Pacific Northwest

Seattle, Portland, and the great outdoors — mountains, coast, and cool-green summers.

If the West Coast city run is about shopping and family, the Pacific Northwest is about getting outside: snow-capped volcanoes, evergreen forests, waterfalls, and a rugged coast, all with cool, comfortable summers that feel like a real change from the islands. Seattle and Portland are the two easy bases, each an hour or two from mountains, gorges, and beaches.

Getting there from Hawaiʻi

Honolulu has nonstop service to Seattle (SEA) on Hawaiian, Alaska, and Delta — around 6 hours — and seasonal nonstops to Portland (PDX). Seattle is Alaska Airlines’ hub, so it usually has the most flights and the best fare sales. Compare your dates for flights and hotels:

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When to go

Summer (July–September) is the sweet spot — warm, dry, and gorgeous, with long days for hiking and the coast. It’s peak season, so book ahead.
Fall is crisp and colorful with smaller crowds; spring is green and blooming but wetter.
Winter is grey and rainy in the lowlands (great for skiing up high, cheap for city visits) — pack a rain jacket year-round.

What to do

Seattle — Pike Place Market, the waterfront, the Space Needle, and day trips to Mount Rainier and the Olympic Peninsula.
Portland — food carts, no-sales-tax shopping, and the Columbia River Gorge waterfalls (Multnomah Falls) just east of town.
The Oregon coast — Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock, a classic, moody, uncrowded shoreline.
Mountains & wine — Mount Hood, the North Cascades, and the Willamette Valley wine country are all easy drives.

Getting around

Seattle and Portland have decent transit for the city core, but the best of the Northwest is outside town — a rental car makes the trip, opening up Rainier, the Gorge, and the coast. If you’re just doing a city weekend, see our West Coast guide for the urban run.

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Frequently asked

Is there a nonstop flight from Hawaiʻi to the Pacific Northwest?

Yes — Honolulu has nonstop service to Seattle (SEA) on Hawaiian, Alaska, and Delta (about 6 hours), plus seasonal nonstops to Portland (PDX). Seattle is Alaska’s hub, so it often has the most options and the best sales.

When is the best time to visit the Pacific Northwest?

Summer (July–September) is warm, dry, and ideal for the mountains and coast. Fall is crisp with fewer crowds; winter is rainy in the lowlands but great for skiing. Pack a rain jacket any time of year.

Do I need a rental car in the Pacific Northwest?

For the outdoors, yes — Mount Rainier, the Columbia Gorge, and the Oregon coast are all outside the cities, so a rental car makes the trip. A car is optional if you’re only doing a Seattle or Portland city weekend.

A local travel guide, not a kamaʻāina rate — off-island deals change constantly, so always confirm the current price. Some links are affiliate links; HiKamaʻāina may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.