Statewide snapshot
84/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
74°FAverage high, Aug (state average)
56°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~1Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~0Frost nights per year (state average)
40 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
9Barber pole worm months (state average)
8Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
Average of 5 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.
Statewide challenges
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Jan–Aug, Nov)
Most alpaca-friendly counties
- Hawaii County — 96/100
- Maui County — 95/100
- Kauai County — 76/100
- Honolulu County — 43/100
- Kalawao County — 43/100
Most challenging counties
- Honolulu County — 43/100
- Kalawao County — 43/100
- Kauai County — 76/100
- Maui County — 95/100
- Hawaii County — 96/100
All 5 counties
Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.
| County | Peak high | Lowest low | Days ≥90°F | Frost nights | Worm months | Shear | Hay bales | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii County | 65 | 42 | 0 | 10 | 2 | Mar | 9 | 96 |
| Honolulu County | 84 | 64 | 24 | 0 | 5 | Mar | 8 | 43 |
| Kalawao County | 81 | 69 | 14 | 0 | 5 | Mar | 13 | 43 |
| Kauai County | 70 | 49 | 0 | 1 | 10 | Mar | 8 | 76 |
| Maui County | 71 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Mar | 13 | 95 |
Typical alpaca care calendar for Hawaii
Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.
January 69° / 56°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 66° / 56°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
March 68° / 57°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 69° / 58°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
May 70° / 59°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
June 72° / 60°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
July 73° / 62°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 74° / 62°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
September 74° / 62°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 74° / 61°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 71° / 60°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 70° / 58°F
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
Key recommendations for Hawaii
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Jan–Apr (breed in Feb–May).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Jan–Aug, Nov — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: year-round (about 12 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
- Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.
Alpaca farms & shops in Hawaii
No alpaca farms in Hawaii are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Hawaii?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Hawaii scores 84/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are barber pole worm.
Which part of Hawaii is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Hawaii County, Maui County and Kauai County; the most challenging are Honolulu County, Kalawao County and Kauai County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Hawaii?
Plan shearing for March, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Hawaii?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jan–Apr. For births then, breed females in Feb–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Hawaii?
With roughly 0 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 365 lb (166 kg) — around 8 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.