Hawks in Hawaii in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see hawks in Hawaii. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 83 of the 573 sightings logged across the year (14.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.

Peak month for hawks in Hawaii

14.5%

of yearly sightings

83

records in January

#1

busiest month of 12

573

verified records a year

December 6.8%, January 14.5%, February 9.1%. Busiest month is January at 14.5%.

Best months: January, March, October

573 verified observations of hawks in Hawaii, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hawks are recorded in Hawaii

Peak month

January

83 records (14.5% of the year)

Quietest month

June

28 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak8314.5%
February529.1%
Marchpeak7212.6%
April335.8%
May356.1%
June284.9%
July366.3%
August284.9%
September457.9%
Octoberpeak6912%
November539.2%
December396.8%

Hawks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Hawaiian Hawk571
Northern Harrier2

In Hawaii, January carries 14.5% of the year's hawks sightings, about 6.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from December (6.8%) into January, and it heads toward February (9.1%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The hawks most often recorded in Hawaii are Hawaiian Hawk and Northern Harrier. Those counts are annual totals rather than a January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January itself.

Which hawks you are most likely to see

  • Hawaiian Hawk571 records
  • Northern Harrier2 records
Plan your tripAla Kahakai National Historic Trail

Plan your hawk trip in Hawaii

Start with live tours near Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see hawks in Hawaii in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 83 of the 573 verified hawks sightings logged in Hawaii across the year, which is 14.5% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see hawks in Hawaii?+

January is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, March and October.

What month is best for hawks in Hawaii?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, March and October, based on 573 verified observations.

Which hawks are you most likely to see in Hawaii?+

The most-recorded species in Hawaii are Hawaiian Hawk and Northern Harrier, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.