United States Maui Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Maui is high
December is high for Maui.
December is Maui's coolest month and the year's biggest tourist crush. Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week — Four Seasons Maui $2,500+/night, Andaz Maui $2,000+, Grand Wailea $1,800+. Reservations 6-8 months ahead are standard for the Christmas-NYE window.
Humpback whale season is picking up — Pacific Whale Foundation cruises ($90-120) start running daily by mid-December. Shore sightings from Mokapu Beach + Ka'anapali + Kapalua become reliable.
Travel score
Maui December Weather Stats
Avg High
27°C
Avg Low
19°C
Rainy Days
10
90mm total
Sunshine
7h
Daily avg
Humidity
70%
moderate
UV Index
7
High
Wind
14 km/h
Gusts 30
Sea Temp
25°C
swimming
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
7 μg/m³
PM10
16 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
28°C
Nighttime
20°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
14 km/h
Max gust 30 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Christmas peak atmosphere + humpback whale return
- Wailea + Ka'anapali winter sun escape
- Mid-December value window before NYE
Cons
- Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week
- Wettest month (10 rainy days)
- Year-end tourist crush
December Events & Festivals
- Christmas-New Year peak
- Humpback whale season picking up
- Maui Whale Day (early-Dec community events)
- Sentry Tournament of Champions PGA (Plantation Course Kapalua, early Jan)
Maui in December — Full Picture
December is Maui's coolest month and the year's biggest tourist crush. Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week — Four Seasons Maui $2,500+/night, Andaz Maui $2,000+, Grand Wailea $1,800+. Reservations 6-8 months ahead are standard for the Christmas-NYE window.
Humpback whale season is picking up — Pacific Whale Foundation cruises ($90-120) start running daily by mid-December. Shore sightings from Mokapu Beach + Ka'anapali + Kapalua become reliable.
Weather pattern is the rainy season — 90mm rainfall, 10 rainy days, but typical pattern is short morning trade-wind showers clearing to sun by midday on the dry coast (Wailea + Ka'anapali). Road to Hana is muddy + lush + green. Haleakala summit can be VERY cold (0°C wind chill).
Mama's Fish House + Spago book 6+ months ahead. Haleakala sunrise reservations book solid 60 days ahead — set alarm at 8 AM Hawaii time exactly 60 days before.
The smart December move: target December 1-15 (pre-Christmas-NYE peak, post-Thanksgiving) for the brief mid-December value window. Four Seasons + Andaz + Grand Wailea all need 4-6 months advance booking for Christmas-NYE week.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Tropical light by day + light jacket for cool evenings. Packable rain jacket essential — Hawaiian wet season. Fleece for Haleakala summit (5-10°C with wind chill at 0°C). Humpback whale season.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
28°C
19.3°C
5.7/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
30.7°C
21.7°C
3.3/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
30°C
21°C
6/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current27°C
18.3°C
10/mo
Maui Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27° | 18° | 11d·90mm | 7h | 68% | 8 | Very busy | Peak | |
| February (Best) | 27° | 18° | 9d·70mm | 8h | 67% | 9 | Very busy | Peak |
| March (Best) | 27° | 19° | 7d·55mm | 8h | 66% | 9 | Busy | Shoulder |
| April (Best) | 28° | 19° | 5d·30mm | 9h | 64% | 10 | Busy | Shoulder |
| May (Best) | 29° | 20° | 5d·25mm | 10h | 64% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 30° | 21° | 3d·10mm | 11h | 62% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
| July (Best) | 31° | 22° | 3d·8mm | 11h | 64% | 12 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 31° | 22° | 4d·15mm | 11h | 65% | 12 | Very busy | Peak |
| September (Best) | 31° | 22° | 4d·20mm | 10h | 65% | 11 | Busy | Shoulder |
| October (Best) | 30° | 21° | 6d·40mm | 9h | 67% | 9 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| November (Best) | 29° | 20° | 8d·65mm | 8h | 69% | 8 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| 27° | 19° | 10d·90mm | 7h | 70% | 7 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Maui December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Maui?
Maui in December is high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Maui in December?
Maui December averages a high of 27°C and a low of 19°C.
Does it rain much in Maui in December?
Maui December averages 90mm of rainfall over about 10 rainy days.
What should I wear in Maui in December?
Tropical light by day + light jacket for cool evenings. Packable rain jacket essential — Hawaiian wet season. Fleece for Haleakala summit (5-10°C with wind chill at 0°C). Humpback whale season.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Maui in December?
Maui December sunrise is 06:50 and sunset is 17:55, with 11h 5m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Maui in December?
Maui December air quality (AQI) averages 28, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 7μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Maui in December?
In December, Maui is great for Wailea Christmas atmosphere, Early humpback whale watching, Haleakala sunrise (pack fleece).
Is December peak season in Maui?
Maui December crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Maui
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.