Maui weather: live forecast and what each month is really like

Maui has a dozen climates on one island. The live National Weather Service forecast below covers the three places visitors actually stand: the West Maui resort coast, the South Maui resort coast, and Hana. Underneath it is the month-by-month table, the microclimate map in words, and the honest answer to "when should we come?"

Live · NOAA National Weather Service

Maui right now and the week ahead

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If it does not appear, the same forecasts are on weather.gov: Kaanapali, Kihei, Hana, the leeward waters marine forecast and the NWS Honolulu office.

Forecast points and the Maui County leeward waters zone, published by the National Weather Service in Honolulu and refreshed several times a day. Forecasts, not beach readings. Boat operators make their own call each morning on the water.

The one rule that explains Maui weather

Rain falls where the wind hits the mountains. The trade winds blow from the northeast on about three days in four, pile up against the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala, and drop their moisture on the windward slopes: Hana, the Road to Hana, Iao Valley, the north shore. The resort coasts on the far side, Kaanapali, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailea, sit in the rain shadow and are among the driest places in Hawaii. Lahaina averages around 13 inches of rain a year. Hana averages more than 80. They are 55 miles apart.

So the forecast you want is the one for where you are standing, which is why the live block above shows three. An island-wide "60% chance of rain" is almost always a Hana and Upcountry number.

West Maui: Kaanapali, Lahaina, Kapalua

Sunny and dry; the sheltered leeward coast
Calm mornings, breezier afternoons as the trades wrap around
Kapalua and Napili catch more passing showers than Kaanapali
Where the beach-launched boats, parasail and jet skis run

South Maui: Kihei, Wailea, Makena

Driest and warmest resort coast on the island
North Kihei and Maalaea blow hard in the afternoon
Wailea and Makena stay calmer; morning snorkel is the rule
Molokini boats leave from here, early for a reason

Central and North Shore: Kahului, Paia

The windiest part of the island; the airport is here
Afternoon trades of 25 mph are normal, not a storm
Paia and Hookipa: world windsurfing and winter surf
Warm, with more cloud than the leeward coasts

Upcountry and Haleakala

Kula and Makawao at 2,000–4,000 ft: 10–15 °F cooler, misty afternoons
Haleakala summit: 35–50 °F at dawn, wind chill below freezing in winter
Clearest at sunrise; clouds build up the slopes by late morning
Occasional winter snow or ice at the top

East Maui: Hana and the Road to Hana

Rainforest for a reason: 80 inches and up a year
Showers most days, usually brief, often sunny between
Waterfalls run best after rain; flash floods close trails
Leave early; afternoon rain on the road is normal

Ocean temperature

Coolest late February to March: about 75 °F
Warmest August to October: 79–80 °F
Swimmable every month; a rash guard is enough in winter
Visibility is best on calm mornings, not warm afternoons

Maui weather by month

Typical values for the Lahaina–Kaanapali coast, rounded from NOAA climate normals. Kihei and Wailea run a degree or two warmer and drier; Hana is wetter in every month. Use the live forecast for the week you are here.

Month	High / low	Ocean	Rain (leeward)	Wind and sea	What is on
January	81° / 64°	75°	2.9 in	Fronts and Kona days between calm trade mornings; big surf on north shores	Whale season in full swing. Thrill craft paused. Peak prices.
February	81° / 64°	75°	2.0 in	Fronts thin out; long settled spells; north swell continues	Peak whales. The best month for a whale watch.
March	82° / 65°	75°	1.8 in	Trades re-establish; mornings calm, afternoons breezy	Whales still everywhere. Spring break crowds.
April	83° / 66°	76°	0.8 in	Dry and settled; some of the calmest ocean of the year	Last whales. Snorkel sails resume mid month. Prices ease.
May	85° / 68°	77°	0.4 in	Steady trades, calm mornings; south swell season begins	Parasail and jet ski reopen May 16. A sweet spot month.
June	87° / 70°	78°	0.1 in	Driest month; reliable trades; hurricane season opens quietly	Everything running. Summer families arrive late month.
July	88° / 71°	79°	0.2 in	Strongest trades of the year; book boats and flights for the morning	Busiest summer month. Book two weeks ahead.
August	89° / 72°	80°	0.3 in	Hot, humid spells; trades ease late month; hurricane season peaks	Warmest water. Crowds fade after mid month.
September	89° / 71°	80°	0.3 in	Lightest winds of the year; glassy mornings; warmest ocean	Locals' favourite month. Lowest prices with summer weather.
October	87° / 70°	79°	0.9 in	Calm and warm; first hint of winter fronts late month	Quiet, excellent value. Everything still open.
November	84° / 68°	78°	1.6 in	Variable; first Kona storms; north swells begin	Shoulder season until Thanksgiving. First whales arrive.
December	82° / 66°	76°	2.6 in	Winter pattern: fronts, showers, calm spells between	Whale season opens Dec 1; thrill craft pause Dec 15. Holiday peak.

