Best Time to Visit Kalaupapa National Historical Park
MayBest month to visit
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Visit Kalaupapa in May
May offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight. For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.1× the average month) and April is the quietest.
Annual visits
15K
2025
Busiest month
Jul
1.1× avg
Quietest month
Apr
0.9× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-48.6%
More photos of Kalaupapa
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Kalaupapa by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1996–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Average | 17 Poor | 10.8 h |
| February | Average | 40 Poor | 11.3 h |
| March | Average | 39 Poor | 11.9 h |
| April | Average | 88 Excellent | 12.5 h |
| May★ best | Average | 90 Excellent | 13.0 h |
| June | Average | 62 Good | 13.3 h |
| July | Average | 18 Poor | 13.2 h |
| August | Average | 60 Good | 12.7 h |
| September | Average | 87 Excellent | 12.1 h |
| October | Average | 74 Good | 11.5 h |
| November | Average | 50 Fair | 11.0 h |
| December | Average | 60 Good | 10.7 h |
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About visiting Kalaupapa
Kalaupapa National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in HI and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 15,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 48.6%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.1× the park's average month, while April is the calmest at roughly 0.9× — a 1-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 26% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. If avoiding people matters most, April offers the thinnest crowds of the year, though you'll trade some warmth and daylight for the solitude. Daylight ranges from about 10.7 hours in midwinter to 13.3 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1996–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
When Hansen's disease (leprosy) was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha V banished all afflicted to the isolated Kalaupapa Peninsula on the north shore of Molokai. Since 1866, more than 8,000 people, mostly Hawaiians, have died at Kalaupapa. Once a prison, Kalaupapa is now a refuge for the few remaining residents who are cured but were forced to live their lives in isolation.
Weather & conditions
Hawaii enjoys warm temperatures year-round, although site conditions at the park can vary depending on weather and time of year. The rainy season is in the winter with the more hot and humid days in the summer. Trade winds are fairly constant and typically blow from the northeast. Daytime temperatures range from 65–75° F in the winter to 80-90°F in the summer. Nighttime temperatures are often in the 60-70°F range.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Kalaupapa
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Kalaupapa National Historical Park — live availability and prices to plan your trip. May is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Kalaupapa
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Getting to Kalaupapa
The nearest airport is Molokai Airport (MKK), about 11 mi (38 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Kalaupapa by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
May offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight at Kalaupapa National Historical Park. The park is busiest in July (about 1.1× the average month) and quietest in April.
July is the busiest month at Kalaupapa National Historical Park, running roughly 1.1 times the park's average monthly visitation.
April is the quietest month at Kalaupapa National Historical Park, at about 0.9× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park recorded about 15,335 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-48.6%).
Molokai Airport (MKK) is the closest airport to Kalaupapa National Historical Park, about 11 mi (38 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Beach water quality near Kalaupapa
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- North Ka‘Anapali Beach water qualityGrade A · 23 mi · HI
- Fleming Beach North water qualityGrade A · 23 mi · HI
- Hanaka‘O‘O Beach Co. Pk. water qualityGrade A · 25 mi · HI
- Launiupoko St. Wayside water qualityGrade A · 30 mi · HI
- Olowalu water qualityGrade A · 34 mi · HI
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1996–2025). Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.