Planting zone for 96801 — Honolulu, HI
ZIP code 96801 (Honolulu, Honolulu County) is in USDA zone 12b: the coldest winter night averages 55 to 60 °F.
Where ZIP 96801 is
tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
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 ServiceLoading the forecast for Honolulu, 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
Frost is rare or absent here: Honolulu, HI is in zone 12b, where the coldest night of a typical winter stays above freezing. Cool-season vegetables grow best from fall through spring; summer heat, not frost, is the limit.
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
Shrubs 12
Wildflowers & perennials 8
Grasses 10
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 Honolulu, HI.
Soil in Honolulu, HI
The center of ZIP 96801 is mapped as Cinder land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.
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 96801; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Honolulu, HI
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Manoa Lyon Arbo 785.2, HI (2 mi away); precipitation: Nuuanu Rsch 5 775, HI (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 12b.
Questions about 96801
What planting zone is ZIP code 96801?
ZIP code 96801 (Honolulu, 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 96801 get?
About 75.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nuuanu Rsch 5 775 station).
How hot do summers get in Honolulu, HI?
The average high peaks at 81 °F in September, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of onions grow in Honolulu, HI?
Short-day onions: the longest day near 96801 is 13 h 26 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.
Did the zone for 96801 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 96801 in zone 12a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 12b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.