Maui

===Climate===
{{main|Climate of Hawaii}}
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2012}}

The climate of the Hawaiian Islands is characterized by a two-season year, tropical and uniform temperatures everywhere (except at high elevations), marked geographic differences in rainfall, high relative humidity, extensive cloud formations (except on the driest coasts and at high elevations), and dominant [[trade wind]] flow (especially at elevations below a few thousand feet). Maui itself has a wide range of climatic conditions and weather patterns that are influenced by several different factors in the physical environment:

*Half of Maui is situated within {{cvt|5|mi|km|0}} of the island's coastline. This, and the extreme insularity of the Hawaiian Islands, account for the strong marine influence on Maui's climate.
*Macro weather patterns are typically determined by elevation and orientation towards the trade winds (the prevailing air flow comes from the northeast).
*Maui's rugged, irregular topography produces marked variations in conditions. Air swept inland on the trade winds is shunted one way or another by the mountains, valleys, and vast open slopes. This complex three-dimensional flow of air results in striking variations in wind speed, cloud formation, and rainfall.

Maui displays a unique and diverse set of climatic conditions, each of which is specific to a loosely defined sub-region of the island. These sub-regions are defined by major physiographic features (such as mountains and valleys) and by location on the windward or leeward side of the island. Maui's daytime temperatures average between {{cvt|75|°F}} and {{cvt|90|°F}} year round, while evening temperatures are about {{convert|15|F-change}} cooler in the more humid windward areas, about {{convert|18|F-change}} cooler in the drier leeward areas, and cooler yet in higher elevations.

An exception to the normal pattern is the occasional winter "Kona storms" which bring rainfall to the South and West areas accompanied by high southwesterly winds (opposite of the prevailing trade wind direction).

====Microclimates====
[[File:Westküste Maui Hawaii (45740526221).jpg|thumb|West coast of Maui, with Haleakalā and Kihei visible in the background]]
Although the island of Maui is fairly small, it can feel quite different due to the unique microclimates that are typical to each of its distinctive locations.

[[File:Makena Beach, Maui Hawaii (45015180584).jpg|thumb|right|Makena Beach, South Maui]]

*'''Windward lowlands''' – Below {{cvt|2000|ft|m}} on north-to-northeast sides of an island. Roughly perpendicular to the direction of prevailing trade winds. Moderately rainy; frequent trade wind-induced showers. Skies are often cloudy to partly cloudy. Air temperatures are more uniform (and mild) than those of other regions.
*'''Leeward lowlands''' – Daytime temperatures are a little higher and nighttime temperatures are lower than in windward locations. Dry weather is prevalent, except for sporadic showers that drift over the mountains to windward and during short-duration storms.
*'''Interior lowlands''' – Intermediate conditions, often sharing characteristics of other lowland sub-regions. Occasionally experience intense local afternoon showers from well-developed clouds that formed due to local daytime heating.
*'''Leeward side high-altitude mountain slopes with high rainfall''' – Extensive cloud cover and rainfall all year long. Mild temperatures are prevalent, but humidity is higher than in any other sub-region.
*'''Leeward side lower mountain slopes''' – Rainfall is higher than on the adjacent leeward lowlands but much less than at similar altitudes on the windward side; however, maximum rainfall usually occurs leeward of the crests of lower mountains. Temperatures are higher than on the rainy slopes of the windward sides of mountains; cloud cover is almost as extensive.
*'''High mountains''' – Above about {{cvt|5000|ft|m}} on Haleakalā, rainfall decreases rapidly with elevation. Relative humidity may be ten percent or less. The lowest temperatures in the state are experienced in this region: air temperatures below freezing are common.

{{Anchor|Regions}} These microclimates help to divide the major regions of Maui: Central Maui; leeward South Maui and West Maui; windward North Shore and East Maui; and Upcountry Maui.<ref name="microclimate-areas">{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Alexandra |title=Micro-Climates & Choosing Residential Property to Buy on Maui {{!}} Maui Now |url=https://mauinow.com/2015/01/05/micro-climates-choosing-residential-property-to-buy-on-maui/ |website={{!}}  Micro-Climates & Choosing Residential Property to Buy on Maui |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref>

*'''Central Maui''' consists primarily of Kahului and Wailuku, and occupies the flat isthmus between the West Maui Mountains and Haleakalā. Kahului is the center of the island and tends to keep steady, high temperatures throughout the year. The microclimate in Kahului can be at times muggy, but it usually feels relatively dry and is often very breezy. The Wailuku area is set closer to the West Maui Mountain range. Here, more rainfall will be found throughout the year and higher humidity levels.
*'''South Maui''' (Kihei, Wailea, and Makena) and '''West Maui''' (Lahaina, Kaanapali, and Kapalua) are both on the leeward side of the island. These areas are typically drier, with higher daytime temperatures (up to {{cvt|92|°F}}), and the least amount of rainfall. (An exception is the high-altitude, unpopulated West Maui summit, which boasts up to {{cvt|400|in|mm}} of rainfall per year on its north and east side.)

