Are There Mosquitoes in Hawaii? (What Are They and How to Avoid Them)

Are you planning a trip and wondering if there are mosquitos in Hawaii?

A warm tropical paradise, Hawaii is no stranger to pests— including those buzzing nuisances.

If you’re going to these beautiful islands read on to learn all you need to know about the mosquitoes of Hawaii and how to avoid them!

Are there mosquitoes in Hawaii?

Unfortunately, there are eight different species of mosquitos in Hawaii.

Six of them bite humans, and two only feed on plants. 

While mosquitoes are known for transmitting diseases, at the time of writing this article, no mosquito-transmitted human diseases are present in Hawaii. 

However, these invasive insects are damaging the ecosystems on the island. In particular, they’re endangering native bird species!

When is mosquito season in Hawaii?

Hawai’i has a warm, temperate climate that is perfect for mosquitoes, all year long. While the insects appear 12 months out of the year, they are more prevalent during the warmer months. 

So if you want to avoid mosquitoes, don’t go to Hawaii from March through the beginning of November! 

2 Most Common Species of Mosquitoes in Hawaii

The two most common species of mosquitoes in Hawaii are the Asian Tiger Mosquitoes and the Southern House Mosquitoes. 

Unfortunately, they both feed (i.e. bite you) at opposite times of day, so morning, noon, and night, there’s a mosquito hunting for its next meal! 

👉🏽 Day-biter Mosquitoes: Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus)

Considered a day-biter, the Asian tiger mosquito is responsible for transmitting dengue fever. 

An aggressive daytime biter, these mosquitoes tend to bite the most during the early morning and late afternoon. These fast-flyers breed quickly in water-holding containers, including bamboo!  

Don’t worry, currently, dengue is not a disease you need to worry about in Hawaii.

👉🏽 Night-biter Mosquitoes: Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus)

This highly adaptive and invasive mosquito, the Southern House Mosquito, is only active at night. 

Considered a floodwater mosquito, females hatch their eggs in areas prone to flooding. The rising waters cause the previously dormant eggs to hatch. 

Unassuming, these mosquitoes are a plain brown color and have a migratory range of several miles. Even if you see them, they might not be breeding nearby.

These mosquitoes pose a huge risk to native species of birds in Hawaii, but, thankfully, haven’t caused any human-borne illnesses yet. 

6 Other Types of Mosquitoes in Hawaii

Even though the two types of mosquitoes listed above are the most common, there are 8 different mosquito varieties in the Hawaiian Islands.

Read on to learn more about the others!

👉🏻 Yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti)

As you might have guessed, the Aedes aegypti is responsible for spreading yellow fever. 

They’re also the main type of mosquito that spreads Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. This is in part because they tend to live near humans and prefer to feed on their blood. 

Found only on the Big Island and Molokai, these mosquitoes have not caused any illnesses in Hawaii. 

👉🏻 Rock-pool mosquito (Aedes japonicus)

Aedes japonicus, otherwise known as the rock-pool mosquito, was first identified on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2003 and on Oahu in 2012. 

Highly invasive, this species is more resistant to the cold than others.

While this mosquito can transmit diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, so far, in Hawaii, these mosquitoes haven’t been carriers. 

👉🏻 Elephant mosquitoes (Toxorhynchites)

Elephant mosquitoes are sometimes also nicknamed “the mosquito eater” because— you guessed it— they eat other varieties of mosquitoes. 

One of the many types of mosquitoes that don’t consume blood they are relatively colorful. These mosquitoes subsist on sap and juices from plants, fruit, nectar, and refuse.

The larvae of this mosquito prey on the larvae of other mosquitoes, making them a beneficial type to have around!

👉🏻 Floodwater mosquito (Aedes vexans)

Floodwater mosquitoes get their name because of their breeding habits, as females lay their eggs in areas that flood easily. Once the eggs get swept up in the floodwater, they hatch.

Only the females feed on blood such as humans and cattle. The males feed on nectar, honeydew, and sap. 

These mosquitoes were first found in Hawaii in 1962.

