What Hardiness Zone Is Hawaii?

Q: What hardiness zone is Hawaii?

Hawaii is in USDA hardiness zones 10b–13a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 12b is the most common, covering 71% of Hawaii's ZIP codes, and zone 12a covers 18%. Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

Q: What does zone 12b mean?

Zone 12b means the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the coldest night of a typical winter, is 55°F to 60°F (13°C to 16°C). Perennials, shrubs and trees rated for zone 12b or colder should survive winter there.

Q: What is the coldest hardiness zone in Hawaii?

Zone 10b is the coldest zone mapped in Hawaii, and zone 13a is the warmest, found around Kaneohe Bay McAs.

Q: Did Hawaii's hardiness zones change in 2023?

The USDA released a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map in November 2023, based on 1991–2020 temperatures instead of 1976–2005. About half of the United States shifted half a zone warmer. Check your ZIP code here, because plant tags and older books may still list your 2012 zone.

Q: When should I plant in zone 12b?

Hardiness zones don't set planting dates; frost dates do. Look up your local frost dates and plant tender crops such as tomatoes after the 10%-risk last-frost date.

USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map · 133 ZIP codes · Data updated 2026-10-28

Quick answer

Hawaii spans USDA hardiness zones 10b–13a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The most common zone is 12b, covering 71% of Hawaii's ZIP codes, followed by zone 12a (18%). Zone 12b means the coldest night of an average winter reaches 55°F to 60°F (13°C to 16°C). Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

Hawaii hardiness zones by share of ZIP codes

Zone 10b<1% · 1 ZIP

Zone 11a6% · 8 ZIPs

Zone 11b2% · 3 ZIPs

Zone 12a18% · 24 ZIPs

Zone 12b71% · 95 ZIPs

Zone 13a2% · 2 ZIPs

What the zones mean for Hawaii gardeners

Coldest and warmest towns: among towns with NOAA weather stations, Hawaii Vol National Park HQ 54 (3,971 ft) is in zone 11a, while Kaneohe Bay McAs (10 ft) is in zone 13a. That is a difference of about 20°F in the coldest night of a typical winter.

Hardiness zones for Hawaii cities

Zones at the National Weather Service stations, mostly city airports, with their median frost dates.


Hilo 5 S	12b	55°F to 60°F	622	Rare	Rare
Honolulu Intl Airport	12b	55°F to 60°F	7	Rare	Rare
Kahului Airport	12b	55°F to 60°F	51	Rare	Rare
Kaneohe Bay McAs	13a	60°F to 65°F	10	Rare	Rare
Lihue WSO Airport 1020.1	12a	50°F to 55°F	100	Rare	Rare
Molokai Airport	12b	55°F to 60°F	443	Rare	Rare

Hardiness zones for 37 towns in Hawaii

Each NOAA weather station is shown with the USDA zone of the nearest ZIP code (within 8 miles). Coldest night is the zone's range for the average annual extreme minimum temperature. Click a column to sort.