[[File:Waianapanapa State Park Maui Hawaii Road to Hana (45690767052).jpg|thumb|right|Waianapanapa State Park in East Maui, next to Hana]]

*The '''North Shore''' (Paia and Haiku) and '''East Maui''' (Keanae, Hana, and Kipahulu) are both on the windward side of the island. Facing the prevailing, northeast trade winds, these areas have heavier rainfall levels, which increase considerably at higher elevations.
*{{Anchor|Upcountry}} '''Upcountry Maui''' is the name for the sloping area on the western face of Haleakalā, including the towns of Makawao, Pukalani, and Kula.<ref name="Upcountry-wanderlust">{{cite web |last1=Wogan |first1=John |title=Where to Stay (and What to Eat) in Maui’s Upcountry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/t-magazine/travel/maui-upcountry-guide.html |website=NYTimes |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="Paniolo">{{cite web |last1=Moon |first1=Freda |title=In Maui’s Upcountry, Where the Paniolo Roam |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/travel/in-mauis-upcountry-where-the-paniolo-roam.html |website=NYTimes |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="LATimes-upcountry">{{cite web |last1=McClure |first1=Rosemary |title=Maui's Upcountry: Laid-back vibe, cool breezes and farm-to-table food |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/hawaii/la-tr-maui-20141019-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=14 November 2023 |date=19 October 2014}}</ref> This area ranges from {{cvt|1,500|ft|adj=on}} to {{cvt|4,500|ft|adj=on}}, and the climate tends toward mild heat (between {{cvt|70|°F}} and {{cvt|80|°F}}) during the day and cool evenings. The higher the elevation, the cooler the evenings can be: during Maui's winter, Upper Kula can be as cold as {{cvt|40|°F}} in the early morning hours and the Haleakalā summit can dip below freezing.

{|style="width:100%;text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
!Colspan=14|Climate data for Maui
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
|-
!Average sea temperature °F (°C)
|style="background:#FF6700;color:#000000;"|76.3<br />(24.6)
|style="background:#FF6D00;color:#000000;"|75.5<br />(24.2)
|style="background:#FF6F00;color:#000000;"|75.3<br />(24.1)
|style="background:#FF6200;color:#000000;"|75.9<br />(24.4)
|style="background:#FF5800;color:#000000;"|76.8<br />(24.9)
|style="background:#FF5000;color:#000000;"|77.7<br />(25.4)
|style="background:#FF4E00;color:#000000;"|78.6<br />(25.9)
|style="background:#FF4600;color:#000000;"|79.3<br />(26.3)
|style="background:#FF3C00;color:#000000;"|80<br />(26.7)
|style="background:#FF4400;color:#000000;"|80<br />(26.7)
|style="background:#FF5000;color:#000000;"|78.9<br />(26.1)
|style="background:#FF6200;color:#000000;"|77.1<br />(25.1)
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#f8f9fa;font-weight:normal;font-size:95%;"|Source: meteodb.com<ref>{{cite web |url=https://meteodb.com/usa/maui |title=Maui — weather by month, water temperature |access-date=March 22, 2023 }}</ref>
|}

====Rainfall====
[[File:KahikinuiCoastlineMaui.JPG|thumb|right|Kahikinui coastline near [[Kaupo, Hawaii|Kaupo]]]]
[[File:Rainbow in Hawaii.jpg|thumb|left|[[Rainbow]] over the [[West Maui Mountains]] after rainfall in [[Kaanapali, Hawaii|Kā{{okina}}anapali]]]]

Showers are very common; while some of these are very heavy, the vast majority are light and brief. Even the heaviest rain showers are seldom accompanied by thunder and lightning. Throughout the lowlands in summer the dominance of the trade winds produce a drier season. At one extreme, the annual rainfall averages {{cvt|17|in|mm}} to {{cvt|20|in|mm}} or less in leeward coastal areas, such as the shoreline from [[Ma'alaea Bay|Maalaea Bay]] to Kaupo. At the other extreme, the annual average rainfall exceeds {{cvt|300|in|mm}} along the lower windward slopes of Haleakalā, particularly along the [[Hana Highway|Hāna Highway]]. [[Big Bog, Maui|Big Bog]], a spot on the edge of Haleakalā National Park overlooking Hana at about {{cvt|5,400|ft}} elevation had an estimated mean annual rainfall of {{cvt|404|in|mm}} over the 30-year period of 1978 to 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Lee |last=Imada |title='Big Bog' ranks among wettest spots in Hawaii, possibly world |url=http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/559332.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611072538/http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/559332.html |archive-date=11 June 2013 |url-status=dead |website=[[The Maui News]] |access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref> If the islands of Hawaii did not exist, the average annual rainfall on the same patch of water would be about {{cvt|25|in|mm}}.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Instead, the mountainous topography of Maui and the other islands induce an actual average of about {{cvt|70|in|mm}}.

{{climate chart
|Maui
|7|20|33
|6|19|31
|6|21|40
|5|22|11
|8|23|10
|9|21|4
|11|26|20
|11|28|3
|8|26|7
|8|22|36
|8|20|9
|6|20|12
|float=right
|clear=right
|source=<ref name="nasa">{{Cite web |url=http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php |title=NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index |access-date=30 January 2016 |publisher=NASA |archive-date=11 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511075542/https://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

In the lowlands, rainfall is most likely to occur throughout the year during the night or morning hours, and least likely in mid-afternoon. The most pronounced daily variations in rainfall occur during the summer because summer rainfall generally consists of trade winds showers that often occur at night. Winter rainfall in the lowlands is the result of storm activity, which is as likely to occur in the daytime as at night. Rainfall variability is far greater during the winter when occasional storms contribute appreciably to rainfall totals. With such wide swings in rainfall, there are inevitably occasional droughts, sometimes causing economic losses. These occur when winter rains fail to produce sufficient significant rainstorms, impacting normally dry areas outside the trade winds that depend on them the most. The winter of 2011–2012 produced extreme drought on the leeward sides of Moloka{{okina}}i, Maui, and the Island of Hawaii.