Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii in April

Yes, April is a good month to see monarch butterflies in Hawaii. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 160 of the 1,837 sightings logged across the year (8.7%), 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.

Good month for monarch butterflies in Hawaii

8.7%

of yearly sightings

160

records in April

#5

busiest month of 12

1,837

verified records a year

March 11.7%, April 8.7%, May 8.2%. Busiest month is January at 20.4%.

Best months: January, February, December

1,837 verified observations of monarch butterflies in Hawaii, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When monarch butterflies are recorded in Hawaii

Peak month

January

375 records (20.4% of the year)

Quietest month

September

48 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak37520.4%
Februarypeak24313.2%
March21511.7%
April1608.7%
May1518.2%
June1065.8%
July603.3%
August633.4%
September482.6%
October613.3%
November1176.4%
Decemberpeak23813%

Monarch Butterflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Monarch1,837

In Hawaii, April carries 8.7% of the year's monarch butterflies sightings, about 0.4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from March (11.7%) into April, and it heads toward May (8.2%) after. The busiest month is January (20.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The monarch butterflies most often recorded in Hawaii are Monarch. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which monarch butterflies you are most likely to see

  • Monarch1,837 records
Plan your tripAla Kahakai National Historic Trail

Plan your monarch butterfly 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.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see monarch butterflies in Hawaii in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 160 of the 1,837 verified monarch butterflies sightings logged in Hawaii across the year, which is 8.7% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see monarch butterflies in Hawaii?+

April is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though January and February is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for monarch butterflies in Hawaii?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, February and December, based on 1,837 verified observations.

Which monarch butterflies are you most likely to see in Hawaii?+

The most-recorded species in Hawaii are Monarch, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.