👉🏻 Bromeliad mosquito (Wyeomyia mitchellii)

Wyeomyia Mitchelli mosquitoes breed in the leaves of pineapple lilies. A day biter, these mosquitoes can be annoying, but they aren’t known to transmit diseases to humans. 

So even if you get bitten by one of these guys, you have nothing to fear.

👉🏻 Common malaria mosquito (Anopheles)

The most commonly known mosquito-borne disease, malaria, is spread by the anopheles mosquito. 

Thankfully, this is not one of the mosquitoes found in the Hawaiian islands! 

Anyone who has been diagnosed with malaria in Hawaii became infected somewhere else and then diagnosed once they arrived on an island. 

So you can toss out your malaria medicine- you won’t need it when visiting the Hawaiian Isles! 

Where in Hawaii are mosquitoes mostly found?

The mosquitoes in Hawaii are typically found in areas with lots of standing water or decomposing natural materials.

You’re more likely to see them hiking around the jungle than walking through one of the beach towns. 

However, mosquitoes are attracted to water, so you might encounter them at the beach or by your lanai.  

📌 Kauai and Maui: Most mosquito-ridden islands 

Maui, also known as the ‘Valley Isle’, mostly has the Asian tiger mosquito, which requires clean standing water to breed.

However, if you’re on Kauai, the night-biting southern house mosquito is the most prevalent. As the climate warms, these mosquitoes have been appearing higher up the mountains.

Unfortunately, the mosquitoes are spreading disease amongst the native bird populations and damaging the local ecosystem.  

📌 Oahu: Has a few areas that are prone to mosquitoes

If you’re spending time in Waikiki and try scuba diving and any other activities, you’re unlikely to encounter mosquitoes. Head out towards the lush, tropical areas and you’ll see a few of these buzzing pests. 

Be extra aware of mosquitoes at sunset, as this is when they’re most active.

📌 Big Island: Relatively mosquito-free

The porous volcanic soil on the Big Island prevents standing water (which mosquitoes need to breed). This helps keep mosquito populations down.

 It’s still worth taking mosquito repellent because you will encounter some. Plus, there have been mosquito repellant shortages on the island!  

How did mosquitoes get to Hawaii?

Hawaii, with its relative isolation from the rest of the world, was one of the few places without mosquitoes.

However, less than 200 years ago, mosquitoes were first introduced to the islands.

Climate change and rising temperatures have enabled mosquito populations to migrate into new areas on the islands that were previously too cool for the mosquitoes to breed. 

Mosquito control projects are working to protect native bird species by curbing mosquito populations.

💡 When did mosquitoes get in Hawaii?

First arriving in Hawaii in 1826, mosquitoes came over on a whaling vessel. The tropical climate was ideal for them, and they thrived and quickly spread across the islands. 

💡 Why do mosquitoes thrive in Hawaii?

Mosquitoes are capable of thriving in a wide range of environments. However, the environment in Hawaii is ideal for mosquitoes and has contributed to their survival and growth. 

👉🏽 Climate

The hot, humid environment in Hawaii is ideal for mosquitoes to breed and survive.  These cold-blooded creatures aren’t able to regulate their body heat.

This means that mosquitoes function best at 80 degrees F— the average temperature in Hawaii!

👉🏽 Standing water

Mosquitoes need water to lay eggs, and for their larvae to grow and develop through various stages (egg, larval, and pupal). 

Some mosquitoes lay their eggs on the surface of stagnant water, and other mosquitoes lay their eggs in dry ground that is prone to flooding. 

👉🏽 Saltwater

Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes can lay eggs and survive in saltwater. So, you might encounter a few mosquitoes when you’re hanging out at the beach! 

Thankfully, it’s not normal to be plagued by mosquitoes at the beach. 

👉🏽 Topography, and ocean currents

Mosquitoes have been known to fly across the ocean! Some migratory mosquito breeds often travel across the Atlantic Ocean. 

Sometimes these mosquitoes travel 40 miles away from their original destination without the help of winds and updrafts!

