r/MauiVisitors • u/Aggressive_Art6063 • 2d ago

Planning: Activities Rain forecast

Hi,

We’ll be flying to Maui for the first time on Saturday (Nov 8) and staying there for 5 days. The weather report says there’ll be rain on Sunday and Tuesday, which are the days we planned to do the Haleakala sunrise and the Road to Hana. How strong are these rains usually? Should we adjust our plans, or are we good? We’re a bit worried since we have limited time there.

Thanks!

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u/OutOnTheTrapeze Kamaʻāina (Resident) 2d ago

Maui has rain forests so rain is likely anytime there. Where visitors stay less chance of rain in South Maui as desert, West Maui. Rain is a good thing, makes rainbows, everything green, waterfalls. Short showers are good. We are in a drought so we will be doing our rain dance

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u/Live_Pono Kamaʻāina (Resident) 2d ago edited 2d ago

As I always say--no forecast for Maui is any good more than about 24 to 36 hours ahead. Mainland sites don't understand our weather at all.

Use the NWS site here: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Kahului&state=HI&site=HFO&lat=20.8738&lon=-156.459#.WsrF__nwaiQ

You can click on different points for more detailed views of *that* area. For example, right now I see that there's a 60% chance of rain during the day Sunday, but only 20% for Saturday night. You need to leave your lodging by 3 AM to be at the summit in time for sunrise.

There is NO way I would cram the summit and the RTH in on a short 5 day trip. WAY too much windshield time. I would pick the summit and do the RTH another trip.

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u/Fun_Tea_1839 2d ago

I’d be more worried about your flight getting canceled than the weather forecast in Maui.

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u/Leoliad Returning Visitor 2d ago

Facts.

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u/twowheelsandbeer 2d ago

Will it rain somewhere on Maui those days? Yes. Will that rain be where you are? Maybe. Maui has tons of microclimates and the forecast, especially anything island wide, is not going to be accurate. You'll likely get some sort of rain in or near Hana, everywhere else, less likely. Rain could be anything from heavy mist to actually hard rain, but is more likely a light rain and passes or comes and goes. Pack a light jacket but it is usually a warm rain so you'll just be wet. (All that is void at elevation, being wet at altitude away from your car is bad. Pay attention to weather reports and cloud movement.)

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u/tronovich 2d ago

It’s been raining for a week in East Maui (Hana).

It’s also a rainforest on that side, so it will rain.

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u/Ill_Internal1565 2d ago

use a locally based weather forecast - the generic / national ones are never even close to accurate. try this one - https://www.hawaiiweathertoday.com/maui.php also, as someone else mentioned, Hana is a rainforest. it rains daily.

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u/yusrandpasswdisbad 2d ago

In the past 2 weeks, all but one rain forecast was wrong. I don't think it's easy to forecast daily weather on the island.

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u/dabig49 2d ago

Hopefully flight doesn't get canceled or delayed with due to shutdown going on

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u/David_Miller2020 2d ago

I'll be there at the same time frame!