Whether arriving from the south or the northeast quadrant, these winds collide with whatever obstructs their path. Blowing from the south-keep in mind that the Big Island, which is home to Kona, rests south of Maui-these winds tend to fall during autumn and winter, and are often lighter than the trades that dominate Maui’s weather for 80% of the year. The second type of wind Maui confronts is what’s commonly called Kona winds. And that demarcation is vital: Kapalua, for example, receives 20 more inches of rain per year than Lahaina (even though it’s only nine miles away), while Hana is prone to frequent showers. Due to its form and position within the Pacific-imagine, if you will, Maui split in two at the top of its “head,” wherein the left half is the leeward side, while the right is the windward flank-those northeasterly winds run into the “port” side of the island and turn the areas of Haiku, Makawao, Hana, and Kapalua wetter and windier than the hotter, dryer towns of Kihei and Lahaina. Where those winds originate from-and which part of the island they drive into first-has an enormous force on whether one will be sailing on a smooth sea or cowering from sand blasts on the beach.įor much of the year, Maui experiences trade winds-gales that arrive from the northeast quadrant offshore. Consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, and other trace elements, air molecules travel swiftly. In essence, wind is the flow of air molecules. Indeed, of all the weather systems to impact a mass of land, Hawaii is most vulnerable to wind. Those sultry island breezes for which Hawaii is known are far more than just a way to rock a hammock between two palms. Much of Haleakala’s weather is due to the shield volcano’s sheer elevation: Towering 10,023 feet above sea level, it also renders Haleakala a shield in more ways than one-as well as something of a wind funnel. And while the average temperature at the visiting center may be between 41 and 62 degrees, couple in wind chill and you have an altered image of the bright ambiance one readily associates with the islands of Hawaii. Here, time seems to stretch towards infinity, sound is poignantly acute, and temperatures plunge to as low as 27 degrees. While the lower regions of the island enjoy a warmer environment (the average on the tourist-heavy south and west sides is 83 degrees), the greater Haleakala National Park, which comprises over 30,000 acres, is home to a vast array of sub-climates-most notably the alpine desert that’s found within the volcanic crater. Here, however, the balmy temperatures that are enjoyed on the leeward sides of the island- Wailea, Kihei, Lahaina, Ka’anapali-seem to belong to a universe apart. Haleakala hovers over the entirety of the island like a paragon of power, luring visitors to its moonscape summit and dramatic vistas of the outlying islands. HawaiiWeatherToday.Perennially blue skies, eighty-degree temps, surf warmer than bathwater-is it any wonder that Hawaii is thought to have some of the finest weather in the world?īut on the island of Maui, a wholly different kind of weather occurs within Haleakala Crater-while the volcano itself has a tremendous, even radical impact on the Valley Isle’s overall climate.
It allows you to choose the area of Maui you are planning on being in and Glen’s Narrative is an important resource to see tracks, live weather maps, etc if a hurricane should threaten.
If you’re driving up to the 9,740-foot Haleakala Visitor Center atop Haleakala National Park, expect temperatures in the 40s or lower, so bring warm clothes.Ĭheckout the Maui page for the website below – it is the most accurate weather we have found. It’s warmer along the coast than Upcountry Maui where temperatures are typically 8-10 degrees cooler. On the wetter windward side you’ll find lush Iao Valley and the scenic road to Hana. It is generally drier on Maui’s leeward side where you’ll find the spectacular beaches and resorts of Kapalua, Kaanapali, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailea. It is on the windward side of the island. Most websites use info gathered from the weather station in Kahului at the air port. So if you see RAIN on the weather channel, don’t believe rain in the resort areas of Maui. It could also rain for 15 minutes and the forecast would still show rain. Also when you see rain in a forecast, it is usually raining somewhere in the Iao valley or upcountry, not usually on the coast. Driving 10-30 minutes to escape the rain cloud is worth checking out.
If it is raining in Ka’anapali it might be sunny in Lahaina or Kihei.
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