Month guide · Maui · United States
Maui in January
What January is really like in Maui: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Niagara66, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 18°C (64°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Peak whale season and peak demand; occasional winter storms bring rain and big surf to north-facing shores.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 18°C (64°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea temperature
- 24°C (75°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in January
January is the 9th-warmest month in Maui: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 29°C (84°F), and nights fall to about 18°C (64°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with December (27°C (81°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:04
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 18:04
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea
- 24°C (75°F)
Autumn (September–November). Warm sea and quiet beaches in September and October; rain starts to return in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 5 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: January is one of the pricier months.
Events in January
- Humpback whale season peak (January to March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Viewpoint · Haleakalā National Park
Haleakalā summit sunrise
Bring warm layers, a hat and gloves; if you miss sunrise, sunset and stargazing at the summit are equally striking and need no reservation.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
Nature · Haleakalā National Park
Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail
This trail drops from the summit visitor centre into the cinder desert of Haleakalā's crater, past rust, ochre and black cinder cones and rare silversword plants.
- Time needed
- 3–5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
Experience · East Maui
Road to Hāna
Leave by 7am, fill the tank in Pāʻia, pull over to let locals pass, and never park in or walk along the narrow road.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Kīpahulu
Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls
In the Kīpahulu district of Haleakalā National Park, south of Hāna, this roughly 6 km round-trip trail climbs past a giant banyan and through a dense bamboo forest on boardwalks to Waimoku Falls, which drops about 120 metres down a sheer rock wall.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
The sea averages 24°C (75°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Maui.
What to pack
For highs near 27°C, lows near 18°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Maui?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Maui in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Maui?
It is a shoulder-season month. Peak whale season and peak demand; occasional winter storms bring rain and big surf to north-facing shores.
+How warm is Maui in January?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Maui in January?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.