Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 96769 — Makaweli, HI

ZIP code 96769 (Makaweli, Kauai County) is in USDA zone 12a: the coldest winter night averages 50 to 55 °F.

Where ZIP 96769 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.

Zone12a50 to 55 °F

Coldest night10 to 12.8 °C

Last frostrare

First frostrare

2012 zone12b

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

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Makaweli, 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

A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station Kanalohuluhulu 1075, HI — 12 miles away, elevation 3,599 ft) the median growing season is 365 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.

Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Native plants for zone 12a in Hawaii

37 plants native to Hawaii, recorded in Hawaii, and rated by the USDA to survive 50 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 12a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

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 Makaweli, HI.

Soil in Makaweli, HI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96769 is Makaweli — stony silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureStony silty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter3.5%moderate

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Makaweli stony silty clay loam, 12 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 96769; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Makaweli, HI

Summer high87 °Faverage high, August

Winter low64 °Faverage low, January

Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights0nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days9,492base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day13 h 29 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day10 h 47 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb

Precipitation23.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Makaweli 965, HI (3 mi away); precipitation: Makaweli 965, HI (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

Hawaii planting zones →

Questions about 96769

What planting zone is ZIP code 96769?

ZIP code 96769 (Makaweli, HI) is in USDA hardiness zone 12a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 50 to 55 °F (10 to 12.8 °C).

How much rain and snow does 96769 get?

About 23.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Makaweli 965 station).

How hot do summers get in Makaweli, HI?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in August, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96769 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Makaweli at the center of ZIP 96769: stony silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Makaweli, HI?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 96769 is 13 h 29 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 96769 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 96769 in zone 12b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 12a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.