This morning we woke up to an unusual weather phenomenon in Kihei! It’s raining! Do you know how unusual a rainy day is in Kihei?
Kihei and Wailea lie in the rain shadow of Haleakala. Most of our rain clouds come from the other side of Haleakala (the green rainforesty Road to Hana side). The rain falls on the lush green North/East side of Maui, while Kihei and Wailea get about only 8-11 inches of rainfall a year. Suffice it to say – Kihei residents get a little excited when it rains. Kids run outside to play in the rain, adults contain their enthusiasm by sitting on the lanai with their coffee. Many even bust out their ‘winter clothes’ (long pants and sweaters) and claim it’s cold. Cold? It’s all relative – try low 80s.
Of course, we realize you weren’t planning on a rainy day for your Maui trip, so what to do?
Go for a drive. Did you know, Maui has 30+ different micro climates. Chances are really good that it isn’t raining a short five minute drive from where you are.
Go shopping.
- Shops at Wailea – a nice covered shopping area with a variety of shops, everything from ABC store to Louis Vuitton and Gucci. My favorite – Lapperts ice cream.
- Maui Tropical Plantation – this place has been reinvented and is pretty neat. Check out their stores, but also the very cool Mill House bar (with a train engine inside), coffee house and restaurant.
- Shops at Maalaea
- Lahaina
- Go to the movies at Queen Kaahumanu Center or Maui Mall in Kahului.
- Go for lunch.
- Go for a walk – it’s just warm rain, pick up an umbrella at the convenience store.
- Check out ‘fishes’ the Maui Ocean Center
- Nurse your sunburn – what a relief!
What NOT to do when it’s raining?
Please stay out of the ocean, particularly if the water looks brown and murky. Several reasons for that, it could be run-off from land (particularly if it is raining heavily upcountry), it could be run-off from overflowing cess pools (gross). Additionally, sharks tend to come closer to shore to check out the run-off. Just stay out until the water clears up again.