Maui Weather by Region Cycle Month
The island of Maui is made up of numerous different sub-climates. Depending on where you are, the weather can act in a multitude of ways. For the most part, each area has a general weather pattern.
Below we've listed the weather that each part of the island typically holds.
Maui Weather by Region
Because of the warm ocean airflow, the West Maui Mountains get a lot of rain. The Iao Valley rarely sees a day without some kind of precipitation. Wailuku Town is located over here as well as some of Upper West Maui like Honolua Bay. All of these areas are lush and green due to the near-constant wet weather. If it is raining, check out things to do on a rainy day under our Activities and Attractions.
Leeward West
Similar to the South of Maui, most of the leeward side of West Maui is located on lower ground near the coast. This area is warmer, sunnier, and drier than the rest of the island. We do notice that Lahaina town tends to get a little more rain than Kihei area in comparison. The further up you go in West Maui, the more wet it will get. You'll find the landscape becomes more diverse and lush. In the summer, the west side of Maui is subject to wild brush fires from the dry heat.
Central Valley
The central valley of Maui encompasses Maalea, part of North Kihei, and Kahului. This area is dry and windy. Maui is made up of two huge mountainous regions with a valley between it. The valley is home to mostly sugar cane fields, and is usually sunny between the cloudy mountains.
Leeward Halekala
Leeward Haleakala consists of South Maui and most of Up Country Maui. South Maui is home to Kihei, Wailea, and Makena. These areas get the least amount of rain on the island. This isn't saying that it doesn't rain. Some parts of Makena and Wailea get more rain than others, and Kihei's Maui Meadows gets more rain and is cooler than the lower parts of Kihei. Generally, the higher in elevation, the cooler it gets, and Maui's elevation changes drastically within miles of itself. Certain portions of Makena have a constant stream of clouds flowing in a strip from Kahoolawe to the crater summit. Southern parts of Big Beach (Makena Beach) are covered by this cloud formation frequently. Upcountry Maui is much cooler and wet than South Maui. The elevation is considerably higher here, which is conducive to more rain and colder air. The ancient Hawaiians who lived on this side of Maui would travel up the slopes to the upcountry during the summer and live in South Maui for the rest of the year.
Windward Haleakala
The windward side of Haleakala is home to Hana and everything on the Road to Hana. This area is the wettest because of Haleakala's tall slopes. Trade winds are responsible for blowing in moist air from the ocean, which Haleakala deflects up its slopes. Once the saturated air cools with altitude, it rains. This is the same for the windward side of the West Maui Mountains. The leeward sides of both these mountainous regions are blocked from the rain and get very little precipitation. The Windward side of Haleakala have rain over 3/4 of the year. When you drive the Road to Hana, you'll most likely get wet at one point or another.
Haleakala Summit
The Summit of Haleakala is a completely different world. With the look and feel of our moon's landscape, the crater of Haleakala is vast and high. Towering to over 10,000 ft, Haleakala Crater regularly reaches below zero in temperature and has on occasion even snowed. Dress warmly when visiting this area, and remember to do this especially when you go on a helicopter tour of the crater. If you're planning on catching the sunrise or sunset at the summit, keep in mind that it is cloudy more often than not. If it's clear, you'll have a view like no other. It feels as though you're on top of the world, and in reality, you are!