Maui/Kauai
 

Hi all! I have really enjoyed reading many of the trip reviews that are posted on here - what valuable information you all provide!!

Here's my question! We will be in Maui from Feb. 10-Feb. 15 then Kauai until the 19th - I'm so worried about what the weather is going to be like - we are staying in a bungalow in Hanalei and I have a feeling it will do nothing but rain the whole time we're there - I'm also worried that it will be too cold to go snorkeling and even hiking might present challenges if it rains. Am I overreacting about this and stressing for no reason?

I will say I so cannot wait for this trip! Hawaii has always been Number 1 on my places that I wanted to see in life and I'm thrilled to pieces that it's about to happen!

Thanks for any input you can provide!

The water will be warm enough to snorkel, but it might not be calm enough. Ask the lifeguards about conditions before going in. And don't go hiking if it's raining, it has rained or it looks like it will rain. Streams can rise very fast and trap you, you can get caught under a spillway and the trails can just be flat out slippery.

With the scary stuff out of the way, it won't rain every day. The north shores are more prone to rainy weather in the winter, but it's not constant by any means.

tracy,
Where are you staying in Hanalei?
Thanks.
-Bill

Bill: We are staying at The Jungle Bungalow - do you know of it? I hope it turns out as fun and laid back as I think it will be!

Just keep crossing my fingers that we will have nice weather!

A further caution about flooding...

Visitors to our islands often figure that if it's sunny where they are, it's safe to hike. Not true. The rain may not be falling right there, but if it's falling in the mountains above that stream or trail, the danger could be coming.

Just be careful...we want you to come back again! 8-)

tracy,
I've read a write up in our local paper about and it sounded like a fun and funky place. Have a great time.
-Bill

If the weather worries you that much, would it not have been better to reserve a place on the South shore of the island where rain is much less likely? It is not unusual for it to rain several days in a row on the North shore! I have a friend who came back from Kauai very disappointed because of that very thing. It happened last winter. You can't control weather but if you worry that much about it, I would what I could to alleviate that, like renting where the weather is supposed to be better. If you want to snorkel and hike for sure, why would you rent on the North shore? I don't mean to rain on your parade but I encourage you to be realistic in your planning.

We leave for Maui a week from today. We will be at the Grand Wailea for two nights,then on to the North Shore of Maui in Haiku.

I have been in touch with the fellow from whom we rented and he has informed me that it has been quite dry for Maui this winter. The current 10 day forecast shows a pretty good outlook with regard to rain.

I plan to snorkel but know that it won't be possible from where we will be, so we will merely drive to where we can. The island is small and the driving scenery should be beautiful anyway. Heck, what else do we have to do but take our time and not fret over what we can't change and simply take advantage of the diversity of climate on Maui? We plan to spend our brief visit to Maui on "Hawaii or island time" and not our normal ATL "in a hurry" clocks.

I can't wait to RELAX and not worry for six days!

DD

I obviously did not educate myself on how different the climates and weather can be on the same island. Here in Michigan doesn't really matter where you travel, it's going to be the same weather. So I apologize for my lack of education. In all the various research I've done, it never came up how different the North Shore was from the South - the rain is not something that will ruin this trip but I just wanted to know how much exactly it actually rained there. I'm sure this won't be the only mistake I've made in planning!