Kauai in December is mild, green and wetter than summer, with big surf on the north shore and humpback whales offshore. NOAA normals put Lihue at a 79-degree high and 4.64 inches of rain. As of November 8, 2026, parts of the island are still closed after Hurricane Lowell, so check the state park notices before you go.
Is December a good time to visit Kauai?
Yes, if you plan around two things: rain and surf. December sits in the island’s wetter half of the year, and it is the start of whale season. It is also high-surf season on the north shore. None of that is a reason to skip the trip. It is a reason to keep a few days loose.
I was born and raised on the Big Island and I live on Kauai now. In winter I read the surf report before I read anything else, and so does nearly everyone who lives here. I would rather change a plan than argue with a wave.
The National Weather Service’s Climate of Hawai’i page says winter, October through April, is the season of more frequent clouds and rainstorms. It says winter storms from the north and Kona storms can interrupt the trade winds for days or weeks. Those storms bring the heaviest rains. It also says the coolest months are February and March, not December and January.
Our Hawaii in December guide covers the other islands. This one stays on Kauai, where the Lowell recovery changes what you can do this month.
Kauai weather in December
NOAA publishes 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Lihue Airport. They show December with a normal high of 79.1 degrees and a low of 68.6. December rain is 4.64 inches, which makes it the second-wettest month of the year after March. Here is how the three winter months compare.
| Month (Lihue Airport) | Normal high | Normal low | Normal rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 81.2°F | 71.3°F | 4.03 inches |
| December | 79.1°F | 68.6°F | 4.64 inches |
| January | 78.6°F | 66.0°F | 2.78 inches |
Those are NOAA’s monthly normals for Lihue. The State of Hawaii Data Book, which reprints the same normals, puts the yearly total at 36.22 inches. The airport sits low on the coast, and rain on Kauai changes a lot from one spot to the next. Treat the numbers as a rough guide, not a promise for your beach.
The ocean stays comfortable. The National Weather Service says sea surface temperatures bottom out around 73 to 74 degrees from late February into March, so December water is a little warmer than that low point. Most of us who have packed for a beach week and then watched clouds roll in know the answer is layers and a backup plan. Pack a light rain jacket, and book anything outdoors for the morning.
What is open and closed on Kauai right now?
Hurricane Lowell hit Kauai in early September 2026, and parks have reopened in steps since. Everything below was checked on November 8, 2026. It changes fast, so read the state notice again the day you drive.
- Haena State Park: Hawaii State Parks says Haena reopened on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Its Haena page lists winter hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
- Kalalau Trail: the state’s park notice says the trail reopened to permitted overnight camping on November 2, 2026, and that reservations are required for day and overnight use. For the day hike to Hanakapiai, the same notice gives a reopening date of “11/15,” even though Haena State Park itself reopened on October 15. Confirm the day-hike status with the state before you plan it.
- Kokee and Waimea Canyon: the state’s notice says Waimea Canyon Lookout reopened on Saturday, October 24, 2026, daily during daylight hours. It is a partial opening, and the other lookouts remain closed. Kokee Road remains closed until further notice, so the lookout is as far up the canyon as you can go for now.
- Everything else on the state list: Hawaii State Parks says all Kauai camping remains closed and all other Kauai state parks remain closed. Anyone with a reservation for a storm-closure date gets an automatic refund, minus nonrefundable service charges.
- Roads, beaches and weather: the County of Kauai posts road closures and its Ocean Safety Bureau’s beach advisories, and the National Weather Service in Honolulu posts high-surf and flood alerts. Check both the morning you head out, because winter surf can close a north-shore beach for the day.
I know the first stretch of the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai well, and in winter it is the first thing I check, because recent rain decides whether it is a good day. Respect every posted closure. Do not park outside the reservation system, do not hike past a closed trailhead and do not cut onto private land to get around a barrier.
Haena State Park reservations and fees
Haena is the gateway to the north shore’s best-known coast, and it runs on reservations. Hawaii State Parks says non-residents pay $5 per person for park entry and $10 per vehicle for parking. Children 3 and under are free. Hawaii residents enter free with a Hawaii driver’s license or state ID.
The state says day-use entry and parking reservations open 30 days ahead, and that non-residents need both. A parking reservation is good only for the time slot you buy. Staying longer means buying another slot. The park’s official reservation site says parking outside the park violates the purchase terms and that you need a valid ID that matches your passes.
The state’s hike information says the walk from Haena to Hanakapiai Falls is 8 miles round trip, and that it is included in a Haena entry or parking reservation. Going past Hanakapiai Valley takes a camping permit for Napali Coast State Wilderness Park. That is the permit the state says reopened on November 2.
