Hawaii · Garden vegetables

Onion season in Hawaii

Typically early March to late October, with peak early April through late July.

Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.

Kula on Maui staggers plantings, so sweet Maui onions show up much of the year; spring is the flush.

At a glance

Early

From early March — first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.

Peak

early April through late July — full stalls, full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.

Late

Through late October — quantity for preserving, and the stalls start dealing.

Season length

about 34 weeks end to end, shoulders included.

Onions

Look: Dry, papery skins with a tight, small neck and no green sprout poking from the top.
Feel: Rock hard through the shoulders — any softness at the neck means rot is starting inside.
Smell: Mild and faintly sweet through the skin; a strong oniony or musty smell signals a bruised or rotting bulb.
Tip: For sweets like Vidalias, pick the flattest bulbs on the table — the flatter the disc, the milder the bite.
Keeps: Cool, dark, dry pantry — storage types keep for months, sweet onions only a few weeks.

Chasing the season?

Onion peak moves across the map. After this window, it lands next in:

The whole national sweep · everything in season in Hawaii

Frequently asked questions

When is onion season in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, the onion season typically runs early March to late October, with peak availability early April through late July. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.

Can I pick my own onions in Hawaii?

U-pick onion fields are basically unheard of — buy braids and bags straight off the farm stand. The best market weeks are early April through late July.

How long does onion season last in Hawaii?

about 34 weeks end to end — early March to late October. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.