Playability Score: 89/100 — Good
Current conditions: 85°F, wind 3 mph, 1% chance of rain.
Updated July 9, 2026
Kailua-Kona's lava-field golf on the Big Island's leeward coast is among the driest, sunniest in Hawaii — rain clouds break against the volcanoes before reaching the fairways. Conditions barely change month to month. Trade winds funnel around the island and pick up most afternoons.
In Kailua-Kona, the tee-time decision is less about which month to visit and more about what time you tee off. Trade winds funnel around the Big Island and routinely build through the afternoon, so the difference between a smooth round and a gusty one often comes down to whether you're on the first tee by mid-morning. That pattern holds nearly every month of the year.
Temperatures barely move — highs range only from 77°F in February to 82°F in August, September, and October, and every month sits comfortably within the site's ideal 60–80°F band for most of the round. Precipitation days are higher than the numbers might suggest (June logs 28), but on the leeward coast these tend to be brief passing showers rather than day-long washouts. The real variable is the wind clock, not the calendar.
April is the calmest month on record at 7 mph average peak wind, making it the easiest time to get away with an afternoon round. By May, precip days jump to 25 — the most of any non-summer month — though highs stay at 79°F and conditions remain warm. Morning slots still give you the cleanest air before the trades build.
June through August pushes highs to 80–82°F and June alone is the wettest single month of the year at 28 precip days, with July at 26 and August falling back to 23. Winds average 7.4–7.6 mph, which sounds tame, but afternoon gusts on lava-field courses can feel sharper with no tree cover to break them. An 8 a.m. tee time in summer is the clearest path to a calm, dry round.
November drops precip days to just 15 — the driest month of the year — and winds ease to 7.3 mph. Highs hold at 81°F with a comfortable 70°F low, giving you the widest window to tee off later without chasing weather. September ties April for the calmest wind at 7 mph, making early fall nearly as forgiving.
January carries the year's highest average peak wind at 8.1 mph, and February follows at 7.7 mph. Highs are 77–78°F — still well-playable — but the afternoon trade-wind buildup is at its most reliable this time of year. Booking a morning round in January and February isn't optional advice; it's the practical standard for anyone who wants consistent conditions.
November's 15 precip days are the fewest of any month, and April and September share the year's calmest average peak wind at exactly 7 mph. October is close behind at 7.1 mph with only 21 precip days and an 82°F high. Together, these four months offer the most scheduling flexibility — afternoon rounds are far less likely to run into building winds or passing showers.
In November and early December, yes — precip days drop to 15–17 and winds average 7.3–7.5 mph, so the afternoon trade-wind buildup is at its mildest. Outside those months, especially January through June, morning slots reduce your exposure to both wind and passing showers considerably.
Course closures are rare on the leeward coast, but June's 28 precip days mean you'll encounter brief showers frequently if you play afternoons. The volcanic soil drains quickly, so waterlogged fairways aren't the typical problem — it's the reduced visibility and wind that accompany a passing squall that disrupts play.
Surprisingly similar. January is the windiest month at 8.1 mph average peak, while July and August average 7.6 and 7.4 mph respectively — only a small difference. The bigger summer issue is the higher number of rain days (26 in July, 28 in June), not a dramatic wind increase.