Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 96727 — Honokaa, HI

ZIP code 96727 (Honokaa, Hawaii County) is in USDA zone 10b: the coldest winter night averages 35 to 40 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost December 1.

Where ZIP 96727 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone10b35 to 40 °F
Coldest night1.7 to 4.4 °C
Last frostApr 12
First frostDec 1
2012 zone12a

Was 12a on the 2012 map — 1.5 zones colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 10b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Honokaa, HI…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Honokaa, HI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 1median — 10% chance by Nov 9
Growing season235 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 13 and returns around January 22.

From the NOAA station Mauna Loa 5 Nne, HI — 40 miles away, elevation 11,178 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 96727

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 6 – Oct 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 17 – Dec 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Dec 1) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

Native plants for zone 10b in Hawaii

19 plants native to Hawaii, recorded in Hawaii, and rated by the USDA to survive 35 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 10b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 2

koa110 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to 31 °Fkoaoha40 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to 25 °F

Shrubs 4

'ohi'a lehua65 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to 22 °Fbeach naupaka10 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to 31 °FHawai'i hawthorn12 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to 35 °Fmamani40 ft · blooms winter · medium shade tolerance · to 24 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 8

bayhops1 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to 17 °Fbeach strawberry0.8 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fcommon duckmeatblooms late summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcommon maidenhair1.7 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Flongleaf pondweedblooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fsalt heliotrope1.2 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Grasses 5

cosmopolitan bulrush3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fseashore dropseed2 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to 17 °Fsoftstem bulrush9 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fstar sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ftanglehead0.7 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to 7 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Honokaa, HI.

Soil in Honokaa, HI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96727 is Paauhau — medial silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureMedial silty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter10.5%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Paauhau medial silty clay loam, 10 to 20 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 96727; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Honokaa, HI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, June
Winter low56 °Faverage low, March
Longest day13 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation87.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

50°60°70°80°90°January: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JanFebruary: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° FebMarch: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° SepOctober: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° OctNovember: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° NovDecember: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″January: 7.38 in precipitation 7.4 JanFebruary: 8.24 in precipitation 8.2 FebMarch: 11.29 in precipitation 11.3 MarApril: 9.27 in precipitation 9.3 AprMay: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 MayJune: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 6.40 in precipitation 6.4 JulAugust: 6.96 in precipitation 7.0 AugSeptember: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 SepOctober: 5.35 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 9.01 in precipitation 9.0 NovDecember: 9.41 in precipitation 9.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Paauilo 221, HI (9 mi away); precipitation: Honokaa Town 215, HI (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

8 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

9677611a
Paauilo, HI · 10 mi
9677411a
Ookala, HI · 15 mi
9676412b
Laupahoehoe, HI · 17 mi
9677311a
Ninole, HI · 19 mi
9678012b
Papaaloa, HI · 20 mi
9671012b
Hakalau, HI · 24 mi
9678112a
Papaikou, HI · 28 mi
9672812b
Honomu, HI · 29 mi

Hawaii planting zones →

Questions about 96727

What planting zone is ZIP code 96727?

ZIP code 96727 (Honokaa, HI) is in USDA hardiness zone 10b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 35 to 40 °F (1.7 to 4.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Honokaa, HI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96727 is April 12; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mauna Loa 5 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Honokaa, HI?

The median first fall frost near 96727 is December 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 235 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96727?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 – Mar 1 and set transplants outside around Apr 19 – May 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 96727 get?

About 87.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Honokaa Town 215 station).

What kind of soil does 96727 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Paauhau at the center of ZIP 96727: medial silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Honokaa, HI?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 96727 is 13 h 21 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 96727 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 96727 in zone 12a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 10b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.