The short version
Most termite problems in Honolulu are eastern subterranean termites, and the usual fix is a liquid soil treatment or bait stations. Drywood termites need fumigation or wood treatment instead. Start with an inspection; $75–$250 is typical.
- Look for mud tubes, shed wings and hollow-sounding wood.
- Swarms usually show up from February through April.
- Drywood termites need wood treatment or fumigation instead.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Anyone in Honolulu who owns, rents out, or is buying a home and wants to know whether termites are a real concern.
What to look for
Termites work quietly. A colony can feed inside a wall for years. Winters around Honolulu stay mild, with average lows near 66°F, so colonies keep feeding all year. Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs.
- 1Tiny pinholes in drywall rimmed with mud.
- 2Screwdriver sinks easily into sills or trim.
- 3Small kick-out holes in exposed wood.
- 4Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 5Winged swarmers indoors, especially in spring.
- 6Piles of identical shed wings on windowsills.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Colonies grow and spread every year they go untreated.
- Damage hides behind drywall, flooring and trim.
- Homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
- An active infestation can complicate a home sale.
- Formosan colonies are large and can do serious damage quickly.
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Termite activity through the year in Honolulu
Spring
swarm season. For Honolulu homes, expect it from February through April. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings.
Summer
with highs around 88°F in Honolulu, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
Fall
with about 49 inches of rain a year in Honolulu, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation.
Winter
a good time to book an inspection in Honolulu, before swarm season starts.
Treatment options and typical costs
Termite Inspection and WDI Report
$75–$250
The inspector checks the foundation, garage, attic and damp spots. Bring up anything you’ve noticed.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job, real estate closings, and yearly peace of mind
Liquid Soil Termiticide Barrier
$1,200–$3,500 (often $3–$16 per linear foot)
A liquid barrier treatment around a Honolulu home means trenching and rodding termiticide into the soil along the foundation. Non-repellent products let termites pass through and carry the chemical home to the colony under Honolulu.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Active subterranean termites; fast knockdown around the foundation
Annual Renewal and Monitoring
$150–$400 per year
Termites do not stop foraging after a treatment, so monitoring matters. Yearly visits to a Honolulu home catch new tubes before they reach framing.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes per visit
- Best for
- Keeping a treated home protected after the initial job
Fumigation for Drywood Termites
$1,200–$4,000 (often $1–$4 per square foot)
Before tenting a Honolulu home, food and medicine are bagged and plants near the walls are protected. The fumigator handles the gas, aeration, and clearance testing.
- Time
- 2–3 days including tenting and aeration
- Best for
- Widespread drywood termites throughout a structure
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Check under the kitchen sink for dampness and soft cabinet wood. Plumbing walls are a common path for termites coming up from a slab.How treatment works on a typical Honolulu home.
Bait stations are the other main option. They're spaced every 10 to 20 feet. Termites carry the bait back to the colony. The stations are checked on a schedule, often every few months. For Honolulu homes, on a slab, the crew treats the soil along the outside walls. Under patios and garage floors, they drill small holes. Treatment goes in through the holes, which get patched afterward.
Which termites live around Honolulu.
They arrived through Gulf Coast ports. Their colonies are much bigger than native ones. They can do more damage, faster. Drywood termites are common around Honolulu as well, flying straight into attic framing, eaves and furniture without any soil contact. Look for tiny piles of pellets that look like coarse sand. The termite you're most likely to meet in Honolulu is the eastern subterranean termite. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. Formosan termites are established in Hawaii too.
Subterranean termites don't stop in winter; they just go deeper. A quiet season is a good time for a non-urgent inspection.When termites swarm here.
Drywood termites swarm on spring and summer evenings, often near lights. A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house. Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo. Swarm season is when termites show themselves. For Honolulu homes, eastern subterranean termites usually swarm from February through April, typically on a warm, sunny day after rain. Formosan termites in Hawaii swarm later, from late April into June. Look for them on warm, humid evenings around porch lights.
Where to look around your house.
Outside, watch for mud tubes behind shrubs. Keep soil and mulch below the slab edge. The same advice applies across the area, from Honolulu out to Kaneohe and Pearl City. Many homes in Honolulu sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks. Check the garage edges and behind baseboards. Look where pipes come through the floor.
A year of termites in Honolulu.
