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

Planting zone for 96776 — Paauilo, HI

ZIP code 96776 (Paauilo, Hawaii County) is in USDA zone 11a: the coldest winter night averages 40 to 45 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost December 1.

Where ZIP 96776 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.

Zone11a40 to 45 °F
Coldest night4.4 to 7.2 °C
Last frostApr 12
First frostDec 1
2012 zone12a

Was 12a on the 2012 map — a full zone colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 11a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Paauilo, 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 Paauilo, 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 — 35 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 96776

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 11a in Hawaii

31 plants native to Hawaii, recorded in Hawaii, and rated by the USDA to survive 40 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 11a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 6

Chamisso's manfern10 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to 40 °Fhapu'u8 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to 40 °FHawai'i pritchardia60 ft · medium shade tolerance · to 40 °FKamalo pritchardia16 ft · medium shade tolerance · to 40 °Fkoa110 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to 31 °Fkoaoha40 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to 25 °F

Shrubs 10

'ala'a40 ft · medium shade tolerance · to 40 °F'ohi'a lehua65 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to 22 °Fbeach naupaka10 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to 31 °FGaudichaud's senna2 ft · to 40 °FHawai'i desert-thorn1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to 40 °FHawai'i hawthorn12 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to 35 °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 7

blunt spikerush1.6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to 37 °Fcosmopolitan bulrush3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fkawelu3 ft · high shade tolerance · to 40 °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 °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 Paauilo, HI.

Soil in Paauilo, HI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96776 is Honokaa — highly organic hydrous silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureHighly organic hydrous silty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter19%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Honokaa highly organic hydrous 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 96776; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Paauilo, HI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, June
Winter low56 °Faverage low, March
Longest day13 h 20 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
Precipitation105.9 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″14″January: 9.13 in precipitation 9.1 JanFebruary: 8.83 in precipitation 8.8 FebMarch: 13.72 in precipitation 13.7 MarApril: 11.40 in precipitation 11.4 AprMay: 6.37 in precipitation 6.4 MayJune: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 9.42 in precipitation 9.4 JulAugust: 7.68 in precipitation 7.7 AugSeptember: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 6.76 in precipitation 6.8 OctNovember: 11.78 in precipitation 11.8 NovDecember: 11.87 in precipitation 11.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Paauilo 221, HI (2 mi away); precipitation: Paauilo 2.4 Sw, HI (2 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.

9677411a
Ookala, HI · 5 mi
9676412b
Laupahoehoe, HI · 8 mi
9677311a
Ninole, HI · 9 mi
9678012b
Papaaloa, HI · 10 mi
9672710b
Honokaa, HI · 10 mi
9671012b
Hakalau, HI · 14 mi
9678112a
Papaikou, HI · 18 mi
9672812b
Honomu, HI · 19 mi

Hawaii planting zones →

Questions about 96776

What planting zone is ZIP code 96776?

ZIP code 96776 (Paauilo, HI) is in USDA hardiness zone 11a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 40 to 45 °F (4.4 to 7.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Paauilo, HI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96776 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 Paauilo, HI?

The median first fall frost near 96776 is December 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 235 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96776?

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 96776 get?

About 105.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Paauilo 2.4 Sw station).

What kind of soil does 96776 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Honokaa at the center of ZIP 96776: highly organic hydrous silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Paauilo, HI?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 96776 is 13 h 20 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 96776 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 96776 in zone 12a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 11a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.