The island of Maui, in the center of the Pacific Ocean, has warm weather and warm ocean that makes it a perfect year round vacation destination. Maui is a small island but it is climatically diverse. The island is home to desert, rainforest, and mountainous climates. So no matter what time of year you decide to visit Maui, you will be able to find the sunny holiday you’re searching for.
As a general rule the westside of the island, from Kihei to Lahaina, is the sunniest and warmest place to be all year. The North shore, upcountry, and Hana tend to have cooler and wetter weather in the winter and milder, but still warm, summer temperatures. Ocean temperature varies somewhat between seasons from about 84℉ in the summer to 75℉ in the winter—but even in the colder months it’s never too cold to swim.
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Visit Maui in the Summer
The summer is the warmest and driest time to visit Maui. From June – September you can enjoy 13 hours of sunshine, making everyday a perfect beach day. Maui’s summer is also the best time to explore the Hana Highway, watch the sunrise at Haleakala Crater, and hike upcountry trails.
The ocean tends to be calmer in the summer, making it the perfect time for families to visit. During the peak summer season resorts are often full and larger attractions can be crowded, so it’s a good idea to rent a camper van and spend a few nights on a private beach in nature.
If you’re searching for a van rental, we recommend Maui Adventure Vans. They have awesome vans that can make your camping adventure a little more comfortable.
Fall on Maui
From October – December, Maui still has the pleasant weather Hawaii vacationers seek without the heavy crowds and higher rates of summer and winter. Temperature around the island is a little cooler, around 80℉ degrees, during the fall months and the tradewinds add a refreshing element to lazy island afternoons.
Be sure to hop in the water and snorkel with the resident honu (turtle) population. With fewer tourists on the island, it’s easier to find good deals on accomodation and escape heavy traffic.
Winter is Whale watching season
Maui’s winters bring in the “big stuff.” From December – March the legendary North shore surf breaks churn out massive waves. Winter visitors should definitely watch the pro surfers at Honolua Bay, Hookipa, and Jaws — and maybe take a surf lesson on the smaller waves at South facing beaches. Check out www.mauisurfclinics.com for awesome surf lessons in Lahaina.
Maui’s whale season is from December 15 – May 15, during this time more than 12,000 humpback whales migrate through the Hawaiian islands to mate and give birth. The Westside of Maui is the best place to see the gentle giants and Lahaina is the best place to leave for a whale watch tour—seriously we can’t recommend this enough!
The winter months are beautiful, but they bring in cooler weather, still in the 70s and 80s in Lahaina and Kihei, and even cooler weather and more rain upcountry (it snows on Haleakala!). For good reason, winter is a popular time to visit Maui so it’s best to plan ahead to make the most of your trip.
Spring is crisp and cool on Maui
You guessed it, the weather on Maui in the spring is just as beautiful as it is in the summer, fall, and winter. Spring days are often bright and sunny with temperatures in the 80s, but the temperature can drop to the low 70s at night making early mornings and late evenings crisp and cool.
April is the end of whale season, visitors should hop on a boat to see mothers teaching their newborn calves in the Maui Nui Whale sanctuary. As the rainy winter abates, spring is a great time to head upcountry to hike the Makawao Forest or Haleakala Crater.
March and April tend to be fairly busy on the island when families visit during school holidays but the month of May is quiet and you can often find bargains on flights and hotels.
