The weather in Maui is mild and consistent. Check Kahului Monthly Averages – they show that the difference between the hottest and the coolest seasons is only about 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
One of the most important weather forces in Maui are trade winds. While they can change directions, most of the time they blow from the East or North-East. Interestingly, in summer the trade winds are more constant and strong than in winter, and the peak falls on July. But don’t be discouraged! Two mountain formations – Haleakala and West Maui Mountains block the trade winds, creating protected areas along the West and South shores. Many great snorkeling and diving sites are found along these coasts. The best time to swim, snorkel and dive is morning hours between 7 am and 12 pm, and most boats taking people to dive and snorkel sites leave around 7 am. The trade winds build up in the afternoon, so it’s best to spend the afternoon time around the pool or visiting sites of interest. The winds die down by night, and it’s often great to take a dip in the ocean while watching sunset.
If this is your first trip to Maui in summer, you travel with kids and you want to be near good beaches, then you have two options – either to stay on West shore or South shore. We stayed on both shores and we came to prefer South Kihei – Wailea area. There are more kids friendly beaches, more good snorkeling areas, the weather is more stable and the area is very diverse and has something for every taste. It gets very windy in Ma’alaea and North Kihei.
Our favorite beaches are Kama’ole Beaches I, II and III. Kama’ole I and II are best for swimming , and you can also snorkel there around the rocks. Kama’ole III is a local favorite, because not only can you swim and snorkel, but also boogie board as the waves there are more reliable. It also has a huge grassy area where you can fly kites, watch sunsets, meet locals, etc. Another favorite beach is the “Big” beach in Makena.
I would recommend to stay in Kamaole Sands, Maui Kamaole or Kihei Akahi. We personally own two units in Kamaole Sands. We also stayed in Kihei Akahi and Maui Kamaole and we loved it too!
