Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Kukuihaele has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 75°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 329 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 9.0 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 533 feet.
Temperature
75°F Jan (24°C)81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
78.8°F
46% above US avg
January Average
75°F (24°C)
July Average
81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
329 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
533 ft (162 m)
Area
1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²)
Population Density
214/sq mi
Coordinates
20.1213°N, 155.5625°W
Timezone
Pacific/Honolulu
County
Hawaii County County
Nearest Airport
Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole (KOA) 41 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall9.0"
76% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Apr)9.76"
Driest Month (Jun)3.98"
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
14,148 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
107 km
6 km
Feb 9, 2024
2 km SW of Pāhala, Hawaii
M5.9
104 km
37 km
May 4, 2018
18 km SW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii
M5.7
105 km
6 km
Apr 17, 1999
5 km N of P?hala, Hawaii
M5.6
97 km
9 km
Mar 13, 2019
13 km SSE of Volcano, Hawaii
M5.5
96 km
7 km
May 8, 1991
Hawaii region, Hawaii
M5.5
111 km
29 km
Aug 14, 2007
15 km SSE of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.4
101 km
9 km
Apr 14, 2019
20 km E of Kalaoa, Hawaii
M5.3
48 km
13 km
Jun 5, 2013
54 km SE of P?hala, Hawaii
M5.3
144 km
40 km
Jul 15, 2005
50 km NNE of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii
M5.3
57 km
15 km
Jun 8, 2017
15 km S of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.3
99 km
6 km
Feb 1, 1994
19 km ENE of P?hala, Hawaii
M5.3
101 km
34 km
Dec 9, 1991
20 km SSW of Hawaiian Ocean View, Hawaii
M5.2
140 km
44 km
Jun 28, 2015
12 km SSE of Volcano, Hawaii
M5.2
95 km
8 km
Jul 5, 2021
12 km NNW of Kukuihaele, Hawaii
M5.2
13 km
27 km
Jun 30, 1997
14 km SSE of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.1
100 km
8 km
Jun 27, 1998
51 km NW of Kalaoa, Hawaii
M5.1
80 km
4 km
May 13, 2005
45 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
M5.1
145 km
43 km
May 3, 2018
15 km SSE of Fern Forest, Hawaii
M5.1
101 km
6 km
Apr 2, 2000
11 km SSE of Volcano, Hawaii
M5.0
94 km
8 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
4 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 1.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Hone
Category 1
86 mph
203 km
2020
Douglas
Category 1
92 mph
109 km
2016
Lester
Category 1
86 mph
232 km
2014
Iselle
Category 1
81 mph
229 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
7 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jan 28, 1971
EF2
68 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 25, 1988
EF1
69 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 20, 1980
EF1
67 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 3, 1986
EF0
67 km
0.2 mi
0
Nov 20, 1978
EF0
61 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 29, 1974
EF0
93 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 19, 1955
EF0
65 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
125 km
1869
OFF COAST OF HAWAII
Unknown
8.2 m
—
60 km
1919
ALIKA, HAWAII
Explosion
4.3 m
—
105 km
1951
HAWAII
Earthquake
3.6 m
—
83 km
1952
HAWAII
Earthquake
3.0 m
—
128 km
1908
HAWAII
Earthquake
1.2 m
—
138 km
2018
HAWAII
Eruption
0.4 m
—
107 km
1989
HAWAII
Eruption + Earthquake
0.3 m
—
98 km
2006
HAWAII
Earthquake
0.1 m
—
47 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Mauna Kea (35 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Mauna Kea
Shield
4,205 m (13,796 ft)
-2460
35 km
Hualalai
Shield
2,523 m (8,278 ft)
1801
58 km
Mauna Loa
Shield
4,170 m (13,681 ft)
1984
72 km
Kilauea
Shield
1,222 m (4,009 ft)
2018
83 km
Haleakala
Shield
3,055 m (10,023 ft)
1750
97 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
16 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
23 km
2005
LALAMILO
18,960
25 km
2018
HIGHWAY 190 FIRE
15,617
32 km
2022
LEILANI
14,674
42 km
2007
WAIKOLOA FIRE
8,791
35 km
2016
KAHIKINUI
5,341
91 km
2018
KEAUHOU RANCH BRUSH FIRE
3,845
77 km
2015
KAWAIHAE FIRE
3,743
26 km
2003
LUHI FIRE
3,479
96 km
2002
KUPUKUPU
2,479
98 km
2016
PUUWAAWAA MAKAI
1,691
49 km
1992
KAWAIHAE
1,567
27 km
2000
AHUWELA
1,482
43 km
2000
UNNAMED
1,178
46 km
2005
AKONE-PULE HWY
1,148
33 km
2000
BROOMSEDGE
1,011
81 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
75°F (24°C)
8.5 in
February
64°F (18°C)
7.6 in
Coldest
March
64°F (18°C)
9.2 in
April
65°F (18°C)
9.8 in
Wettest
May
66°F (19°C)
6.7 in
June
68°F (20°C)
4.0 in
Driest
July
81°F (27°C)
5.8 in
Warmest
August
69°F (21°C)
6.9 in
September
70°F (21°C)
4.9 in
October
69°F (21°C)
6.5 in
November
67°F (20°C)
9.6 in
December
65°F (18°C)
8.9 in
Kukuihaele has a seasonal temperature swing of 17°F / from 64°F in February to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 88.2 inches, with April being the wettest month (9.8") and June the driest (4.0").