January is one of the cooler months of the year in Hilo, with average highs near 22.7°C and lows around 18.5°C (mean 20.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 154 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Hilo. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Hilo was 1997 — when the month averaged 21.9°C — while the coldest was 2008 at 19.3°C. Typical January days reach 22.7°C with nights near 18.5°C. The long-term January temperature trend is broadly flat.
January is about average for rainfall in Hilo, averaging 154 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2002 with 808 mm, while the driest was 2000 at 6 mm.
Relative humidity in Hilo during January averages 81%. The most humid January was 2002 at 86%, and the least humid was 1993 at 73%.
January receives about 4.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Hilo. The sunniest January was 2001 at 4.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1990 at 3.5.
Average wind speed in Hilo during January is 3.7 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1990 and 2000 at 4.8 m/s, while the calmest was 2023 at 2.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 20.5°C | 20.8°C | 20.3°C | 20.5°C | 21.0°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg High | 22.5°C | 23.1°C | 22.2°C | 22.6°C | 23.1°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 18.4°C | 18.4°C | 18.5°C | 18.5°C | 19.0°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 240 mm | 37 mm | 272 mm | 104 mm | 103 mm | -136 mm |
January temperatures in Hilo have risen by about 0.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of 15.2°C (1987) to a record high of 27.6°C (1981).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 154 mm, with a wettest year of 808 mm.
A quieter season to visit Hilo
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Hilo. That said, January — with days averaging 22.7°C and nights around 18.5°C (mean 20.6°C) and higher rainfall (154 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23.1°C | 21.1°C | 19.1°C | 24.6°C | 17.3°C | 124 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2024 | 24.1°C | 21.6°C | 19.0°C | 26.5°C | 17.4°C | 48 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2023 | 23.2°C | 21.0°C | 18.8°C | 24.8°C | 17.6°C | 129 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2022 | 23.1°C | 20.9°C | 18.8°C | 24.9°C | 17.1°C | 61 mm | 84% | 3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2021 | 22.4°C | 20.7°C | 19.1°C | 24.3°C | 18.1°C | 167 mm | 83% | 3.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2020 | 22.6°C | 21.0°C | 19.3°C | 24.3°C | 17.8°C | 90 mm | 84% | 4.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2019 | 22.2°C | 20.3°C | 18.3°C | 24.2°C | 16.3°C | 125 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2018 | 22.3°C | 20.4°C | 18.6°C | 25.1°C | 17.0°C | 160 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 22.3°C | 20.3°C | 18.2°C | 24.0°C | 16.4°C | 84 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2016 | 23.2°C | 21.0°C | 18.7°C | 24.7°C | 17.2°C | 45 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2015 | 23.3°C | 20.8°C | 18.4°C | 24.5°C | 16.4°C | 114 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2014 | 22.8°C | 20.7°C | 18.6°C | 24.9°C | 17.2°C | 219 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2013 | 22.0°C | 20.2°C | 18.4°C | 23.8°C | 17.1°C | 85 mm | 83% | 4.2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2012 | 22.0°C | 20.1°C | 18.2°C | 23.9°C | 17.1°C | 46 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2011 | 22.3°C | 20.4°C | 18.5°C | 24.3°C | 17.1°C | 126 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2010 | 23.5°C | 21.2°C | 18.9°C | 25.5°C | 17.3°C | 39 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2009 | 21.3°C | 19.7°C | 18.2°C | 24.9°C | 16.7°C | 219 mm | 83% | 4.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2008 ❄️ | 20.8°C | 19.3°C | 17.9°C | 22.5°C | 16.8°C | 254 mm | 83% | 4.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 21.9°C | 20.4°C | 18.9°C | 24.1°C | 16.8°C | 227 mm | 83% | 4.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2006 | 21.5°C | 20.1°C | 18.6°C | 24.2°C | 17.7°C | 405 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 23.7°C | 21.3°C | 18.9°C | 25.6°C | 17.0°C | 171 mm | 83% | 3.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2004 | 23.0°C | 21.1°C | 19.2°C | 25.0°C | 16.9°C | 505 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2003 | 23.3°C | 20.8°C | 18.3°C | 25.3°C | 15.9°C | 65 mm | 79% | 3.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2002 🌧️ | 22.0°C | 20.3°C | 18.6°C | 25.0°C | 17.3°C | 808 mm | 86% | 4.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2001 | 22.7°C | 20.5°C | 18.3°C | 25.4°C | 17.2°C | 63 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2000 | 21.3°C | 19.5°C | 17.7°C | 24.1°C | 15.8°C | 6 mm | 79% | 4.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1999 | 22.2°C | 20.3°C | 18.3°C | 23.7°C | 17.3°C | 41 mm | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1998 | 23.7°C | 20.9°C | 18.2°C | 25.6°C | 16.6°C | 38 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1997 🔥 | 24.8°C | 21.9°C | 19.0°C | 27.1°C | 17.0°C | 7 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1996 | 23.9°C | 21.8°C | 19.6°C | 26.9°C | 18.0°C | 23 mm | 80% | 3.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1995 | 23.3°C | 20.4°C | 17.5°C | 26.6°C | 15.8°C | 7 mm | 75% | 3.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1994 | 22.5°C | 20.2°C | 17.9°C | 25.1°C | 16.0°C | 11 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1993 | 23.6°C | 20.9°C | 18.2°C | 26.5°C | 16.6°C | 12 mm | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1992 | 22.6°C | 20.4°C | 18.1°C | 24.3°C | 16.5°C | 64 mm | 76% | 3.7 m/s | 4 |
| 1991 | 22.4°C | 20.2°C | 18.0°C | 25.8°C | 15.9°C | 86 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1990 | 22.3°C | 20.8°C | 19.2°C | 24.7°C | 17.6°C | 85 mm | 82% | 4.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1989 | 22.4°C | 20.7°C | 19.1°C | 24.9°C | 18.1°C | 8 mm | 80% | 4.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1988 | 22.5°C | 20.6°C | 18.7°C | 24.8°C | 17.1°C | 94 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1987 | 21.6°C | 19.7°C | 17.9°C | 25.4°C | 15.2°C | 387 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 22.5°C | 20.5°C | 18.5°C | 24.0°C | 17.3°C | 67 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1985 | 22.4°C | 20.0°C | 17.5°C | 24.9°C | 15.7°C | 251 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1984 | 22.1°C | 20.4°C | 18.7°C | 24.4°C | 17.5°C | 461 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1983 | 22.2°C | 19.9°C | 17.7°C | 24.2°C | 16.3°C | 734 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 22.9°C | 20.8°C | 18.8°C | 26.4°C | 17.0°C | 110 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 24.1°C | 21.5°C | 18.9°C | 27.6°C | 17.0°C | 42 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 22.7°C with lows near 18.5°C (mean 20.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 154 mm of rainfall in Hilo, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 808 mm in 2002.
The hottest January reached 27.6°C in 1981. The coldest dipped to 15.2°C in 1987.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 22.7°C to 23.2°C and overnight lows from 18.3°C to 19°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Hilo and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 22.7°C daytime highs and 18.5°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 3rd coolest month in Hilo, averaging 20.6°C.
For January in Hilo, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.7°C and lows of 18.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.7 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.8 m/s (1990).
The wettest January on record was 2002 with 808 mm. On average, January sees 154 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Hilo behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
