HST to CST Converter
Convert time between Hawaii Standard Time (HST) and Central Standard Time (CST)
Hawaii Standard Time (HST)
Central Standard Time (CST)
Time Difference
Central Standard Time (CST) is 0 hours ahead of Hawaii Standard Time (HST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| HST | CST |
|---|---|
| 16:00 | 20:00 |
| 18:00 | 22:00 |
| 20:00 | 00:00 |
| 22:00 | 02:00 |
| 00:00 | 04:00 |
| 02:00 | 06:00 |
| 04:00 | 08:00 |
| 06:00 | 10:00 |
| 08:00 | 12:00 |
| 10:00 | 14:00 |
| 12:00 | 16:00 |
| 14:00 | 18:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
Related Time Zone Conversions
About HST to CST Time Conversion
Converting time between Hawaii Standard Time (HST) and Central Standard Time (CST) is important for coordinating between Hawaii and the US Central region. HST is UTC-10, while CST is UTC-6, making CST 4 hours ahead of HST. Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time, but the Central US does, adding complexity to the conversion.
This conversion is vital for business operations between Hawaii and the Midwest/Central US, including cities like Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City. Understanding this time difference is crucial for scheduling meetings, managing operations, and coordinating activities between Hawaii and the central United States.
Common Use Cases for HST to CST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling calls between Hawaii offices and Central US headquarters
- Coordinating business operations between Hawaii and Midwest regions
- Managing customer service across Hawaii and Central time zones
Personal & Travel
- Scheduling video calls with family and friends in the Midwest
- Planning travel between Hawaii and Central US cities
- Coordinating vacation time across regions
Time Zone Information
Hawaii Standard Time (HST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-10
- IANA Timezone: Pacific/Honolulu
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time observed
- Major Cities: Honolulu, Hilo, Maui, Kauai, Big Island
- Coverage: State of Hawaii
Central Standard Time (CST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6 (UTC-5 during CDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico
Quick Reference: HST to CST
Remember: CST is always 4 hours ahead of HST, but becomes 5 hours during CDT (daylight saving time)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between HST and CST?
Hawaii Standard Time (HST) is UTC-10, while Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6. CST is 4 hours ahead of HST. This means when it's 8:00 AM in HST, it's 12:00 PM (noon) the same day in CST.
Does Hawaii observe daylight saving time?
No, Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) remains UTC-10 year-round. However, the Central US does observe daylight saving time, transitioning from CST (UTC-6) to CDT (UTC-5). This means the time difference varies between 4 hours (when CST is active) and 5 hours (when CDT is active).
What is the time difference during Central Daylight Time (CDT)?
When the Central US observes Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) from mid-March to early November, the difference becomes 5 hours. During this period, when it's 8:00 AM HST, it would be 1:00 PM CDT. This is why it's important to verify whether CST or CDT is currently active.
What major cities are in HST and CST timezones?
HST covers Hawaii cities including Honolulu, Hilo, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. CST covers major Central US cities like Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Kansas City. These regions span from Hawaii to the central continental United States.
How do I convert HST to CST manually?
To convert from HST to CST, add 4 hours to the HST time. For example, if it's 9:00 AM HST, it would be 1:00 PM CST the same day. Remember that the difference becomes 5 hours when the Central US observes CDT (daylight saving time).
What should I know about scheduling across HST and CST?
Hawaii is 4-5 hours behind the Central US, with limited but workable overlap. Morning CST times (8-10 AM) correspond to early morning HST times (4-6 AM), while afternoon CST (2-4 PM) corresponds to late morning/early afternoon HST (10 AM-12 PM). Most Hawaii-Central US businesses can find overlap during standard business hours.
Pro Tips
- • CST is always 4 hours ahead of HST - but becomes 5 hours when CDT is active (March-November).
- • Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time, so HST is consistent year-round while CST/CDT changes twice annually.
- • Afternoon Central times (2-4 PM CST = 10 AM-12 PM HST) provide the best overlap for Hawaii-Central US business coordination.
- • Unlike Hawaii-East Coast coordination, Hawaii and the Central US have meaningful daily overlap for real-time communication.
- • Use 24-hour time format when communicating across HST-CST to eliminate AM/PM confusion around early morning times.
- • Between March and November, remember the 5-hour difference when CST transitions to CDT due to daylight saving time.