I am going to Maui in late September. And every time I check the weather there it says WINDY. I am staying in Lahina area.
Kanapalai to be exact...
What is up with this ? I have stayed in Kaui and Oahu numerous times.
But it appears Maui always has wind...
No fun to sit on a beach with blowing sand.
Is this the case ?
..I hope not...

lighten up Alice - there will always be trade winds Life is good - the only way you cannot enjoy yourself is if you allow yourself not to. If I were there in September....I would embrace everything that damn island has to offer....it is glorious North South East and West. Myself, I never have enough time in each corner, there is so much to breath in.............slow down and enjoy!!!

wow don't be so harsh gyppielou..I think she maybe does have a point. I live near Lake Erie in Ohio and the wind the other day at the beach made the sand PAINFULL. We left after an hour, the beach was dead. I'm hoping that when they say windy they are light winds that feel refreshing (like the fabulous ones in Aruba). Everyones questions are valid though, no need to get snippy.

The valley (the place between Haleakala and West Mountain) is usually windy. You notice that airplanes going in and out of Kahalui Airport always fly in and out to the north so they can be facing the wind. The name of Lahaina's stage production "Ula'lena" is taken from the winds of Maui.

But the wind keeps everything fresh and cooler.

Hey ramfan!

That is too funny you said this. My husband and I went to Maui in Sept. 2001 (stayed in Kanapali at the Embasy Suites)and we took a stroll along the beach and were pelted by sand and it hurt! I thought it was just a weather front but then learned that Maui's trade winds are why it's always windy. Believe me, when it's really hot and humid, the wind feels good especially while you're lying out in the sun! We just didn't sit directly on the beach, more on the grassy area on lounge chairs. Close enough to watch the beautiful water but far enough so as not to get pelted by the blowing sand. You will have such a memorable trip, you will forget about the wind the second you arrive! Maui is the most beautiful and amazing place I've been to so far in my life. Enjoy your trip!

ramfan: if you haven't already got "Maui Revealed" I suggest you buy it. They explain weather patterns, including wind, on Maui in detail.

We rented a condo north of Lahaina and Kaanapali last March and I was surprised at how windy it was. The good news is that by the time we drove 6 miles south to Lahaina, it wasn't windy at all. And, in the hot afternoons, the wind kept us cool on the beach. I can imagine that it could get windy enough to where you wouldn't want to be on the sand but that didn't happen to us. Until we figured out the wind patterns, we delayed going snorkling and surfing because of the wind. Once we figured out the winds, we did all of our activites further north or south without any problem and enjoyed the breeze in the afternoon on the beach. You'll have a terrific time in Maui. Be sure to see the Warren and Annabelle Magic show.

Lahaina is one of the least windy parts of the island.As a result it can get pretty uncomfortable there in the late afternoons sipping mai tais, waiting for the luau to start.
300 plus days a year the trades will start up about noon and quit at dusk,I love them.
The beach in front of the condo usually clears out about 4pm as the sand starts to blow, but if you sit on the grass the breeze is wonderful.We have never used our air conditioner.

sorry ramfan and crazyldb if I was insulting with my sarcasm. Just seems to me the trip is booked and you should be greatful for the opportunity to explore such a magnificant island and not be fretting about the possible negatives....really, honestly, you'll have a great time, and learning about the timing of the winds is a great suggestion. For me the morning is always best for snorkling and kayaking in the windy areas. Have a wonderful time

My family has a phrase "Ah, the lovely trades" to describe these winds. If they are up, they can be rough. I spent about 1/2 hour on the beach in front of the Embassy Resort and became a sand drift. I was literally burried on one side by sand.

They usually come up in the afternoon so it is easy to plan your day around them. If you can find a protected spot they can be a bonus. They keep the air moving and sunbathing is more comfortable.

JeannetteC is correct. Within a couple of days you will know the pattern and can plan your day. Calm water activities like snorkeling could be done in the morning.

Message gyppielou: You too are correct. Maui is a fantastic place and at any given moment there are a thousand perfect places to be on Maui. I remember once seeing a sign on the road to Hana that said "construction delays up to 1 hour" and we, being typical commuters, complained. We were stopped on the road and found a grove of guava trees on the edge of the highway and enjoyed a treat we would have missed otherwise. I'll never forget the taste of that fruit or the sweet nectar dripping off my elbows.

Be flexible and you will be fine. Have a good trip.

Thanks for all your replys.....But first of all I am not a lady and I am not named Alice ??? What was that all about Gyppielou ?
And I did get the book Maui revealed.
Very imformative...but I was just curious how bad the winds really were..thanks for all your input...

I must be oblivious. I've been to Maui 4 times and have never noticed the wind while on the beach or at the pool. I'm not saying that wind did not blow it's just that it didn't blow in a way that made me notice it was windy. Three times were in the fall and once was in the spring. Don't know if that makes a difference. We stayed in Kaanapali and visited Wailea and only noticed it being windy in Kihei and on the east side.

Suzi thanks for your reply too. I don't mind a little wind and from your comments it sounds as if it is not a big deal. I was just curious of peoples opinions of how harsh the winds were. Sounds like I have nothing to worry about.

wow, do you really want me to apologize twice? Lighten up Frances...

As others have noted, the wind varies during the day, with the afternoon being the worst. If you want to sit on the beach, do it in the AM, then do your other activities (shopping, sightseeing, etc) after lunch. You can usually predict when the wind will come in - you can see the white caps on the horizon! I've also noticed the wind is stronger near Maalaea and less windy father towards Makena/Wailea. Lastly, the wind typically dies down right around sunset so you can still enjoy the BEAUTIFUL Maui sunsets! Ah, just thinking about that makes me smile. ;-)

I agree with the post by Suzie: I too have been to Maui many times and have never noticed any problem with wind. If there was any wind, for me it has always been a light welcome breeze.

LOTS more Maui information at
www.mauihawaii.org

Aloha,
Jon

we just got back from kaanapali and ,yes, there is breeze but its wonderful. it makes it enjoyable to walk around, otherwise it could be too hot. the only place we noticed considerably more wind was in kapalua. even golfing in kapalua can be a bit more challenging because of the wind.