Can you swim on Kauai in December?
Sometimes, and not where most visitors expect. The State of Hawaii’s Ocean Safety surf seasons page sets winter at November through April. It describes north shores as having consistent, huge and dangerous swells, and it tells inexperienced surfers and swimmers to stay out of the water at those beaches during high surf. South shores are flat to small.
Surf varies by beach, and one rough bay does not mean the whole island is closed to swimmers. The same page lists lifeguarded beaches and points to a surf report. I plan winter swims at lifeguarded beaches only, and I know that some beaches close down when the surf is up. If a lifeguard says no, the answer is no.
Anyone who has stood at the edge of a beach and watched sets roll in knows the trick is to watch for ten minutes before you decide. Winter is the season to do that. Our guide to Poipu beaches covers the south shore, where winter water is usually the calmest on the island.
Where to stay on Kauai in December
Base on the south side if you want the best chance of calm water. That is my pick for most December trips, and it matches the state’s description of south shores as flat to small in winter. From there, drive north for a day when the weather is good.
The north shore is the scenic choice. It is also where the big winter surf lands, and it is where the Haena reservations, the Hanakapiai hike and the Kilauea Point refuge sit. If you stay north, plan your water time around the surf report, and expect some days when the beach is for looking only.
The east side around Lihue is the middle option. It puts you near the airport and gives you a short drive either way. Most of us have booked a room from a sunny photo and then spent the week under cloud. Check the forecast for the side you are choosing, and keep one night flexible if the booking allows it.
Things to do on Kauai in December
Start with the coast and the wildlife, since those are open. Then add the inland places as the state reopens them. Here is how the main options stand on November 8, 2026.
- Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists hours of Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with gates closing at 3:30 p.m. It lists adult entry at $11.00 with the reservation fee, says there is no extra fee for parking, and says the refuge is closed on major holidays, so check it around Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Reservations are required for adults 16 and older through Recreation.gov. Our Kilauea Point lighthouse guide has the booking rules.
- Waimea Canyon Lookout: partly open since October 24, with Kokee Road above it still closed. Non-residents pay $5 per person and $10 per vehicle at Waimea Canyon and Kokee state parks, and children 3 and under are free, according to the state park pages.
- The Hanakapiai hike: check the day-hike status first, then book Haena. It is the walk I would save for a dry morning.
- Beach walks and sunsets: pick the shore that matches the swell, and stay back from the water line on big days.
- Holiday events: watch the County of Kauai calendar in December for this year’s parades and lights, since dates are posted closer to the season.
Humpback whales around Kauai in December
NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary says humpbacks are generally seen in Hawaii from November through April, with the peak from January through March. December is early in the season, so sightings are real but fewer than in February. The sanctuary says about half of the North Pacific humpback population visits Hawaiian waters each winter and spring. Our whale season guide breaks the months down.
The distance rule is firm. NOAA says to stay 100 yards from humpbacks, whether you are swimming, paddling, in a kayak or boat, or flying a drone. Aircraft must stay 1,000 feet away. The rule applies year-round in Hawaiian waters. To report a suspected close approach, call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.
A lookout with some height and a pair of binoculars is all you need. Scan the horizon for a blow, a short puff of mist, then wait for the back to roll.
Updated November 8, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about Kauai in December
Is Kauai open for visitors in December 2026?
Yes, though recovery from Hurricane Lowell is still going. Hawaii State Parks says Haena State Park reopened on October 15, 2026, and Waimea Canyon Lookout partly reopened on October 24, while Kokee Road stays closed. It also says all Kauai camping and all other Kauai state parks remain closed.
Is Haena State Park open?
Yes. Hawaii State Parks says it reopened on October 15, 2026. Non-residents need reservations and pay $5 per person for entry and $10 per vehicle for parking, and its winter hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
How much rain does Kauai get in December?
NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals show 4.64 inches at Lihue Airport in December, with a normal high of 79.1 degrees and a low of 68.6. Rain varies a lot across the island.
Can you swim in Kauai in December?
At some beaches. The State of Hawaii says north shores have consistent, huge and dangerous swells in winter and that novice swimmers should stay out during high surf, while south shores are flat to small. Ask a lifeguard before you get in.
Can you see whales on Kauai in December?
Yes. NOAA says humpbacks are generally seen in Hawaii from November through April, with the peak from January through March. Stay at least 100 yards away.
Photo credits: Hanalei Bay shoreline by iamkory (CC BY 2.0). Poipu coast by Bob Linsdell (CC BY 2.0).
