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

Planting zone for 96777 — Pahala, HI

ZIP code 96777 (Pahala, Hawaii County) is in USDA zone 12b: the coldest winter night averages 55 to 60 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost December 1.

Where ZIP 96777 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.

Zone12b55 to 60 °F
Coldest night12.8 to 15.6 °C
Last frostApr 12
First frostDec 1
2012 zone12a

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

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pahala, 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 Pahala, 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 — 22 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 96777

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 12b in Hawaii

37 plants native to Hawaii, recorded in Hawaii, and rated by the USDA to survive 55 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 12b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 7

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 12

'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 10

blunt spikerush1.6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to 37 °Fcosmopolitan bulrush3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Ffragrant flatsedge2 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to 42 °Fkawelu3 ft · high shade tolerance · to 40 °Fmanyspike flatsedge1.6 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to 47 °Fovate spikerush1.5 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to 47 °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 Pahala, HI.

Soil in Pahala, HI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96777 is Kuanene — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter60%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kuanene-Lava flows complex, 3 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 96777; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pahala, HI

Summer high85 °Faverage high, August
Winter low65 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights0nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days9,127base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day13 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation46.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

50°60°70°80°90°100°January: average high 79 °F, low 65 °F 79°65° JanFebruary: average high 80 °F, low 65 °F 80°65° FebMarch: average high 80 °F, low 66 °F 80°66° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 67 °F 80°67° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 68 °F 82°68° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 70 °F 83°70° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 70 °F 84°70° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 71 °F 85°71° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 70 °F 84°70° SepOctober: average high 84 °F, low 70 °F 84°70° OctNovember: average high 82 °F, low 69 °F 82°69° NovDecember: average high 81 °F, low 67 °F 81°67° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 MarApril: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 AprMay: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 6.60 in precipitation 6.6 NovDecember: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sea Mtn 12.15, HI (7 mi away); precipitation: Pahala Mauka 21.3, HI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

9677212b
Naalehu, HI · 17 mi
9673711b
Ocean View, HI · 22 mi
9678511a
Volcano, HI · 23 mi
9670412b
Captain Cook, HI · 25 mi
9674512b
Kailua Kona, HI · 25 mi
9672611a
Honaunau, HI · 26 mi
9677111b
Mountain View, HI · 28 mi
9677812b
Pahoa, HI · 28 mi

Hawaii planting zones →

Questions about 96777

What planting zone is ZIP code 96777?

ZIP code 96777 (Pahala, HI) is in USDA hardiness zone 12b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 55 to 60 °F (12.8 to 15.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Pahala, HI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96777 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 Pahala, HI?

The median first fall frost near 96777 is December 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 235 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96777?

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 96777 get?

About 46.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pahala Mauka 21.3 station).

How hot do summers get in Pahala, HI?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in August, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96777 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kuanene at the center of ZIP 96777: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Pahala, HI?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 96777 is 13 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 96777 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 96777 in zone 12a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 12b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.