United States
Honolulu in May
☀️ Dry seasonWarm, a little humid and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · sunglasses & hat
Why May scores 9.0What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.6
- ✓Warm (31°C highs / 20°C lows)
- !Humid (dew point 20°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~21 mm rain)
- Air quality9.9
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~6 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 Excellent | 9.3 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Dry season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 31° / 20° | 27° / 18° |
| Rain | 21 mm | 47 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 20° | dew pt 19° |
| PM2.5 | 6 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Honolulu weather-station normals. Rainfall: Honolulu weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Memorial Day 29–31 May · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore HonoluluEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyHawaii's capital on the island of Oʻahu, combining Waikīkī beach resorts with Pearl Harbor history, Hawaiian royal heritage and volcanic hikes.
Lei DayEvery year1 May every year
A celebration of the lei and Hawaiian culture, with lei-making displays and music.
Why go: A good day to see traditional lei craft.
Where: Kapiʻolani Park and across Hawaii
Coming up later
King Kamehameha DayEvery year11 June every year
A state holiday honouring Kamehameha I, with lei draping of his statue and a floral parade.
Why go: The parade may be held on a nearby weekend.
Where: Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī
Aloha FestivalsDate variesUsually September
A celebration of Hawaiian culture with a royal court, parade and street party.
Why go: Kalākaua Avenue closes for parts of the festival.
Where: Waikīkī and Honolulu
Honolulu MarathonDate variesUsually the second Sunday of December
One of the largest marathons in the US, with no time limit for finishers.
Why go: Roads close early on race morning.
Where: Downtown to Kapiʻolani Park
Waikīkī Beach
A long hotel-lined beach with gentle surf, good for learning to surf.
Diamond Head State Monument
A volcanic crater with a steep trail to a summit lookout over Waikīkī.
💡 Visitors usually need an advance reservation; go early to avoid heat.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Sites commemorating the 1941 attack, including the USS Arizona Memorial.
💡 Bags are not allowed in; reserve programme tickets ahead.
ʻIolani Palace
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs.
Bishop Museum
Hawaii's largest museum, focused on Hawaiian and Pacific culture and natural history.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
A protected bay in a volcanic crater with coral reef snorkelling.
💡 Entry requires an advance reservation and a short educational video.
Poke
Cubes of raw fish, usually ʻahi tuna, seasoned with soy, sesame or seaweed.
💡 Supermarket and fish counters
Plate lunch
A main such as kalua pork or teriyaki chicken with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad.
Loco moco
Rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg and gravy.
Shave ice
Finely shaved ice drenched in flavoured syrups.
Malasadas
Portuguese-style fried doughnuts dusted in sugar.
Aloha shirts
Printed Hawaiian shirts, ideally from local makers.
Kona coffee
Coffee grown on the Big Island's Kona coast; check labels, as blends contain little Kona.
Macadamia nuts
Roasted and chocolate-covered macadamias grown in Hawaii.
Local crafts
Lauhala weaving and other items made by Hawaiian artisans.
💡 Craft fairs and museum shops