they need to focus on the school year.
Should You Visit During September?
After reviewing the information, you’ll question if you should visit Hawaii in September. You can enjoy plenty of benefits you won’t get from other points in the year. For example, September offers a balance of weather since it stays between 70 and 90 degrees.
On top of that, you won’t run into as many busy beaches since you won’t have as many tourists. So, while you will run into some tourists and locals, you won’t find the beaches packed with people. From there, you can enjoy the beach without too many interruptions.
You may face some cons, such as increased plane prices and fewer activities. If you care about those activities or can’t afford the September flights, the month might not work for you.
In short, you have plenty of advantages to enjoy if you visit Hawaii in September. As long as the few cons don’t bother you, it might work as the ideal month.
Final Comments
As you plan your upcoming trip to Hawaii, you should consider going during September. Not only will you run into fewer tourists, but you can still enjoy decent weather and go to the beach. While you must remain mindful of the rain and winds, it offers plenty of benefits.
Go through the points above to see if September works for you. While it provides some great benefits, the drawbacks may prevent you from going. However, you can still enjoy the wonderful atmosphere provided by the Hawaiian Islands in September.
If you’re considering other months, discover the best time to go to Hawaii.
More about our TFVG Author
Caitlin is one of The Family Vacation Guide's long standing contributors. She enjoys taking vacation to busy, vibrant cities and has stretched her traveling legs out towards Europe in recent months, enjoying new experiences in Barcelona in Spain, and Nice in France.