Lihue, Kauai vs Kailua-Kona: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 423 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Lihue, Kauai and Kailua-Kona are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,311 vs 3,315 hours a year. Lihue, Kauai has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 of 12 months; the other 9 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Lihue, Kauai | Kailua-Kona | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,311 | 3,315 |
| Sunniest month | June (91/100) | June (90/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 83/100 | 83/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 91/100 | 88/100 |
| Rain / year | 825 mm | 938 mm |
| Warmest sea | 27°C / 81°F | 28°C / 82°F |
| Peak midday UV | 12 (extreme) | 12 (extreme) |
Lihue, Kauai vs Kailua-Kona month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lihue, Kauai | Kailua-Kona | Lihue, Kauai | Kailua-Kona | Lihue, Kauai | Kailua-Kona | Lihue, Kauai | Kailua-Kona | |
| January | 86 | 84 | 24° | 25° | 68 | 81 | 25° | 26° |
| February | 83 | 83 | 24° | 25° | 84 | 88 | 24° | 26° |
| March | 76 | 74 | 24° | 25° | 125 | 134 | 24° | 26° |
| April | 88 | 83 | 24° | 25° | 57 | 85 | 24° | 25° |
| May | 90 | 87 | 26° | 26° | 49 | 66 | 26° | 26° |
| June | 91 | 90 | 26° | 26° | 43 | 50 | 26° | 27° |
| July | 91 | 89 | 27° | 27° | 41 | 53 | 26° | 27° |
| August | 90 | 85 | 27° | 27° | 47 | 74 | 27° | 28° |
| September | 89 | 90 | 27° | 27° | 51 | 49 | 27° | 28° |
| October | 85 | 87 | 27° | 27° | 76 | 67 | 27° | 28° |
| November | 83 | 82 | 26° | 27° | 84 | 93 | 26° | 27° |
| December | 80 | 81 | 25° | 26° | 100 | 98 | 26° | 26° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Lihue, Kauai · May Lihue, Kauai · Jun even · Jul even · Aug Lihue, Kauai · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Lihue, Kauai averages 83/100, Kailua-Kona 83/100. Daytime highs are similar (25°C vs 26°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Lihue, Kauai (average score 85/100 vs 81). Daytime highs are similar (25°C vs 25°C).
- June–August: Lihue, Kauai (average score 91/100 vs 88). Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Lihue, Kauai averages 87/100, Kailua-Kona 89/100. Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C).
Sea temperature
Kailua-Kona's sea gets warmer: 28°C / 82°F at its peak vs 27°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Lihue, Kauai all year, Kailua-Kona all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Lihue, Kauai weather by month · Kailua-Kona weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Lihue, Kauai vs Honolulu · Lihue, Kauai vs Kahului · Kailua-Kona vs Honolulu · Kailua-Kona vs Kahului · Kailua-Kona vs Hilo · all head-to-heads