Hawaii in July: 7 Things to Know Before You Go

Is July actually a good time to visit Hawaii, or will the crowds and prices ruin your trip?

If you're weighing a July trip, the weather works in your favor, but timing your booking and picking the right island makes all the difference.

👉 Hit play now to find out exactly which island fits your July trip best and what to book first before spots fill up.

If you've ever wondered how to enjoy Hawaii in July without getting caught off guard by peak season chaos, this episode is for you.

I'll walk you through what's actually happening on the ground this month so you can plan smarter and still have an amazing trip.

In this episode of Hawaii's Best, we break down what July really looks like across the islands so you can set realistic expectations and book with confidence.

👉In this episode, you will:

• Learn why July weather is some of the most reliable all year
• Discover which island fits your pace best
• Find out which reservations to lock in early

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to plan your July Hawaii trip the right way, from picking your island to booking before everything fills up.

🤙Resources mentioned:

• Hawaii in July Guide
• Box Jellyfish Calendar
• Hawaii’s 2026 Hurricane Forecast

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🎧 Related episodes:

• Best Time to Visit Hawaii
• Summertime in Hawaii

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💻 Related blog posts:

• Best Time to Visit Hawaii

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🤓 Chapters:

• 1:07 Weather in July
• 2:12 Hurricanes and Jellyfish
• 3:26 Summer Surf Safety
• 4:14 Crowds in July
• 5:43 Choosing Your Island
• 6:25 Volcano Update Big Island
• 7:26 Budgeting and Booking
• 9:17 July Events and Festivals
• 10:49 Reservations and Planning
• 12:20 Recap and Resources

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👉 Book a Hawaii Travel Consultation

About Your Host: Bryan Murphy is the founder of Hawaii’s Best Travel & a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert through the Hawaii Tourism Authority, since 2020. An HVCB member since 2019, he helps first-time & repeat visitors plan unforgettable Hawaii vacations w/ clear, practical advice & authentic cultural insight.

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Hawaii travel podcast helps you plan a trip to Hawaii with clarity. Discover practical travel tips, island itineraries, & local insight to help you explore Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island.

Edge of the Ocean (w/ permission)
Ukulele and Chill (w/ permission)
Talk Story (w/ permission)

Transcript

243_Hawaii in July: 7 Things to Know Before You Go

[00:00:00] July Reality Check

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: If you're visiting Hawaii in July, or if you're planning for it, just thinking about it, just know this. It's beautiful, but it's not a quiet month. Yo probably already know this. Crowds are up, prices are high, and summer demand can change really the whole feel of your trip. So today, I'm gonna give you the quick version of what to expect in Hawaii in July and how you can still have an incredible time in Hawaii.

[00:00:27] Bryan Murphy: Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii's best on Brian Murphy, Hawaii destination expert and your personal guide to planning an unforgettable trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:36] Peak Season Basics

[00:00:36] Bryan Murphy: So today talking all about Hawaii in July. July can actually be a really good month for Hawaii vacation, but it's not like a low key, empty beach, cheap flight, cheap hotel kind of month.

[00:00:48] Bryan Murphy: It's really peak season. I think that's the obvious. Kids are out of school. A lot of families are traveling. The 4th of July pushes demand even higher and if you don't plan ahead, July can get even more expensive really quick. But that doesn't mean July is necessarily a bad time to visit Hawaii.

[00:01:07] Weather and Beach Days

[00:01:07] Bryan Murphy: Actually, weather-wise and beach days, July is really one of the most reliable months of the year.

[00:01:14] Bryan Murphy: So the weather in July is pretty much what most people hope for or picture when they think about a Hawaii vacation. Basically, you're looking at daytime highs around the mid to upper 80s. The ocean is warm, relaxing, usually around 78 to 81 degrees. Rain is a lot lower of a chance on the leeward sides of the island.

[00:01:37] Bryan Murphy: So places like Waikiki, Koolina, Kihei, Wailea, Kona, Hoipu. Those tend to be pretty dry during this time of year. And the relief really comes with the trade winds picking up. That breeze is a big reason. July can feel warm but still comfortable, especially near the coast. So if your trip is built around beach days, snorkeling, pool time, boat tours and sunset dinners, all the things that maybe you're thinking about when you're planning your trip, July is really, really strong month for these types of activities.

[00:02:12] Hurricanes and Jellyfish

[00:02:12] Bryan Murphy: However, there are a few things to watch out for. July is technically part of hurricane season in Hawaii, which runs from June through November-ish. However, direct hurricane impacts in Hawaii are really rare, but it's not something to just ignore. But keep your eye on the forecast, especially for boat tours, flights between islands, island hopping, or anything weather dependent.

[00:02:38] Bryan Murphy: I actually did a, a news report about the hurricane season this year due to it being an El Nino year, officials are forecasting a higher chance of hurricanes in the area, but it's really rare. So I just bring that up just for you to be aware of and make sure that's on your radar. If you're swimming on Oahu South Shore, so, you know, think Waikiki area, pay attention to box jellyfish alerts.

