Why January is a Great Time to Visit Oahu
We visited Oahu, likely the most popular Hawaiian island, in early January 2022 and had an absolutely lovely time, so we’re going to detail in this blog post why we believe January is a great time to visit Oahu. As we didn’t visit any of the other Hawaiian islands, we will only speak about Oahu. Let’s get started!
Summer in January
If you live above the equator and experience winter in January, then January is a great time to visit Oahu because you’ll be able to get some summer! Temperatures average a high of 26-28C and a low of 21C - we were in shorts and t-shirts/tank tops the entire time we were there and I only took out a thin cardigan a few times in the evenings.
The ocean temperature is also reasonable at about 22-24C. Do note that the winter months are known to have rough conditions with very high waves, so be careful and don’t go into the ocean if it isn’t calm!
We do have to point out that the winter months are rainier, although December is typically the rainiest month. Don’t let this put you off though - the rain is usually quite fleeting and doesn’t last all day. We got caught in some short rain showers about two or three times during our 10-day trip in Oahu, which we think isn’t too bad at all!
Less Crowded
After the holiday period comes to an end (usually a few days after New Year’s Day) and everyone returns to work and school, Oahu is known to generally be quieter. The only exception to this would be Martin Luther King Jr Day, which occurs on the third Monday in January.
Of course, we visited Oahu during a somewhat strange time. My aunt and uncle, who visit Oahu on an almost yearly basis in January (and who we actually met up with on this trip!) did say that they noticed less tourists than they used to on previous trips. But generally speaking, January would have less tourists than the summer months anyway.
Be sure to check out our YouTube video featuring Oahu!
Lower Prices
Because most of January sees less tourists in Oahu, this generally also means lower flight, accommodation, and car hire prices. Of course, depending on where in the world you’re visiting Oahu from, it may still mean a very expensive trip, but it’s great to save money nonetheless!
Below, we’ll list our major costs in case it helps give you something to compare to:
Los Angeles to Honolulu return flights via American Airlines for two people: £634.20 (We definitely didn’t get the best deal for our flights to/from Oahu because we did see the price go down to about £400.00 later on, but hey ho, you win some, you lose some!)
One-bedroom apartment via Airbnb in Honolulu for 10 nights: £996.65
Car hire via Turo for 6 days: $535.28 USD (approximately £400.00)
A Great Way to Start the Year
While we mainly chose to go to Oahu in January because of our wedding anniversary being in January, we also think that January is a great time to visit Oahu (or anywhere really!) to start the year off right. You can revive your senses by exploring somewhere new and take some time to rejuvenate your mind before getting on with the rest of the year.
Have you ever visited Oahu in January? Would you, and why? Let us know in the comments!
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In this blog post, we list out a few things that you may not know (and that people may not tell you!) prior to visiting Oahu for the first time, including 7-lane motorways and more!