When you think of Hawaii, you likely don’t jump right to cold, snowmen, and certainly not snow! Although it’s not the most typical place to enjoy a white Christmas, Hawaii does actually get its fair share of winter weather. In fact, it even has blizzard warnings! Here’s where you can regularly find snow on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Does it snow in Hawaii?
Your typical dream sequence of Hawaii isn’t entirely inaccurate. For most of the year, all the Hawaiian Islands enjoy warm, tropical weather. That’s right, you can sip a Mai Tai in shorts and a t-shirt while wearing your best Santa hat all the way through the Holidays.
While it might feel tropical around most of the island, there is one part of the Big Island that regularly dips well below freezing and even gets its fair share of snow!
The very tippy top of the world’s tallest (not highest) mountain, Mauna Kea, sits at around 14,000 feet above sea level. At those altitudes, temperatures can get a bit chilly. In fact, it rarely gets above 50 degrees! Even in the summer, nighttime temperatures can easily dip down into the 20’s, if not even lower.
With freezing temperatures can sometimes come snow and ice. On December 5th, 2021, Mauna Kea was under a blizzard advisory and received around 12 inches of snow and 100 mph winds! That’s plenty of fresh powder to make all the Christmas snow angels you can imagine. You can see a timelapse of the storm on weather.com.
While Mauna Kea is the most popular place to find snow in Hawaii, you can also regularly catch some fresh wintery powder on the two other peaks on the Big Island, Mauna Loa and Haleakala.
Can you do winter sports on the Big Island?
When snow is in the forecast, many people look to their skis and snowboards, itching to ride down a huge mountain. It might surprise you, but you can actually enjoy winter sports in Hawaii! It’s just not as easy as it might be in some other more winter sports-friendly areas.
Yes, you can ski and snowboard on the snowy peaks in Hawaii—just don’t expect any nice ski lifts to bring you back to the top of the mountain or a cozy lodge to enjoy a hot chocolate. However, the snow on Mauna Kea is typically very powdery and easily accessible via the access road that goes all the way to the top. You’re welcome to ride the snow as much as you like, but remember, it’s all at your own risk.
Because many Hawaiians don’t own formal winter sports equipment, it’s not uncommon to find locals boogie-boarding down the slopes. In Hawaii, you use what you’ve got to have a good time!
Live in a place with the best of both worlds
There aren’t too many places where you can bundle up and ride the slopes during the day and change into your bathing suit to sit on the beach with a tropical drink at night. That’s what makes Hawaii such a special place. There’s no shortage of things to see, do, or experience.
If you’re ready to make this incredible Island your home, there are plenty of Big Island properties available that can turn your tropical dreams into reality. Contact me today, and I’ll help you find that perfect Hawaiian home to fit all your wants and needs. Or, if you prefer more of a solo house shopping experience, sign up for my emails below and get regular Big Island real estate news sent straight to your inbox.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.