The best time to ride a motorcycle in Hawaii

Hawaiians traditionally describe two seasons: kau, the warmer and drier half of the year from about May to October, and hooilo, the cooler and wetter half from about November to April. At sea level the difference is small. Daytime temperatures stay in the 70s and 80s all year, so you can ride in January. The Hawaii state guide covers the islands. This page is about timing.

Where you ride matters more than when. Trade winds blow from the northeast most of the year and drop their rain on the windward coasts: Hana, Hilo, Kauai's north shore and Oahu's windward side. The leeward coasts, like Kona, Kihei, the Waianae coast and Kauai's west side, stay much drier. On a wet morning, the fix is usually to ride to the other side of the island.

Then there's elevation. Haleakala, Saddle Road and the top of Waimea Canyon live in a different climate from the beach. It can be near freezing on the Haleakala summit at sunrise, and snow sometimes dusts the tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in winter.

Most of the famous roads sit on the wet side, which is exactly why they're so green. Ride them with rain gear packed and expect wet pavement in the shade even on a sunny day. On Oahu and Maui, the dry side is usually a short ride away. On the Big Island, Hilo and Kona are a long way apart, so pick your side the night before. The road-by-road list is in the best motorcycle roads in Hawaii.

Hurricanes. The Central Pacific hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Direct hits are rare, but a passing storm can bring days of heavy rain and wind. When one is in the area, follow the National Weather Service in Honolulu and stay off the coast roads.

Flash floods. Streams on the windward sides rise fast. The Road to Hana and Kauai's north shore are the classic trouble spots, and heavy rain has closed both for repairs. Never ride through moving water on a road.

Kona weather. A few times a year, mostly in winter, the trade winds stop or turn around. Leeward sides can get heavy rain, and volcanic haze, called vog, can drift over Oahu and Maui. On the Big Island, vog depends on volcanic activity, so riders with breathing problems should check conditions.

Visitor traffic peaks around the winter holidays through March, and again in summer. April and May, then September to early November, are noticeably calmer. On the Road to Hana, the rental-car convoy builds by mid-morning, so start early. On Oahu's North Shore, a big winter swell can back traffic up for miles.

Big events close roads too: the Honolulu Marathon in December, the Ironman triathlon in Kona, usually in October, and the Merrie Monarch Festival week in Hilo in spring. Dates change year to year. See Hawaii motorcycle events for the riding calendar.