December in Kailua-Kona, HI: variable for golf — mixed conditions — check the live score. Best tee times: mid-morning through early afternoon.
| Average December Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 79°F |
| Avg daily low | 69°F |
| Rainy days | 17 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 7.5 mph |
December in Kailua-Kona sits right at that intersection where the numbers look fine on paper but add up to a genuinely different round than what summer visitors experience. The 79°F average high stays inside the ideal 60–80°F band, which sounds clean — except that it's the third-coldest month of the year here, and 17 precipitation days (second-driest of the year, though that label earns a raised eyebrow) means roughly every other day sees some rainfall. On the scorecard, that translates to softer fairways that won't give you extra roll, occasional slick approach lies, and greens that can hold almost anything you throw at them — a real advantage if you're attacking pins, a liability if you're hoping bump-and-runs do the work.
The 7.5 mph peak wind is calm enough that it rarely redirects full shots, but it's consistent enough to matter on the longer par-3s and any downwind downhill putts. The 10°F daily swing — 69°F at dawn, 79°F by afternoon — is modest, but the cooler morning air can stiffen muscles slightly on the first few holes. Tee off after 8 AM and you'll play most of the round in conditions that genuinely reward aggressive play.
With 17 precipitation days spread across the month, morning tee times before noon give you the best chance of finishing before any afternoon showers develop on the leeward coast. Booking midweek also helps — holiday-week demand in late December pushes prime slots full well ahead of time, so lock in tee times at least two weeks out if your trip falls between Christmas and New Year's. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November plays two degrees warmer and drops two fewer precipitation days, making it marginally more consistent than December, though the difference in wind is negligible at just 0.2 mph. January adds two more precipitation days over December's count and picks up 0.6 mph of wind, nudging it toward the more unsettled end of the scale. December sits almost exactly in the middle, slightly cooler and wetter than November but slightly drier and calmer than January.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Kailua-Kona, HI for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Kailua-Kona, HI • January in Kailua-Kona, HI →
December averages 17 precipitation days, making it the second-driest month of the year in Kona despite that relatively high count. Most showers are brief and pass quickly, but playing 18 holes without encountering at least a light sprinkle is genuinely uncommon this time of year. Morning tee times reduce the odds of a rain delay compared to mid-afternoon rounds.
Peak wind averages 7.5 mph in December, which falls within the calm range and is unlikely to force a full club-up on most shots. It's the fifth-windiest month of the year here, but that ranking reflects how consistently mild Kona's winds are overall. You'll notice it most on elevated tees and longer par-3s, where even a gentle headwind can shift the effective distance by five to eight yards.