Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Kealakekua experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 49°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 330 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 14.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 24 / among the cleanest air in the country. The city sits at an elevation of 2,011 feet.
Temperature
43°F Jan (6°C)49°F Jul (10°C)
Annual Average
46.0°F
15% below US avg
January Average
43°F (6°C)
July Average
49°F (10°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
2,011 ft (613 m)
Area
7.2 sq mi (18.7 km²)
Population Density
199/sq mi
Coordinates
19.5287°N, 155.9111°W
Timezone
Pacific/Honolulu
County
Hawaii County County
Nearest Airport
Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole (KOA) 13 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall14.3"
62% below US avg
Wettest Month (May)9.88"
Driest Month (Dec)4.41"
Air Quality
AQI Median
24.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
56.8 / 100
Community Resilience
56.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
No Rating
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Very High
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Tsunami
Relatively Moderate
Volcano
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
14,277 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.9.
May 4, 2018
18 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii
M6.9
98 km
6 km
Feb 9, 2024
2 km SW of Pāhala, Hawaii
M5.9
58 km
37 km
May 4, 2018
18 km SW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii
M5.7
96 km
6 km
Apr 17, 1999
5 km N of P?hala, Hawaii
M5.6
54 km
9 km
Mar 13, 2019
13 km SSE of Volcano, Hawaii
M5.5
78 km
7 km
May 8, 1991
Hawaii region, Hawaii
M5.5
39 km
29 km
Aug 14, 2007
15 km SSE of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.4
91 km
9 km
Jul 17, 2005
35 km SSE of Naalehu, Hawaii
M5.4
97 km
32 km
Apr 14, 2019
20 km E of Kalaoa, Hawaii
M5.3
27 km
13 km
Jun 5, 2013
54 km SE of P?hala, Hawaii
M5.3
112 km
40 km
Jul 15, 2005
50 km NNE of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii
M5.3
129 km
15 km
Jun 8, 2017
15 km S of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.3
86 km
6 km
Feb 1, 1994
19 km ENE of P?hala, Hawaii
M5.3
71 km
34 km
Dec 9, 1991
20 km SSW of Hawaiian Ocean View, Hawaii
M5.2
72 km
44 km
Jun 28, 2015
12 km SSE of Volcano, Hawaii
M5.2
77 km
8 km
Jul 5, 2021
12 km NNW of Kukuihaele, Hawaii
M5.2
82 km
27 km
Jun 27, 1998
51 km NW of Kalaoa, Hawaii
M5.1
74 km
4 km
Jun 30, 1997
14 km SSE of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.1
91 km
8 km
May 13, 2005
45 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
M5.1
105 km
43 km
May 3, 2018
15 km SSE of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.1
91 km
6 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
7 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Hone
Category 1
86 mph
129 km
2020
Douglas
Category 1
92 mph
184 km
2018
Lane
Category 4
132 mph
244 km
2014
Iselle
Category 1
81 mph
232 km
2014
Ana
Category 1
86 mph
239 km
2007
Flossie
Category 2
104 mph
237 km
1986
Estelle
Category 2
92 mph
281 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
6 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jan 28, 1971
EF2
18 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 25, 1988
EF1
43 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 20, 1980
EF1
87 km
1.0 mi
0
Feb 28, 2004
EF0
60 km
5.0 mi
0
Apr 3, 1986
EF0
87 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 19, 1955
EF0
91 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
10 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 14.3 m (47 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1975
HAWAII
Eruption + Earthquake
14.3 m
2
93 km
1868
HAWAII
Earthquake
13.7 m
77
73 km
1869
OFF COAST OF HAWAII
Unknown
8.2 m
—
109 km
1919
ALIKA, HAWAII
Explosion
4.3 m
—
33 km
1951
HAWAII
Earthquake
3.6 m
—
10 km
1952
HAWAII
Earthquake
3.0 m
—
107 km
1908
HAWAII
Earthquake
1.2 m
—
112 km
2018
HAWAII
Eruption
0.4 m
—
98 km
1989
HAWAII
Eruption + Earthquake
0.3 m
—
89 km
2006
HAWAII
Earthquake
0.1 m
—
39 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Hualalai (19 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Hualalai
Shield
2,523 m (8,278 ft)
1801
19 km
Mauna Loa
Shield
4,170 m (13,681 ft)
1984
32 km
Mauna Kea
Shield
4,205 m (13,796 ft)
-2460
56 km
Kilauea
Shield
1,222 m (4,009 ft)
2018
67 km
Haleakala
Shield
3,055 m (10,023 ft)
1750
136 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
17 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: MANA ROAD FIRE (39,849 acres, 2021).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2021
MANA ROAD FIRE
39,849
53 km
2005
LALAMILO
18,960
52 km
2018
HIGHWAY 190 FIRE
15,617
43 km
2022
LEILANI
14,674
34 km
2007
WAIKOLOA FIRE
8,791
42 km
2018
KEAUHOU RANCH BRUSH FIRE
3,845
60 km
2015
KAWAIHAE FIRE
3,743
58 km
2003
LUHI FIRE
3,479
83 km
2002
KUPUKUPU
2,479
85 km
2003
PANAU IKI
1,926
87 km
2016
PUUWAAWAA MAKAI
1,691
30 km
2017
WAIKAPUNA FIRE
1,591
65 km
1992
KAWAIHAE
1,567
57 km
2000
AHUWELA
1,482
66 km
2000
UNNAMED
1,178
60 km
2005
AKONE-PULE HWY
1,148
67 km
2000
BROOMSEDGE
1,011
65 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
43°F (6°C)
5.3 in
Coldest
February
63°F (17°C)
5.5 in
March
64°F (18°C)
7.4 in
April
65°F (18°C)
8.6 in
May
66°F (19°C)
9.9 in
Wettest
June
67°F (19°C)
5.6 in
July
49°F (10°C)
5.8 in
August
69°F (20°C)
5.6 in
Warmest
September
69°F (20°C)
5.4 in
October
68°F (20°C)
4.9 in
November
67°F (19°C)
6.4 in
December
64°F (18°C)
4.4 in
Driest
Kealakekua has a seasonal temperature swing of 26°F / from 43°F in January to 69°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 74.8 inches, with May being the wettest month (9.9") and December the driest (4.4").