Things to do in Oahu and Hawaii in September

Temperature: 75-90°F • Average Rainfall: 11 days/month • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day • Sea Temperature: 81°F

September is kinda the best of all worlds in Hawaii. Temperatures are much the same as the peak vacation months of July and August, which means mercury that rides the high 80s on the regular and rarely drops to anywhere near the level where you might start considering a cardigan (unless you happen to find yourself at high altitude, that is – of which more later).

Plus, with the kids back in school the summer crowds have substantially thinned, meaning no more soul-sucking lines for that life-saving shave ice or mai tai cocktail, nor fights over who had their towel on the sunlounger first.

Lower tourist numbers are also great news for your wallet. Let’s face it, Hawaii can be expensive at the best of times, so September’s slightly more affordable room rates are likely to be manna for more price-conscious vacationers. It also means less time spent queuing up for Oahu’s biggest cultural attractions, including the Polynesian Cultural Center, Iolani Palace and Pearl Harbor monuments and museums.

Savvy travelers can save even more with the Oahu pass from Go City®, which slices up to 50% off the regular admission prices of top Hawaii attractions. Click to find out more and choose your pass.

The spirit of aloha is alive and well in the Hawaiian Islands. Much more than just a friendly greeting, aloha is a genuine way of life for islanders, encapsulating philanthropic behaviours like love, kindness, humility and patience. It’s a philosophy, quite frankly, that we could all do well to get behind.

Let a little aloha spirit into your life at the trio of cultural celebrations that comprise the Aloha Festivals. Established way back in 1946 to honor the state's music and dance traditions and storied past, the month-long party is celebrated across the islands, with the main events taking place across consecutive September weekends on Oahu, as follows…

• The Royal Court Investiture and Opening Ceremony. Don’t be fooled by the rather formal name. The opening weekend of the festival is a vibrant display of Hawaiian heritage and pageantry, usually held in Helumoa Gardens at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Expect traditional music, hula dancing and colorful costumes galore.
• Waikiki Ho'olaule'a. Only Hawaii’s biggest annual block party, the Waikiki Ho'olaule'a is a beachfront street festival par excellence featuring Hawaiian street food, artisan crafts and multiple stages showcasing the best local bands and – yes – hula dancers.
• Floral Parade. Got a passion for plumeria? Adore anthuriums? Hibiscus make you happy? Then take yourself along to the festival’s fabulous floral fiesta, an absolute riot of color and scent that features floats brimming with cascades of rainbow blooms, plus marching bands, traditional pāʻū horseback riders and more dancers than you can shake your hula at.

Take advantage of September’s reduced tourist numbers to enjoy major Oahu attractions without those pesky long lines. Here are some of our faves, several of which are included with the Oahu pass…

• Pearl Harbor. The best way to experience Hawaii’s most historically significant sites is with an immersive guided tour. There are several variations available, but the best will always include the memorial to the sunken USS Arizona battleship and the deeply moving National Cemetery of the Pacific, nestled in an extinct volcano cone.
• Iolani Palace. See how the other half live inside this opulent American-Florentine confection which was built for Kamehameha III in the mid-19th century and remains the only official royal state residence in the United States to this day.

• Polynesian Cultural Center. Six distinct villages represent six different Polynesian island nations at this perennially popular Oahu attraction, which promises a sensory saturnalia of sights, sounds and smells from across the South Pacific. Try your hand at lei-making and fire-dancing, get a temporary tattoo, sample freshly made Tahitian coconut bread and much more.
• Bishop Museum. Delve deeper still into Hawaii’s heritage at this fine natural history museum, where highlights include 19th-century Hawaiian art, personal effects from the Hawaiian monarchy, and a planetarium.
• Sea Life Park Hawaii. This fine family day out on Oahu stars Humboldt penguins, Hawaiian reef sharks, rare wholphins and a veritable kaleidoscope of vibrant tropical fish. You can even hand-feed sea turtles, should you so desire.

Balmy weather and sunny skies mean prime conditions for outdoor pursuits. Our pick for September runs the gamut from scaling magnificent volcanic peaks to snoozing in a hammock…

• Snorkel the Molokini Crater. Hawaii is a marine biologist’s shangri-la, but we mere mortals can get in on the act too at any one of dozens of fine snorkeling spots. The Molokini Crater off Maui island is one of the finest, thanks to protected coral reefs that fairly teem with tropical critters, including vibrant yellow tangs and triggerfish, green sea turtles, and maybe even the occasional reef shark lurking in the depths below.
• Take the Road to Hana. One of Hawaii's most scenic road trips, this epic drive down Maui’s east coast, from Kahului to Hana, takes in rainforests, waterfalls, charming villages and widescreen ocean views. Pause for a cooling dip at the Pua'a Ka'a Falls or secluded Honomanu Bay along the way.
• Waimea Valley. At a whopping 1,875 acres, this huge tract of Oahu parkland is a boon for botany-loving explorers. Roam walking trails flanked by archaeological treasures, seek out the flamboyant bird of paradise flower in the vast botanical garden and, when the mercury starts to soar, make for the refreshingly cool waters of Waimea Falls.

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. A guided hike through this geological wonderland is practically a rite of passage when visiting Hawaii’s Big Island. Pro-climbers will relish the opportunity to ascend majestic Mauna Kea, a lava-scarred volcano that rises a quad-bothering 14,000 feet above sea level. Layer up though: the high altitude means the peak is frequently shrouded in snow and, since there hasn’t been an eruption here in nearly 5,000 years, you can’t rely on the lava to keep you warm.
• Kualoa Ranch. And, if all of that sounds a little too… energetic, make for one of Hawaii’s Insta-perfect beaches instead. Secret Island Beach – part of the Kualoa Ranch on Oahu’s Windward Coast – is arguably one of the most relaxing; a tropical paradise of white sands, gin-clear waters and palm-slung hammocks with views of the so-called ‘Chinaman’s Hat’ island (pictured). 

Looking for more things to do in Oahu and Hawaii in September? Click here to find out how you could save with the Oahu pass.