Climate & Weather in Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona has a real, genuinely warm, dry, leeward climate -- January average highs cited around 71-78°F and August (the warmest month) around 78-89°F depending on source, with approximately 27 inches of annual rainfall near the dry end of the island's range, in real contrast to wetter, windward Hilo.
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Learn moreGenuinely Warm Year-Round Temperatures
Kailua-Kona's climate is described across sources as warm, muggy, and partly cloudy with little seasonal swing -- temperatures typically vary from around 68°F to 87°F over the year, rarely dropping below 65°F or exceeding 89°F. January (coolest) runs an average high around 71°F; August (warmest) runs around 78°F per one source, though other sources cite Kona's peak-season highs closer to the upper 80s.
Genuinely Dry by the Big Island's Own Standard
Kona's approximately 27 inches of annual rainfall sits near the dry end of the Big Island's range -- real, genuine leeward dryness in contrast to wetter, windward Hilo. Rainfall is not evenly distributed: July is the wettest month (~17 inches over ~19 rainy days), January the driest (~5.4 inches over ~15 rainy days).
Real, Predictable Daily Cloud Patterns
April, May, and June are cited as the cloudiest months (clouds blocking the sun close to 70% of the time), while December and January run sunniest (under 50% cloud cover). Clear-sky odds are best in the morning (roughly 8-10am); by 2pm, cloud cover reaches roughly 80% likelihood on a typical day.
A Real, Distinct Microclimate From Upcountry Kona
As detailed on the best-areas topic page, upcountry areas like Holualoa (1,400-2,000 feet above Kailua-Kona on Hualalai's slopes) carry a real, genuinely different, cooler, greener microclimate than the coastal town -- this record's own research this pass focused primarily on coastal Kailua-Kona's climate rather than exhaustively cataloging every upcountry microclimate.
Key takeaways
- Kailua-Kona's temperatures run genuinely warm year-round, typically 68-87°F, with little seasonal swing.
- Annual rainfall (~27 inches) runs near the dry end of the Big Island's range -- genuinely drier than wetter, windward Hilo.
- April-June run cloudiest; December-January run sunniest, with the best clear-sky odds in the morning before early-afternoon cloud buildup.
- Upcountry areas like Holualoa carry a real, distinct, cooler microclimate genuinely different from the coastal town.
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