Originally Posted by
CIT85
The weather was very good on the Big Island week before Christmas, occasional afternoon clouds and showers one afternoon (out of 5). There is enough to do and plenty of nice spots for snorkeling on the Big Island. Kauai forecast was rain everyday for 2 weeks, although we only ended up with 2 full days of rain out of 8. Princeville weather was terrible, one day of sun and rain pretty much everyday, not just afternoon showers. Surf conditions in Kauai around New Years were rough with steady winds, beaches were all flying red flags. Snorkeling at Poipu was decent with lots of fish, but crowded.
Yeah it really helps being in the lee of a 13,800 ft volcano when the storms are coming from the north . . . so the weather on the Kohala coast is going to be way more predictably good in December or January than north shore of Kauai. Coldest I've ever been in Hawaii was Hanalei in early December a few years ago . . . temp dropped to mid-60s and the locals were talking about ordering down comforters online!