Are you coming to Maui and wondering which side of the island has the best weather, accommodations, and offers the most things to do? Our surf lesson students ask us this frequently so we put together this little overview to help you understand the different sides of the island.
"Great Weather" is often defined as warm and sunny which means Maui is definitely a place for great weather. However, you must know that Maui is made up of a diverse range of micro-climates, and depending on where you are on the island the weather patterns change dramatically. Within just a few miles the weather can change from being rainy to sunny or from cooler to warmer.
The south and west side of the island are known as sunny and dry areas while the north and east coast are much more wet and lush. Having said that, we should point out that even in the wettest locations on Maui, the rain is a hit or miss. One minute it may be raining and then the next minute the sun is back and typically accompanied by a beautiful rainbow!
It's hard to say which area is more or less desirable because it depends on your personal preference. Some visitors prefer the sunny or dry weather for the beach and golfing, while for others the lushness is desired to be around as that is where a lot of hikes and waterfalls are located. Each area on Maui has unique little towns, vegetation, and wildlife. You will likely want to explore and see them all!
Here are 6 different areas of the island separated by region with a short overview to orient you to the island.
South Side - Kihei, Wailea, and Makena
Climate: Warm, sunny, and dry - This area is your best chance of having sun the majority of the time.
- Kihei is centrally located at the intersection of the south and west coast making it easy and efficient to travel and explore Maui. In this area, there is access to numerous beaches, restaurants, and water activities such as surfing, stand-up paddling, and kayaking. Kihei is mainly residential with condo and Airbnb accommodation rentals.
- Wailea is where you want to find yourself if you're looking for a blissful peaceful atmosphere at a luxurious resort. Tucked away in the corner of the island Wailea is where you find beautiful beachfront resorts, fine dining experiences, cafes, high-end shopping, art galleries, spas, award-winning tennis center, world-class golf courses, and potential celebrity spotting.
- Makena, which is located only minutes' driving past Kihei and Wailea, is where you will find some of the most beautiful beaches such as Maluaka Beach, Big Beach, and Little Beach. The one main road through the area will take you past the beaches and then continues on through lava fields and then comes to a dead-end at La Perouse Bay.
West Side - Lahaina, Kaanapali, Napili-Honokowai, Kahana, and Kapalua
Climate: Warm, sunny, and dry. Typically sunnier towards Lahaina and higher chances of rain as you move up towards the northwest area.
- West Maui is isolated from the rest of the island by a long stretch of two-lane ocean-front highway.
- Lahaina, once a historic whaling port, is a popular little seaside harbor town and carries a lot of historical appeal to go along with its modern-day hustle and bustle. Front Street (the popular main road in Lahaina) has a huge beautiful banyan tree and numerous cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries, and gift shops. This area is also where a lot of the boat tour activities depart from.
- The Kaanapali area features numerous well-known resorts, condos, golf, and shopping centers.
- Napili-Honokowai and Kahana are smaller communities stretching along the coastline north of Kaanapali.