Highs and lows are air temperature at Lahaina; ocean is the West Maui coastal mean. Daylight runs from about 7:00 am to 5:50 pm in December and 5:45 am to 7:10 pm in June. Maui does not change its clocks.

When to come, depending on what you want

For whales

December 1 to April 30

Peak numbers January through March, with February the surest. Mornings are calmest; blows show on flat water and vanish in whitecaps. Rain does not matter; wind does. See the whale season guide.

For calm ocean and visibility

April – May and September – October

Lighter trades, little swell, warm water. Molokini and the Lanai coast are at their clearest, parasail and jet ski days rarely blow out, and the island is quieter.

For the best value

Late April – early June, September – mid December

Resort rates drop, boats have space, and the weather is as good as or better than the peak months. September is the locals' pick.

For surf

November – March north shores; May – September south shores

Winter north swells light up Honolua Bay and Hookipa while Kaanapali stays swimmable. Summer south swells reach Lahaina and Kihei, usually small and friendly.

Three patterns worth knowing

Trade winds

The default. Northeast, 10 to 25 mph, strongest in summer and in the afternoon. They keep the islands comfortable at 85 °F and they are why mornings are the time to be on the water: the leeward coasts wake up calm and the wind fills in after lunch. If a tour has a 7 am and a 1 pm departure, the 7 am is the smoother one almost every day of the year.

Kona weather

A few days a month from October to April, a passing front swings the wind round to the south or southwest. The sheltered coasts become the exposed ones, the rain and haze come to the resort side, and the sea gets short and lumpy. Kona days are when boats are most likely to cancel and the Road to Hana is at its sunniest. They usually clear in a day or two. Vog, the volcanic haze from the Big Island, also drifts over on Kona winds and can make the horizon milky.

Hurricane season

June 1 to November 30, peaking in August and September. Direct hits are rare; most systems weaken or pass south and deliver a few days of humidity, showers and surf. Storms are tracked a week out, so there is never a surprise. If a watch or warning is posted for Maui County it appears at the top of the live forecast above.

What to pack for Maui weather

Mineral sunscreen. Maui County allows only non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Buy it here if yours does not qualify.
One light layer for boats, dawn departures and evenings. A thin windbreaker covers it.
Real warm clothes for Haleakala if a sunrise or the bike ride is on the list: fleece, hat, gloves. Not a hoodie.
A hat with a strap and polarised sunglasses. The wind takes the other kind.
Rain jacket for Hana, and shoes that can get muddy. Leave the umbrella; it will not survive the trades.

The best time to visit Maui guide goes deeper on prices and crowds by month, and the island map shows which adventures leave from which coast.

Maui weather questions

What is the best month to visit Maui for weather?

April, May, September and October: warm, dry, lighter winds and calmer seas than midsummer, with fewer visitors and lower prices than winter or July. Every month is warm on the resort coasts; the differences are wind, swell and crowds rather than temperature.

What is the rainy season in Maui?

November through March, but it is a windward and mountain rainy season. Kaanapali, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailea sit in the rain shadow of the mountains and still see mostly sunny days with short passing showers; Hana and the upper slopes take the real rain.

How warm is the ocean in Maui?

About 75 °F in February and March, rising to 79 to 80 °F from July through October. It is swimmable year round; a rash guard is plenty in winter.

Does Maui get hurricanes?

Central Pacific hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 and peaks in August and September. Direct hits on Maui are rare; most storms pass south of the islands and bring a few days of humidity, showers and surf. Systems are tracked for a week or more before they arrive, and the alerts line in the live forecast on this page carries any watch or warning.

Why is it so windy in Kihei and Maalaea in the afternoon?

The trade winds funnel through the central valley between the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala and spill out across Maalaea Bay and north Kihei. Mornings are calm; by early afternoon it can be blowing 25 to 35 mph there while Kaanapali and Wailea stay comfortable. Book boats out of Maalaea for the morning.

How cold is Haleakala at sunrise?

Usually 35 to 50 °F at the 10,023-foot summit before dawn, with wind chill below freezing on a winter morning. Bring every warm layer you own, a hat and gloves; the resort coast will be 70 °F warmer by lunchtime.