Hawaii Sees Record-Breaking Heat and Drought in 2025

University of Hawaii report finds 2025 was one of the driest and warmest years on record across the islands

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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According to a new report from the University of Hawaii, 2025 was one of the driest and hottest years on record in the state. The report, the first since the university began collecting and analyzing data through the Hawaii Climate Data Portal in 2022, found that temperatures were above average every month and rainfall was below average in all but one month. The state saw an average of 42 inches of rain, 20 inches below the 30-year average, making 2025 the second-driest year on record since 1920.

Why it matters

The report aims to connect communities, resource managers, and policymakers with climate data to support long-term planning and climate preparedness across the Hawaiian islands. By providing data on the extreme heat and drought conditions experienced in 2025, the report can help inform efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change in Hawaii.

The details

The report found that 2025 was the sixth warmest year in Hawaii since 1990, with Maui and Kauai experiencing their third-warmest years and Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe each having their fourth-warmest year. Oahu was on average 1 degree Fahrenheit warmer than usual, while the other islands ranged between 0.7 and 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit warmer. Molokai was the driest island, with 100% of it abnormally dry and 15% in severe drought or greater. The driest place in the state was north Kihei in Maui, with 344 total dry days.

  • In 2025, Hawaii experienced its second-driest year on record since 1920.
  • February 2025 was particularly dry, with the state seeing 76% less rain than average.
  • January 2025 was the only month that saw above-average rainfall, with the most rainfall statewide in a single day occurring on January 31 during a winter storm.

The players

University of Hawaii

The university that published the Hawaii Annual Climate Report, which aims to connect communities, resource managers, and policymakers with climate data to support long-term planning and climate preparedness across the Hawaiian islands.

Ryan Longman

The director of the Hawaii Climate Data Portal, which the university uses to collect and analyze climate data for the state.

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What they’re saying

“Throughout 2025, we heard people across the state talking about just how hot and dry the year felt. Now we have the data to show what people were experiencing on the ground. We hope this type of reporting helps connect residents to their own lived experiences with Hawaii's climate and gives communities the information they need to plan for what's ahead.”

— Ryan Longman, Director of the Hawaii Climate Data Portal

What’s next

The Hawaii Climate Data Portal plans to install additional Mesonet stations across the state in 2026 to further expand its climate monitoring capabilities.

The takeaway

The extreme heat and drought conditions experienced in Hawaii in 2025 underscore the need for communities to prepare for the impacts of climate change. The data provided in this report can help inform efforts to build resilience and adapt to a changing climate across the Hawaiian islands.