[00:03:06] Bryan Murphy: They tend to show up about eight to 10 days after a full moon. So we're approaching that. We just had a full moon and we're kind of approaching that in the next week or so. And in the show notes, I'm gonna go ahead and link the box jellyfish calendar so you can see and, and just be aware. And, you know, also you'll see postings at the beach as well.

[00:03:26] Summer Surf Safety

[00:03:26] Bryan Murphy: So speaking of the beaches, July surf patterns, I think they matter a lot. The North Shore are usually a lot calmer in the summer. You know, especially if you visit during the wintertime, it's almost this crazy juxtaposition of North Shore winter versus summer swells. And it, you know, North Shore during the summertime is a great area you can go swimming in.

[00:03:49] Bryan Murphy: And then the wintertime, it's just crazy gnarly. You don't wanna get out there at all. But for the summer, this can be better for families and, and snorkeling. Think, uh, you know, Sharks Cove. Uh, South Shores can see a bit more of a swell, so check conditions before getting in. The saying that the lifeguards have is, you know, wind and doubt don't go out.

[00:04:08] Bryan Murphy: You know, heat to that as well. Not all the areas, not all the shores are gonna be, you know, super calm and, and glassy.

[00:04:14] Crowds and Oahu Tips

[00:04:14] Bryan Murphy: So for crowds, if you're planning July, you probably already have a hunch that it's gonna be busy. Oahu is one of the busiest, you know, you got Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Lonnie Kai, North Shore, all those places are great, but they get crowded fast.

[00:04:29] Bryan Murphy: And talking about the North Shore this summer, I'm gonna post a link below, but if you're staying in Waikiki or in Koolina on Oahu, you can take a shuttle up to the North Shore. This is brand new. It's $5. And then what you do, you do your thing at the North Shore, you support local businesses, you get a receipt and then that gets you back on the bus back home.

[00:04:49] Bryan Murphy: And this is something that is, that they're trying out for the summer and it runs till like September. I'll go ahead and drop that article below as well. Definitely if you're staying in Waikiki and you're not, you know, thinking about renting a car, this is a great way to get up to the North Shore support local.

[00:05:07] Bryan Murphy: But all the crowds and all that stuff, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to Oahu or any of the o- other islands. Oahu is still a great island, especially for first timers. There's tons to do. The food scene is strong from chain restaurants to amazing local restaurants, highly recommend the local spots.

[00:05:26] Bryan Murphy: And it's usually the easiest island for flights and hotels. It's gon - still gonna be the cheapest that can find during the summertime. But if you're picturing quiet beaches and wide open parking lots, Oahu in July is probably not that version of Hawaii.

[00:05:43] Choosing Your Island

[00:05:43] Bryan Murphy: Now, Hawaii is usually a better pick if you want a quote, kinda slower pace.

[00:05:49] Bryan Murphy: Still gets a lot of visitors, of course, but compared to Oahu, the field is a lot different. It's a little bit slower. And talking about the other neighboring islands, Maui and Hawaii Island, the big island, they fall kinda somewhere in the middle. Now on Mahwi, uh, resort areas like Wailea and Katnapali will be busy.

[00:06:10] Bryan Murphy: The Rodahana can get congested with rental cars. So if you're thinking about doing the Rodahana, if you've never driven the Rodahana before, maybe look into like a small local tour company to go ahead and do Rodahana for you instead of trying to navigate it with everybody else.

[00:06:25] Volcano Update Big Island

[00:06:25] Bryan Murphy: On the, the big island, Huay Volcanoes National Park, it can draw extra interest, especially with everything that's happening with Kilauea the last couple years.

[00:06:33] Bryan Murphy: But a, a quick report on that. Quila, it's been this ongoing eruption pattern since December of 2024. As of this recording, episode 50 ended on June 27th and the eruption is currently paused. The USGS is forecasting that the next episode, episode 51, could happen sometime in July between July 7th and 14th.

[00:06:59] Bryan Murphy: So if you're listening to this on July 3rd, the date of this release and you're headed to the big island soon, check the latest updates from USGS and Hawaii, Volcanos National Park before you go. They're always good at keeping everything up to date there. But the national park remains open, but volcanic activity changes quickly.

[00:07:19] Bryan Murphy: So viewing areas, air quality parking and crowd, all that stuff can shift depending on what's happening with the lava.

[00:07:26] Budgeting and Booking

[00:07:26] Bryan Murphy: Now, one of the biggest questions is, you know, budgeting, how expensive is it? July, it's expensive. It's one of the most expensive months, July and August, and flights are usually higher because of demand.

[00:07:37] Bryan Murphy: Families are traveling and hotels are in peak summer pricing. And the week around, July 4th is especially expensive. This is one of the biggest planning lessons for July. If you want July weather, but not the highest July prices, as best as you can, avoid the exact 4th of July window. The second half of July can sometimes be a little better, not cheaper, but it can be a little bit better as far as crowds and, and that type of stuff.