Filter by town


Ewa Beach Usgs 702.2	12b	55°F to 60°F	5	Rare	Rare
Glenwood #2 55.4	11b	45°F to 50°F	2,200	Rare	Rare
Hawaii Vol National Park HQ 54	11a	40°F to 45°F	3,971	Rare	Rare
Hilo 5 S	12b	55°F to 60°F	622	Rare	Rare
Honolulu Intl Airport	12b	55°F to 60°F	7	Rare	Rare
Kahului Airport	12b	55°F to 60°F	51	Rare	Rare
Kanalohuluhulu 1075	12b	55°F to 60°F	3,600	Jan 26	Jan 24
Kaneohe 838.1	12b	55°F to 60°F	48	Rare	Rare
Kaneohe Bay McAs	13a	60°F to 65°F	10	Rare	Rare
Kapaka Farm 904.1	12b	55°F to 60°F	3	Rare	Rare
Kihalani 132.5	12b	55°F to 60°F	914	Rare	Rare
Kii-kahuku 911	12b	55°F to 60°F	25	Rare	Rare
Kilauea 1134	12b	55°F to 60°F	390	Rare	Rare
Kula Branch Station 324.5	12a	50°F to 55°F	3,100	Rare	Rare
Kula Hospital 267	12b	55°F to 60°F	3,030	Rare	Rare
Lanai Airport 656	12b	55°F to 60°F	1,300	Rare	Rare
Lihue WSO Airport 1020.1	12a	50°F to 55°F	100	Rare	Rare
Mahaulepu 941.1	12b	55°F to 60°F	80	Rare	Rare
Makaha Ctry Club 800.3	12b	55°F to 60°F	250	Rare	Rare
Makaweli 965	12b	55°F to 60°F	140	Rare	Rare
Manoa Lyon Arbo 785.2	12b	55°F to 60°F	500	Rare	Rare
Molokai Airport	12b	55°F to 60°F	443	Rare	Rare
Ohe'o 258.6	11b	45°F to 50°F	86	Rare	Rare
Opihihale #2 24.1	12b	55°F to 60°F	1,360	Rare	Rare
Paauilo 221	11a	40°F to 45°F	840	Rare	Rare
Princeville Rch 1117	12b	55°F to 60°F	217	Rare	Rare
Puu Manawahua 725.6	12b	55°F to 60°F	1,673	Rare	Rare
Puu-o-hoku Rch 542.1	12b	55°F to 60°F	674	Rare	Rare
Puukohola Heiau 98.1	11a	40°F to 45°F	133	Rare	Rare
Puukolii 457.1	12b	55°F to 60°F	421	Rare	Rare
S Kona 2 2.32	11b	45°F to 50°F	2,121	Rare	Rare
Sea Mountain 12.15	12b	55°F to 60°F	80	Rare	Rare
Upper Wahiawa 874.3	12a	50°F to 55°F	1,006	Rare	Rare
Waihee 837.5	12b	55°F to 60°F	108	Rare	Rare
Waikiki 717.2	12b	55°F to 60°F	10	Rare	Rare
Waimanalo Experiment F 795.1	12b	55°F to 60°F	64	Rare	Rare
Waimea 947	12b	55°F to 60°F	20	Rare	Rare

Frequently asked questions

What hardiness zone is Hawaii?

Hawaii is in USDA hardiness zones 10b–13a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 12b is the most common, covering 71% of Hawaii's ZIP codes, and zone 12a covers 18%. Enter your ZIP code for your exact zone.

What does zone 12b mean?

Zone 12b means the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the coldest night of a typical winter, is 55°F to 60°F (13°C to 16°C). Perennials, shrubs and trees rated for zone 12b or colder should survive winter there.

What is the coldest hardiness zone in Hawaii?

Zone 10b is the coldest zone mapped in Hawaii, and zone 13a is the warmest, found around Kaneohe Bay McAs.

Did Hawaii's hardiness zones change in 2023?

The USDA released a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map in November 2023, based on 1991–2020 temperatures instead of 1976–2005. About half of the United States shifted half a zone warmer. Check your ZIP code here, because plant tags and older books may still list your 2012 zone.

When should I plant in zone 12b?

Hardiness zones don't set planting dates; frost dates do. Look up your local frost dates and plant tender crops such as tomatoes after the 10%-risk last-frost date.

Zone and frost dates: use both

Your hardiness zone answers one question: will this plant survive the winter here? Choose perennials, shrubs, trees and bulbs rated for your zone or a colder one. For vegetables and annuals, what matters is the length of the frost-free season. See Hawaii frost dates by town, or get a planting calendar for your ZIP code with start-indoors, transplant and sowing dates for 30 crops.

Sources and method

Zones are from the USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP-code files published by the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, based on 1991–2020 minimum temperatures. ZIP codes are assigned to states by USPS prefix. Town zones use the ZIP code nearest each NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals station. This is an independent tool, not an official USDA site. Full methodology.