Climate snapshot for alpacas
43/100Alpaca climate comfort score
81°FAverage high, Jun
69°FAverage low, Jan
~14Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~0Frost nights per year
17 inAnnual precipitation
5Barber pole worm months
13Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in year-round
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Jan–May)
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (8 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 43/100 — Challenging on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Hot semi-arid (Köppen BSh).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°F | 69°F | 2.4 in | 162 · high | worms, grass |
| Feb | 76°F | 70°F | 2.2 in | 161 · high | worms, grass |
| Mar | 77°F | 70°F | 2.1 in | 162 · high | worms, grass |
| Apr | 79°F | 71°F | 2.6 in | 164 · high | worms, grass |
| May | 80°F | 72°F | 2.0 in | 166 · high | worms, grass |
| Jun | 81°F | 73°F | 0.7 in | 166 · high | — |
| Jul | 80°F | 75°F | 0.5 in | 162 · high | — |
| Aug | 80°F | 76°F | 1.1 in | 167 · high | grass |
| Sep | 81°F | 76°F | 0.4 in | 171 · high | — |
| Oct | 80°F | 75°F | 0.6 in | 168 · high | — |
| Nov | 79°F | 74°F | 1.7 in | 164 · high | grass |
| Dec | 77°F | 72°F | 1.1 in | 162 · high | grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024).
Alpaca care calendar for Kalawao County, Hawaii
January 78° / 69°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 76° / 70°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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.
March 77° / 70°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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 79° / 71°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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).
May 80° / 72°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Secure winter hay: about 13 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 81° / 73°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 80° / 75°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 80° / 76°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 81° / 76°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 80° / 75°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 79° / 74°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 77° / 72°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Mar (breed in Mar–Apr).
- Heat precautions: year-round.
- Barber pole worm season: Jan–May — 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: Nov–May, Aug (about 8 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Kalawao County, Hawaii are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Kalawao County, Hawaii?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Kalawao County, Hawaii scores 43/100 (challenging) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in Kalawao County, 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 Kalawao County, Hawaii?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Feb–Mar. For births then, breed females in Mar–Apr (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Kalawao County, Hawaii?
With roughly 4 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 632 lb (287 kg) — around 13 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Kalawao County, Hawaii?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in year-round. We estimate about 14 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 21.219, -156.974 · land area 12 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Hawaii.