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

Planting zone for 96796 — Waimea, HI

ZIP code 96796 (Waimea, Kauai County) is in USDA zone 12b: the coldest winter night averages 55 to 60 °F.

Where ZIP 96796 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 frostrare

First frostrare

2012 zone12b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Waimea, 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 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.

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 Waimea, HI.

Soil in Waimea, HI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96796 is Lualualei — clay, well drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter1.25%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Lualualei clay, 0 to 2 percent slopes, MLRA 163.

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 96796; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waimea, HI

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July

Winter low62 °Faverage low, January

Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights0nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days9,076base 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: Waimea 947, HI (within 1 mile); precipitation: Makaweli 965, HI (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 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 96796

What planting zone is ZIP code 96796?

ZIP code 96796 (Waimea, 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).

How much rain and snow does 96796 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Waimea, HI?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96796 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lualualei at the center of ZIP 96796: clay, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

What kind of onions grow in Waimea, HI?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 96796 is 13 h 29 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.