Cheapest Time to Fly to Hawaii (and the Most Expensive)

Hawaii flight prices can jump around a lot—mostly because demand spikes when school is out and everyone wants the same sunny-week getaway.

If you can travel during shoulder-season stretches and avoid the big holiday weeks, you’ll usually have much better odds of scoring a cheaper flight.

Quick Take

• Cheapest time to fly to Hawaii: mid-January–early March (after New Year), April (select weeks), late August–October, and early December
• Most expensive time to fly to Hawaii: mid-June–early August, spring break weeks (March–April), Thanksgiving week, and late December–early January

Cheapest Time to Fly to Hawaii

The cheapest flights to Hawaii usually show up when fewer families are traveling, airlines have more seats to fill, and you’re outside the “everyone’s going” weeks.

Mid-January to Early March (Post–New Year Dip)

Once the New Year rush ends, prices often cool off. For a lot of travelers, this is one of the most consistent windows for cheaper airfare—especially if you can fly midweek.

Money-saving tip: Tuesday–Thursday departures often price better than weekend-heavy schedules.
Exception: Presidents Day week can bump prices, especially for shorter trips.

April (Select Weeks After Spring Break)

April can be a sweet spot when you’re between the spring break surge and the early-summer ramp. It’s not always rock-bottom cheap, but it’s often calmer than March.

Money-saving tip: Compare islands—Oahu (HNL) often has the most competition, while Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island can price differently week to week.
Exception: If your dates overlap late spring school breaks, pricing can act more like peak.

Late August to October (Post-Summer Shoulder Season)

Once summer travel fades, airfare often drops. This is one of the best value windows—especially for travelers who don’t need to go during school breaks.

Money-saving tip: If you can avoid Friday/Sunday flights, you’ll usually see better fare options.
Exception: Some September weeks can rise if they overlap major events or limited flight schedules from smaller airports.

Early December (Pre-Holiday Lull)

Early December can be a strong deal window right before holiday travel starts pushing prices up. You’ll often get noticeably better fares than later in the month.

Money-saving tip: Book your return carefully—late-December returns are where pricing tends to bite.
Exception: Once school breaks start, fares can jump fast.

Most Expensive Time to Fly to Hawaii

High Hawaii fares usually come from one simple pattern—school breaks and holiday weeks. When a ton of people want the same travel dates, prices jump quickly.

Mid-June to Early August (Summer Peak)

This is the toughest stretch for deals. Flights fill quickly, and the best nonstop options get expensive early.

Peak within peak: Late June through late July is often the priciest run.

March to April (Spring Break Weeks)

Spring break travel can spike Hawaii prices hard—especially if you’re flying out on a Friday and returning on a Sunday.

Peak within peak: Friday/Saturday departures + Saturday/Sunday returns during peak spring break weeks.

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving week often prices high because travelers are locked into specific days and shorter travel windows.

Peak within peak: Departures the weekend before Thanksgiving and returns the Sunday after.

Late December to Early January (Holiday Rush)

Christmas and New Year are usually the biggest price spikes of the year for Hawaii. If you want these dates, waiting rarely helps.

Peak within peak: Dec. 20–31 departures and early-January returns.

On a Budget But Want Good Weather in Hawaii?

If you want comfortable conditions without peak-season airfare, these windows are usually your best bet:

• Late April to early June: Great weather before summer peak pricing really takes over
• September: One of the best value-weather months—summer crowds fade, prices often drop
• Early December: Solid weather with pricing that’s usually better than late December

Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Hawaii

Hawaii deals can pop up—but they also disappear fast when the price is genuinely good.

• Low/shoulder seasons: start tracking 1–3 months ahead
• Popular seasons: start tracking 3–6+ months ahead

Extra tip: If you’re flying from the mainland, Oahu (HNL) is often the best place to hunt for deals first—then you can add an interisland hop if needed.

Seasonal Flight Demand Chart for Hawaii

Use this chart as a quick guide to the cheapest vs. priciest months to fly.