Owls in Hawaii in December

Yes, December is one of the best months to see owls in Hawaii. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 47 of the 481 sightings logged across the year (9.8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

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 owls in Hawaii

9.8%

of yearly sightings

47

records in December

#3

busiest month of 12

481

verified records a year

November 6%, December 9.8%, January 9.1%. Busiest month is March at 13.5%.

Best months: March, May, December

481 verified observations of owls in Hawaii, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When owls are recorded in Hawaii

Peak month

March

65 records (13.5% of the year)

Quietest month

September

28 records

MonthObservationsShare
January449.1%
February418.5%
Marchpeak6513.5%
April336.9%
Maypeak5711.9%
June336.9%
July357.3%
August326.7%
September285.8%
October377.7%
November296%
Decemberpeak479.8%

Owls you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Short-eared Owl396
American Barn Owl84

In Hawaii, December carries 9.8% of the year's owls sightings, about 1.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from November (6%) into December, and it heads toward January (9.1%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The owls most often recorded in Hawaii are Short-eared Owl and American Barn Owl. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.

Which owls you are most likely to see

  • Short-eared Owl396 records
  • American Barn Owl84 records
Plan your tripAla Kahakai National Historic Trail

Plan your owl 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 owls in Hawaii in December?+

Yes. December accounts for 47 of the 481 verified owls sightings logged in Hawaii across the year, which is 9.8% of the annual total.

Is December a good time to see owls in Hawaii?+

December is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of March, May and December.

What month is best for owls in Hawaii?+

March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, May and December, based on 481 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Hawaii are Short-eared Owl and American Barn Owl, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.