Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Kalaupapa National Historical Park
National Historical ParkHawaii
Best month to visit
April
81°F / 67°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Kalaupapa in April
April offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). 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
Kalaupapa National Historical Park weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Average | 45 Fair | 79°F / 64°F | 10.8 h |
| February | Average | 60 Good | 79°F / 65°F | 11.3 h |
| March | Average | 57 Fair | 79°F / 66°F | 11.9 h |
| Aprilour pick | Average | 85 Excellent | 81°F / 67°F | 12.5 h |
| May | Average | 84 Excellent | 83°F / 69°F | 13.0 h |
| June | Average | 67 Good | 85°F / 72°F | 13.3 h |
| July | Average | 40 Poor | 86°F / 73°F | 13.2 h |
| August | Average | 60 Good | 87°F / 73°F | 12.7 h |
| September | Average | 74 Good | 87°F / 73°F | 12.1 h |
| October | Average | 71 Good | 86°F / 71°F | 11.5 h |
| November | Average | 60 Good | 83°F / 70°F | 11.0 h |
| December | Average | 68 Good | 80°F / 67°F | 10.7 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00022534, ~9.4 mi away).
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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. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 80°F in August down to about 72°F in January, with the wettest stretch in January. About 12 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is April: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the July rush. 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, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, 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. April is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Kalaupapa
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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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
April offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) 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%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Kalaupapa National Historical Park averages about 80°F (August). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
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), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.