Tour the Climates of Hawaii

The Köppen climate classification system is separated into five categories: Tropical, Dry, Temperate, Continental, and Polar.

Beyond those categories, there are additional subdivisions that cap the number of global climates at 14. Hawaii is one of the only places in the world that can say it has more than half of those 14 climates.

March 17, 2021

By: Discovery

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Tropical Summer Dry: Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach

Hawaii is the one of the only tropical places in the world that has peak rainfall in the winter and this climate region is no exception.

Tropical Winter Dry: Kona Coffee Farms

Spanning 70 miles, this climate region fosters the incredible Kona coffee crop in Hawaii.

Tropical Monsoon: Paauilo, Hamaku Coast

In this region on Hawaii Island, there is a forest of non-native eucalyptus trees that thrive in this rainy slice of Hawaiian coast.

Hot Semi-Desert: Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Big Island

This climate zone is actually represented all over the state of Hawaii, with low rainfall along with warm temperatures. A lot of the popular resort spots lie in these hotspots.

Continuously Wet Warm Temperate: Koke'e State Park, Kalalau Valley

Rich with vegetation and wildlife, this climate region home to many of Hawaii's rainforests. Though daily temperatures are warm, continuously wet is an apt description with lots of rainfall throughout the year.

Summer Dry, Warm Temperate: Makawao, Maui

Still not chilly, but colder comparatively, this climate region covers much of Maui's highland forests and the rolling pastures of Hawaii island.

Periglacial: Lake Waiau

At 13,796-feet-above-sea-level, Lake Waiau is one of the highest lakes in the world. The summit area of Hawaii Island’s Mauna Kea volcano boasts some of the coldest temperatures on the island.

Summer Dry Cool Temperate: Mauna Kea

Four months out of the year is chilly, usually below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the vegetation is sparce, but the hikes are incredible.