[00:08:07] Bryan Murphy: But for hotels, Maui is usually the most expensive. Oahu is often the most affordable, at least when you're comparing average hotel rates. And then Kawhi and the Big Island tend to sit somewhere in the middle of that. If you are traveling with family, which typically happens during summer months or a larger group, vacation rentals can help, especially if you wanna use a kitchen for breakfasts, snacks, a few easy meals.

[00:08:35] Bryan Murphy: This is what we do when we travel with our family. We have a kitchen and we do the whole, you know, Costco run and that whole thing. But food costs adds up really fast in Hawaii. Eat in as, as much as you can, simple meals, find local spots that you can support. And also on top of all this, talking about costs, don't forget taxes and fees.

[00:08:57] Bryan Murphy: The nightly rate that you might see on your room might not always be close to the final total. So if you're planning a future July trip, book early, I'd say at the minimum, if you're traveling from the continental US, four to six months out is a much better window than waiting until the very last minute.

[00:09:17] July Events and Festivals

[00:09:17] Bryan Murphy: Now, because July in Hawaii is like peak season and summer's happening, it really has a lot of great events. So of course you have 4th of July ce- celebrations across the islands, you know, think fireworks, parades, rodeos even, concerts, beach gatherings, all depends on where you are and what island you're staying on.

[00:09:38] Bryan Murphy: Beyond the fourth, there are a few cultural events that I think are worth knowing. I want to put it in front of you. The International Ukulele Festival of Hawaii is happening on July 12th at Kapio Lani Regional Park on Oahu. It's free, family friendly, great local musicians to connect with and just hear local music and really see and feel the vibe of the community.

[00:10:00] Bryan Murphy: Also on the island of Oahu is the Prince La Hula Festival. It's on July 17th and 18th this year and that's at the Royal Hawaiian Center right in the heart of Waikiki. This is a non-competitive Hula festival and that has a long history in Hawaii. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the Waikiki area during that time.

[00:10:19] Bryan Murphy: And going over to Hawaii, Koloa Plantation Days runs the second half of July. It's centered around Koloa and Koipu and includes community events, history, food, music and parade and all that good stuff. So you can check that out if you're on Kauai. So these are really the kind of things I want. Encourage anyone who's visiting Hawaii.

[00:10:41] Bryan Murphy: It's not just about the beach or the resort, but local events that help you better understand the place you're visiting.

[00:10:49] Reservations and Planning

[00:10:49] Bryan Murphy: So if this is your first Hawaii trip and you want convenience, Oahu still makes sense. Start there. Just expect crowds and, and plan your days accordingly. Plan them earlier. If you want something a little bit more quieter, quieter beaches, a lower, a slower pace, I would look at Kawaii as that option for you.

[00:11:08] Bryan Murphy: And if you want volcanoes, big landscapes, mana rays and more room to explore, I look at the big island. If you want a resort style summer vacation with great beaches, restaurants, maybe this is a couple's getaway, Maui is still a great option, but it will likely cost even more in July. But no matter which island you choose, make your key reservations early.

[00:11:34] Bryan Murphy: So that means rental car, lodging, Luaus, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and a State Park, Wayanapanapa on Maui, Haleakala, Sunrise, Maui, and, and any boat or snorkel tours that you care about, making sure you do. Basically any key stone activity that you are wanting to do, take a minute, do a Google search for the official page for that thing, say Diamond Head or, or Pearl Harbor and go ahead, make sure you know what the reservation requirements are and when to book and all that stuff.

[00:12:11] Bryan Murphy: So July or like any month in Hawaii, it's not a, it's not a time that you can just show up and assume everything's gonna be available and ready to go.

[00:12:20] Recap and Resources

[00:12:20] Bryan Murphy: So a quick recap. July in Hawaii is warm, dry, great for beach weather. It's also busy. It's expensive, especially around the 4th of July. Oahu can feel probably the most crowded out of the other islands, neighboring islands.

[00:12:36] Bryan Murphy: Kauai will feel usually the quietest and Maui and the big islands sit somewhere kind of in the middle. I know that was a lot of info at once and for the full breakdown, including more island by island details, key event dates, weather notes and planning tips, you can go to Hawaii's best travel.com/243 and then I'll take you right to the complete blog post about Hawaii in July and that's really the main resource for this episode.

[00:13:06] Bryan Murphy: And if you're still trying to figure out whether July is the right month for your trip, you can go back and listen to the last episode, episode 242, link below about the best time to visit Hawaii and that'll give you a much bigger picture month by month of what to expect.

[00:13:23] Closing and Credits

[00:13:23] Bryan Murphy: All right, hope you have a happy and safe forth this weekend and until next time as always live with Aloha.

[00:13:34] Bryan Murphy: Mahalo for listening to Hawaii's best. If you found today's episode helpful, make sure to hit follow on your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes. You can find all links and resources mentioned today in the show notes below. Hawaii's best is produced by Shorebreak Media Group, edited by Easy Podcast Solutions and with music by our friends, Stick Figure.