Most visitors coming to Hawaii might not realize that this is the rainy season on the islands and it’s not always going to be the picture-perfect days they might expect of sunny skies, gorgeous beaches and outdoor fun. But what to do on gloomy and even stormy days when its no fun to go out explore, hit the beach or walking around outdoors in bad weather? We’ve got you covered with some fun suggestions of things to do on the islands during the rainy season when you just want to bundle up and just stay in bed.

Check out all these rainy day experiences and fun things to do on the islands despite stormy or inclement weather outside in paradise.

How to spend a rainy day in Hawaii

When is the rainy season in Hawaii?

Typically the rainy season in Hawaii is during the winter season. That covers the months from November until March time frame. The exact dates and time frames varies with each island unless there is a major storm front that covers the entire island chain which does occur during the rainy season and also hurricane season during the summer months. Weather patterns are more unpredictable during the winter time on the islands with moisture and rainy skies the norm throughout the days and nights on the islands.

What to do on rainy days in Hawaii

Don’t let rainy skies and gloomy weather put a damper on your vacation time in paradise. There’s still a lot to do see and eat when the weather is terrible outdoors. Check out all these fantastic ideas of what you can do despite rainy skies and stormy weather hitting the islands.

Have a luxurious breakfast

Why not order room service or enjoy a long-extended brunch experience with fresh local fruits, pancakes or French toast with coconut, guava or lilikoi sauce for toppings. You’ll have no rush to savor a delicious meal for breakfast and take your time enjoying the entire experience.

Do a fun spa experience

When the weather outside is frightful, why not take it indoors and indulge in a wonderful spa experience. How about trying the exotic lomi lomi massage or a nice facial or pedicure experience with exotic essential oils to pamper and put you in a fantastic mood even if things are gloomy outside.

Go Shopping in Hawaii

There are so many choices around the islands of fun shopping venues to explore and drop some change for colorful tropical outfits, home accessories or little souvenirs to take home to family and friends. Outside of malls and specialty shopping, you might also check out indoor markets that are fun to explore and away from the rain and outdoor elements.

Get some culture on and visit a museum

Most of the islands have fantastic museums to explore from art inspired collections, indigenous artifacts or even living museums that you can explore in the comfort even if the winds and rain are kicking up fierce outside. What a better time to explore the Bishop Museum, Spalding house, Hawaii State Art Museum or Honolulu Museum of Art in Oahu. If you are visiting Maui, check out the Baldwin House Museum, the Maui HIstorical Society museum, Maui Plantation Museum, and Hui No’eau Visual Arts

On the BIg Island you can visit the Lyman house and museum, Pacific Tsunami Museum, Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hulihee Palace

On Kauai, check out these fantastic museums: Waioli Mission House, Kaua’i Museum, Kokee Museum, Grove Farm Sugar Plantation

Do a Hawaiian craft, take a hula lesson or learn to strum a ukulele

Time for more cultural immersion and most hotel resorts or even shopping centers offer free Hawaiian arts and crafts and classes for free. Want to learn some quick strums on a ukulele or some cool hula moves to take home and impress your friends? Then now is a great time to research your hotel offerings, shopping venues or other free classes offered by the tourism bureau or even things to do pamphlets that you can find at the many kiosks around each island.

Go visit a brew pub

When it’s gloomy outside, locals love to visit their brew pub and every island offers a variety of popular venues or even sports clubs to watch some sports, experience some local brews or ciders and try some delicious pupus or appetizer dishes with local ingredients. Don’t stay in your hotel room, go out and eat and drink the best of local style foods and beverages.

Indulge in a Hawaiian fine dining experience

You can’t go wrong with having a sumptuous dinner experience on the islands and every island has their signature fine dining venues to indulge in. Try their local specialties, delicious appetizers and island inspired desserts for a perfect dining experience you’ll never forget. Just make sure you book a place in advance since the islands are still in covid measures when it comes to social distancing measures indoors.

Visit some art galleries or creative arts performances in music, dance and other mediums

If you are into art or the creative arts, this is a great time to go to some amazing art galleries or purchase a fun performance to a local event, slack key, hula or Hawaiian show. These indoor shows can be a wonderful alternative to experience in the day or night time on the islands and a nice immersive Hawaiian experience to do on the isands.

Experience some indoor or cultural experience

Why not visit an aquarium like the Maui Ocean Center or Honolulu Aquarium, Enjoy a day at the Polynesian cultural center, or do some cool star gazing and explore Hawaiian heritage and history at the Imiloa Astronomy center in Hilo. There’s plenty of cool indoor history, culture and family friendly places to explore around each island when you have more time to be indoors. If you want to visit the only real palace in the United States go for a tour at the Iolani palace or sign up for a tour at the exotic Islamic home called Shangri la of magnate Doris Duke.

Watch the crazy big wave action

Lots of dramatic wave action to view from a safe distance, the dramatic coastlines from around the islands are something to witness. Just make sure you are at a safe distance preferable from a high look out point to watch the wave action.

Of course, you might see some dare devil surfers or wind surfers doing some crazy stunts in the water and think this is safe – it isn’t safe so don’t even try to get into the water. Bring an umbrella or wet gear and just enjoy nature at her wildest side by just watching the big wave action from a safe viewing vantage point.

See some amazing waterfalls in paradise

If you don’t mind getting a little wet and the weather is not too bad outside why not check out all the local waterfalls that are probably pumping out some massive water from their rim. Each island has some wonderful waterfall action and a few are easy drive to and photo spots that don’t involve massive hiking.

Check out my post on all the top waterfalls to visit around Hawaii here and waterfalls of Oahu here for inspiration. Just make sure to visit waterfalls that are easy to access and have safe observation areas for viewing and not waterfalls that you have to hike to see.

Try some yummy local food

If you’re hungry and looking for something to snack on why not try some yummy like some local shave ice, ono pupu appetizers or even some delicious malasadas, there’s so many amazing local food to experience on the islands to try. Check out my post here on popular Hawaiian foods and Hawaiian snacks here for you to experience on your own, which is always perfect even on rainy days.

Other details on visiting during the rainy season in Hawaii

Don’t go in the ocean on stormy and rainy days when the ocean, currents and conditions are extreme and unpredictable.

Don’t do outdoor road trips to areas that are prone to flash floods on small surface roads and more remote areas on each island.

Stay away from cliffsides and other rocky areas that can easily collapse with wind and rainy weather conditions.

Don’t do any major outdoor activity that involves hiking, cliff or rock climbing, lava tubing or exploring any river or waterfall areas that can be extremely dangerous in wet or stormy conditions on the islands.

If you hear lots of flash flooding announcement to certain areas, please try to avoid going to those places.

Conclusion to visiting Hawaii in Rainy Season

Being outdoors and in the rain or stormy weather is no fun in Hawaii and hopefully these tips and ideas will lesson your bad weather experience on the islands. If you have any other tips to contribute on what to do and see, please share them in the tips below, mahalo.