Is Hawaii too rainy in December / Winter months?

I am thinking about a family vacation (wife, one 5-yr old boy, one 3-month old) in December. We have been to Maui and Kauai (in summer weather) already and thinking about other islands. My impression is that it is generally rainy season in December and therefore not the best time to visit other islands. I want to know if there are areas that are worth visiting (i.e., less likely to rain) during the last week of December.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Regards,
V.P.


All islands have more rain in December, however there is a huge difference in the amount of rain on the rainy side (windward) and dry side (leeward). Let me use the Big Island for an example. On the windward side is Hilo, which will probably get more than 10 inches of rain this December. On the leeward side is Kailua-Kona, which will probably get 2 inches of rain or less this December. The south side of most of the islands is usually dry too - Waikiki is on the South side of Oahu, and they get little rain. It all has to do with the tradewinds coming off the ocean - traditionally they blow in east to west and start dumping rain from the clouds when they hit land. The higher they go in elevation, the more rain they dump. Usually they get stuck on the mountaintops in the center of all the islands, and just sit there. They rarely have any rain to dump on the other side.

Please, come in December - if you don't want to deal with rain, just consider the West or the South sides of the islands.