- Summer: with highs around 88°F in Honolulu, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 49 inches of rain a year in Honolulu, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Honolulu, before swarm season starts. - Spring: swarm season. For Honolulu homes, expect it from February through April. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings.
What happens at an inspection.
On a slab, they focus on joints, cracks and pipe gaps. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. Photos help. Most inspections take an hour or two. The inspector walks the outside of the house first. They check the foundation, the soil line and nearby wood. Inside, they check the garage, baseboards, plumbing gaps and the attic.
Termites or ants?
- Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow. - Debris: termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave sawdust. - Tunnels: termite galleries are packed with mud. Ant tunnels are clean and smooth. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines. Keep pets and kids inside while the crew works outside. Ask how long to stay off treated soil. Any drill holes in a slab or patio get patched. Soil treatments and bait stations need little prep. Clear a path along the outside walls. Move stored boxes away from garage walls.
Mulch and termites.
A dry strip along the house lets you spot mud tubes. Wood chips right against siding hold moisture termites like. Keep mulch thin and pull it back from the foundation.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What product or system will you use? - Is the whole foundation treated, or just one spot? - What does the warranty cover, and for how long? - What does the yearly renewal cost? - What do I need to do before and after treatment? - Which termites did you find, and where?
What affects the price
- Linear feet of foundation to be treated.
- Attached garages, decks, and additions.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
- Slab, crawl space, or basement construction.
- Number of bait stations required.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
Call if you see mud tubes, pellets or an indoor swarm. Hollow-sounding wood is another clue. Buying or selling? Get a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report either way. Lenders often ask for one. It's also the cheapest termite service. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. Termites leave mud.
What you can do yourself
Treating an active colony is harder. The product has to reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the entire foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only the termites you see. Some of the work is yours. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Keep firewood away from the house.
Termites in Honolulu
Honolulu gets about 49 inches of rain a year, and average humidity sits near 62%, so the soil around foundations rarely dries out. Hawaii is one of the most termite-active states in the country. An annual inspection is common sense here. With summer highs around 88°F, Honolulu's tropical climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in Honolulu is worth around $800k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective.
Local research
Termites in Honolulu, HI: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Hawaii, when they are busiest around Honolulu, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Termite species recorded in Hawaii
- Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) — FDACS lists it in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, California and Hawaii. Colonies contain…
When termites are busiest around Honolulu
Formosan swarms occur in evenings April–July in the mainland South (FDACS); Hawaii-specific timing not verified this session.
FDACS lists Hawaii among states where the Formosan subterranean termite is found; UF/IFAS states it 'can be found in Hawaii and throughout southeastern regions of the continental United States'.
Sources: University of Georgia Extension; University of Missouri Extension; Formosan Termite Program. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Keep six inches between soil and siding or wood.
- Caulk gaps around plumbing and utility penetrations.
- Remove tree stumps and buried wood near the house.
- Keep the termite renewal contract current after treatment.
- Seal cracks in the foundation and slab.
- Repair rotting trim, fascia, and window frames.
A liquid soil treatment goes into a trench along the foundation so termites cross it on their way to the house.Did you know?
For Honolulu homes, termites have been chewing wood for well over 100 million years, since the age of the dinosaurs.
For Honolulu homes, when danger shows up, soldier termites bang their heads against the tunnel walls to warn the colony.
Questions people ask
Is termite treatment safe for kids and pets?
Used according to the label, yes. Soil treatments stay in the ground. Bait stations are locked and buried. Ask for the label and follow any re-entry times.
What does a WDI report include?
It lists any termites or damage found. It also notes conditions that invite them, like wood touching soil. It only covers areas the inspector could reach.
How long does termite treatment take?
A liquid barrier takes half a day to a day. Bait stations take a few hours to install. Fumigation takes two to three days.
Do I have to leave my house during termite treatment?
Not for a soil treatment or bait stations. Fumigation is different. Everyone leaves for two to three days, pets and houseplants included.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Subterranean termites live in soil and build mud tubes. Drywood termites live inside the wood and leave tiny pellets. Both turn up around Honolulu.
How do I know if I have termites or ants?
For Honolulu homes, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. For Honolulu homes, a professional inspection looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, and swarming activity, and treatment targets the soil and the colony rather than just the visible wood.
Are termites common in Hawaii?
Around Honolulu, the usual culprit is the eastern subterranean termite.
Sources (11)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Termite Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides