The Big Island Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in The Big Island, the United States of America in May.

Thinking about venturing to The Big Island, the United States of America this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in The Big Island in May

The Big Island, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. May in The Big Island generally has temperatures that range from pleasant to warm, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from pleasant in Volcano at 22°C (72°F) to warm in Pahoa at 26°C (79°F). At night it cools down to 21°C (70°F) in Pahoa and 16°C (61°F) in Volcano.

For a closer look at conditions across The Big Island, the United States of America, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Hawi with an average of 34 mm (1.3 in) to heavy rainfall in Captain Cook with 393 mm (15 in).

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this May. For example, Kailua-Kona gets approximately 275 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore The Big Island by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in The Big Island — and find the best time to visit. (based on Kailua-Kona)

Best Places to Visit in The Big Island in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across The Big Island.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in The Big Island

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in The Big Island, the United States of America?

Temperature range in The Big Island (May)

Precipitation variation in The Big Island (May)

Kailua-Kona

In May Kailua-Kona generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
275 hours
290 hours
Monthly rainfall
278 mm (11 in)
303 mm (12 in)
412 mm (16 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
18 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Waikoloa

In May Waikoloa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
275 hours
290 hours
Monthly rainfall
254 mm (10 in)
276 mm (11 in)
344 mm (14 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
18 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Hapuna Beach

In May Hapuna Beach generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
275 hours
290 hours
Monthly rainfall
208 mm (8.2 in)
224 mm (8.8 in)
269 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
18 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Kaupulehu

In May Kaupulehu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
275 hours
290 hours
Monthly rainfall
256 mm (10 in)
281 mm (11 in)
367 mm (14 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Kalaoa

In May Kalaoa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
275 hours
290 hours
Monthly rainfall
291 mm (11 in)
319 mm (13 in)
422 mm (17 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
18 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in The Big Island, in the United States of America.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in The Big Island in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kailua-Kona 24°C (75°F) 20°C (68°F) 303 mm (12 in)
Waikoloa 25°C (77°F) 18°C (64°F) 276 mm (11 in)
Hapuna Beach 26°C (79°F) 19°C (66°F) 224 mm (8.8 in)
Kaupulehu 25°C (77°F) 20°C (68°F) 281 mm (11 in)
Kalaoa 24°C (75°F) 20°C (68°F) 319 mm (13 in)
Waimea 25°C (77°F) 18°C (64°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)

The Big Island weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in The Big Island, the United States of America in May?

In May, The Big Island, the United States of America generally has poor weather conditions. Kailua-Kona sees daytime temperatures near 24°C (75°F), with nights cooling to roughly 20°C (68°F).

What is the average temperature in The Big Island, the United States of America in May?

In Kailua-Kona, the average daytime high in May is 24°C (75°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 20°C (68°F).

Does The Big Island, the United States of America get a lot of rain in May?

Expect plenty of rainfall. Kailua-Kona records an average of 303 mm (12 in) in May, putting it among the wetter months for The Big Island, the United States of America.

Is May a Good Time to Visit The Big Island, the United States of America?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Kailua-Kona, May may not be the ideal time to visit The Big Island, the United States of America.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February and December offering mostly pleasant weather in Kailua-Kona. In contrast, April, May, June, July, August, September and October tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in The Big Island.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.