👉🏽 Volcanic eruptions

With so much of Hawaii being volcanic, which is porous and prevents standing water, you might be wondering how mosquitoes could survive in the dry areas of the islands.

However, pigs on the islands eat lots of native tree ferns. The cavities left behind in the consumed ferns collect water. This allows mosquitoes to breed even in dry volcanic areas.

When is mosquito season in Hawaii?

Mosquitoes particularly thrive during the warmer months of March through November but are present all year long.

🦟 Are there mosquitoes in Hawaii in December?

There are mosquitoes in Hawaii in December; however, there are fewer due to the slightly cooler temperatures. 

🦟 Are there mosquitoes in Hawaii in January?

You might encounter a few mosquitoes in Hawaii during January. However, you’re less likely to encounter mosquitoes in January as it’s one of the cooler months of the year in the Hawaiian Isles. 

🦟 Are mosquitoes year-round in Hawaii?

Unfortunately, there are mosquitoes year-round in Hawaii.

The year-long temperate climate, which makes it an excellent place to visit, also means mosquitoes thrive all year long.

What diseases are caused by mosquitoes in Hawaii?

While there are mosquitoes in Hawaii that typically carry diseases, at this time, none of those diseases are present in Hawaii. 

👎🏼 Chikungunya

There have been zero cases of Chikungunya in Hawaii in the last three years. 

Symptoms of Chikungunya will begin 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, severe joint pain, nausea, vomiting, redness around the eyes, or rash. 

Not normally fatal, Chikungunya passes within 7-10 days. 

👎🏼 Zika virus

Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day. 

Most infected people don’t show symptoms, and if they do it includes rash, fever, and conjunctivitis. These symptoms will only show for 2-7 days.

In the last three years, there have been zero cases of Zika in the state of Hawaii.

👎🏼 Dengue

While there were three cases recently reported of Dengue in Hawaii, everyone contracted the disease out of state. Common symptoms of Dengue are nausea, vomiting, and rash. 

How to avoid mosquito bites in Hawaii?

The best way to avoid mosquito bites in Hawaii is to wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, socks, and shoes. 

You can also use insect repellent when hiking in jungle areas or areas with lots of active mosquitoes. 

If your accommodation includes air-conditioning, you may want to keep the windows closed and use the AC to keep mosquitoes outside. 

Treatment of mosquito bites: What to do if you get bitten by a mosquito?

If you do get bitten by a mosquito, you’ll know because you’ll have an itchy, raised bump! 

While there’s not much you can do once a mosquito has bitten you, you can wash the area with soap and water.

If you’re experiencing significant discomfort and swelling, apply an ice pack to the affected area or use a mixture of baking soda and water to help alleviate the itching. 

Tips for Preparing for Mosquito Season in Hawaii

Although mosquitoes are found year-round, you’ll encounter the most mosquitoes during the summer months.

If you’re planning on visiting Hawaii during those months, bring long-sleeved, light-colored clothing and insect repellent. 

Tip: If you forget insect repellent, you can buy some at an ABC store! 

Frequently Asked Questions About Mosquitoes In Hawaii

Read on for basic information about mosquitoes in Hawaii so you can be prepared for your tropical island vacation! 

Are mosquitoes native to Hawaii?

All mosquitoes in Hawaii are invasive species and non-native. 

Are there mosquitoes in the beach areas as well?

Mosquitoes are drawn to water, so (while not common) you may find some in the beach areas of Hawaii.

Is dengue or chikungunya common in Hawaii?

Neither dengue nor chikungunya are common in Hawaii and there have been 0 reported cases of either in the last three years.

What smell does a mosquito hate?

Mosquitoes don’t like the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, lemongrass, and rosemary. 

Conclusion: Are there mosquitoes in Hawaii?

While there are 8 different types of mosquitoes in Hawaii year-round, they aren’t known to infect humans with diseases. 

Avoid the hottest months in Hawaii to avoid these nuisances, and bring insect repellent and long-sleeved shirts. Follow the tips above and you’re sure to have a worry-free vacation!