Traveler timing guide
Use Hawaii time to plan your first day
Hawaii does not change clocks, but most mainland locations do. Check the time difference for the date of your call, activity, or booking deadline.
Hawaii runs on Hawaii Standard Time (HST), which is UTC-10 — 10 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Unlike most of the mainland United States, Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Clocks never spring forward or fall back. HST stays at UTC-10 year-round.
The gap changes when a mainland location switches between standard time and daylight saving time. The live table shows the current offset; the seasonal table below explains how that offset changes. For a future booking, use the rule for that booking's date.
Time in Hawaii vs Other Time Zones
Compare the current time in the locations below. The "vs Hawaii" column shows how many hours ahead (+) or behind (-) each location is compared to Hawaii right now.
For a future booking, check the offset for that date. Offsets change when a location switches between standard time and daylight saving time.
Does Hawaii Observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Hawaii stays on HST year-round. The NIST local-time guide lists Hawaii and most of Arizona among the places that do not observe daylight saving time; the Navajo Nation in Arizona does observe it.
A fixed time zone does not mean fixed sunrise and sunset times. Use our sunrise and sunset tool for the date and island of an outdoor plan.
For mainland locations that observe daylight saving time, the difference from Hawaii changes twice a year. The gap is one hour wider during daylight time than during standard time.
Hawaii Time Difference by Season
These four mainland cities observe daylight saving time. Their difference from Hawaii changes when their clocks switch; the table does not apply to places that stay on standard time.
| Mainland Zone | DST Gap (Mar–Nov) | Standard Gap (Nov–Mar) |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (Los Angeles) | Hawaii is 3 hrs behind | Hawaii is 2 hrs behind |
| Mountain (Denver) | Hawaii is 4 hrs behind | Hawaii is 3 hrs behind |
| Central (Chicago) | Hawaii is 5 hrs behind | Hawaii is 4 hrs behind |
| Eastern (New York) | Hawaii is 6 hrs behind | Hawaii is 5 hrs behind |
Most of Arizona, including Phoenix, stays on Mountain Standard Time, three hours ahead of Hawaii year-round. The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time. Check the specific location using the NIST local-time guide.
Planning Around the Time Difference
Use the date, location, and stated time zone together when planning a call, flight, or booking.
Arrival-Day Clock Change
Hawaii is two or three hours behind Los Angeles and five or six hours behind New York, depending on the date. Moving your clock backward does not add rest to a travel day. Use the local arrival time on your itinerary, and leave room to rest before a demanding outing.
The NIST daylight-saving guide lists the current change dates and Hawaii's exemption. Check the offset for your return date too; do not assume the difference stays the same throughout a trip that crosses a mainland clock change.
Booking Activities Across Time Zones
A deadline, a check-in time, and a departure time are separate entries. Record each one. Our boat-tour backup-day guide shows how another booking's cancellation deadline can remove your fallback before a weather decision arrives.
Calling Home
Check the live table and agree on a time with the person you are calling. During daylight saving time, 10:00 a.m. HST is 1:00 p.m. in Los Angeles, 3:00 p.m. in Chicago, and 4:00 p.m. in New York. At 6:00 p.m. HST, New York has reached midnight the next day. During standard time, each of those mainland times is one hour earlier.
Flight Timing
Check both the departure and arrival dates and time zones on your airline itinerary. For a hypothetical five-hour flight leaving Los Angeles at 8:00 a.m., the arrival would be 10:00 a.m. HST when Los Angeles uses daylight time, or 11:00 a.m. HST when it uses standard time. Those are clock-conversion examples, not a flight schedule or a promised duration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What timezone is Hawaii in?
Hawaii is in the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone and uses Hawaii Standard Time (HST), which is UTC-10. All major Hawaiian islands — Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island — share the same time zone.
Does Hawaii observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Hawaii stays on HST (UTC-10) year-round.
What is the time difference between Hawaii and California?
Hawaii is 3 hours behind California during Daylight Saving Time and 2 hours behind during Standard Time. DST begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. When it is noon in Hawaii during summer, it is 3:00 PM in California.
What is the time difference between Hawaii and New York?
Hawaii is 6 hours behind New York during Daylight Saving Time and 5 hours behind during Standard Time. When it is noon in Hawaii during summer, it is 6:00 PM in New York.
Do Hawaii and Arizona follow the same daylight-saving rule?
Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time and stays on HST year-round. Most of Arizona also stays on standard time, but the Navajo Nation observes DST. Check the specific mainland location and date when converting a booking time.
Related Hawaii Planning Guides
Now that you have the time difference sorted out, these guides will help you plan the rest of your trip:
- Best Time to Visit Hawaii — month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and events
- Hawaii Travel Tips — essential information for first-time and returning visitors
- Visiting Hawaii in April — what to expect on an April trip
- Sunrise & Sunset Times — plan golden hour photography and evening activities
- Ocean Conditions Report — surf briefs for Oʻahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauaʻi
- Hawaii Trip Cost Calculator — estimate your vacation budget
Hawaii Travel Guides
Get Your Free Hawai'i Guide
Instant access — opens immediately
- Beaches, activities & top spots
- Restaurant & dining recommendations
- Maps, itineraries & insider tips
Want the full offline version? Get the Complete Hawai'i Guidebook →
