Best time to visit Maui

There are thousands of things to see and do on Maui, from hiking excursions to whale watching boat trips. The mild climate has little variation throughout the year, making the island a popular tourist destination.

However, each season has its own particularities and recurring events. Want to visit Maui for snorkeling? Have you booked a flight to get a tan on a tropical beach? Read on and find out when to go according to your tastes and hobbies.

There's no bad time to visit Hawaii. There are only two seasons - winter and summer - and the temperature varies by a few degrees. Rainfall is frequent but usually short-lived. After a shower, the sun shines again. However, there are some notable differences and activities, which I'll detail below.

Are you tired of short days and freezing temperatures? Then escape to Hawaii! Winter never comes here. Surfers and tourists in search of sun and beach come at this time to recharge their batteries.

As for prices, they are higher around Christmas and New Year's Eve while they go down after January 6.

If you are passionate about golf, you must visit Maui in winter. In January, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the opening tournament of the PGA Tour, is held. The competition currently takes place at the splendid Kapalua Resort.

In February, the highlight is the Chinese New Year. Celebrations usually take place at two sites: Wo Hing Museum and Cookhouse in Lahaina (858 Front Street) and the Maui Mall in Kahului (70 East Kaahumanu Avenue).

Keep in mind that winter is Hawaii's wettest season and the worst month is March (especially in the first two weeks). Don't worry, there are thousands of activities to do in Maui when it rains.

Visiting Maui for Christmas

A flight to Maui will make you forget the cold, snow and heavy coats. At Christmas, temperatures range from 14º to 22º, ideal for relaxing on the beach and water sports.

You'll see the most exotic Christmas lights in Lahaina, a historic town that's home to art galleries, Maui's best restaurants and numerous lodging options.

Here, decorations wrap around banyan trees, a tree of the ficus genus. You'll find them at Banyan Tree Court, a public park at the corner of Front and Canal streets.

If you're not staying in a hotel, you can buy the ingredients for Christmas lunch or dinner at supermarkets. Otherwise, you can always reserve a table at restaurants that do not close on December 25. Here are a few options:

• Mala Ocean Tavern, an establishment overlooking the sea. It opens at brunch time and its dishes are prepared with the freshest products of Hawaii (1307 Front Street, Lahaina).
• Gannon's, the perfect choice for combining good food and live music every night. Gannon's has been listed among the top 100 outdoor dining restaurants in the U.S. (100 Wailea Golf Club Drive

Wailea)

• The Plantation House, a restaurant that blends local cuisine with Mediterranean touches. Here, the sunsets will take your breath away (2000 Plantation Club Dr, Lahaina).
• Kitchen 5315, recipes from Hawaii with a hint of Asia. Located inside the Napili Shores resort (5315 Lower Honoapiilani Rd #153, Lahaina).

Most tourists come to the island in summer or winter. Spring corresponds to the low season, but this does not mean that it is not worth going.

A more than valid reason is the flowering of the jacaranda, a subtropical tree native to South America. The splendid lavender-colored flowers can be seen mostly on the slopes of Mount Haleakala and in inland areas.

If you like nature, I recommend a trip to Upcountry, the home of the paniolos, the Hawaiian cowboys. Cattle are not the only ones that have acclimated well, even strawberries thrive in this area of Maui. The farms in Kula Country offer a service called "Strawberry U-Pick".

In practice, they give you a small basket and you pick the strawberries yourself, which you then eat. Normally, the visit includes an explanation about the cultivation of this delicacy. It is a fun activity, perfect if you are traveling to Maui with children.

If your intention is to travel to Maui in March, with a little luck you will coincide with the Ocean and Whale Arts Festival. At the beginning of winter, cetaceans come to Hawaii's warm, shallow waters to mate, give birth and care for their young.

The festival is held in the town of Lahaina for two days in a row, usually at the beginning of the month, and features activities such as photo exhibits, ocean art contests for children, presentations and more.

At this time of year, the island is frequented mostly by families of tourists from the continental United States. Summer is synonymous with less strong currents, an aspect not usually liked by surfers, but by those seeking relaxation or a leisurely swim in the crystal clear waters.

One of the most outstanding events is the Waʻa Kiakahi Canoe Festival, an event that celebrates traditional skills with this means of aquatic transportation. In the Hawaiian language, Wa'a Kaikahi means single-masted canoe. Even if you don't participate, it's worth seeing. It usually departs from Kaanapali Beach or other nearby beaches.

Another important date is Kamehameha Day which is celebrated on June 11. On this day, tribute is paid to the eponymous king, the first king of Hawaii and famous for having unified the islands in 1810. On this day, statues portraying him are adorned with leis (Hawaiian floral garlands). There are also parades and live traditional music.

For local cuisine, don't miss the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival. Local, national and international purveyors showcase their products at the splendid Kapalua resort. The event is held in June.

Without a doubt, the best attraction is Halloween. It is the most celebrated holiday and its epicenter is Lahaina. For the occasion, traffic is shut down on Front Street and a colorful parade colors the street. In addition, bars and restaurants are animated with events and live music.

The festivities begin around 16:00 but I recommend arriving at least 45 minutes before. Admission is free and almost everyone wears a costume, so don't get caught off guard! You can purchase one at Spirit Halloween, a themed store in Kahului (270 Dairy Rd Ste 180).

This time of year is also perfect for enjoying an American classic: Thanksgiving. Most restaurants offer a menu themed around the star of the holiday, the turkey. To enjoy a good feast, I recommend you reserve a table at:

• Leoda's (820 Olowalu Village Rd, Lahaina).
• Humble Market Kitchen (3700 Wailea Alanui Dr, Kihei)
• Wolfgang Puck (3900 Wailea Alanui)
• Hula Grill (2435 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina)

In this case, it's best to visit Maui in the in-between seasons. To make it easier: from April to June and from September to mid-December.

As for accommodation, it depends on the age of your child: with a newborn, perhaps it is better to opt for a hotel and enjoy its services included.

If your children are old enough, you can also book a rented apartment. In both cases, I recommend booking a rental car or a transfer from the Maui airport. You will arrive quickly to your accommodation and you will be able to focus on what matters most: a family trip in a dream place.

For a cheaper trip, it is best to fly in low season. In Maui it corresponds to the months of April, May, September, October and November.

When the tourist flow loses intensity, it is easier to find advantageous offers in hotels, b&b and rental houses.

In addition, a visit in these months allows you to enjoy activities that can not be done at other times of the year. In my opinion, the most suggestive is Tango no Sekku, a festival introduced by Japanese immigrants around the 6th century. It is celebrated on May 5 and celebrates the healthy growth and development of children.

On this day, the streets are filled with koinobori, traditional Japanese flags in the shape of a tent. It is a very heartfelt tradition and families of Japanese origin put up a kite for each male child. You can take the occasion to enjoy a kashiwamochi, a rice cake with a sweet bean filling.

If you are traveling in autumn, you will be pleased to know that whale season runs from November to May. Hawaii is the destination of thousands of cetaceans on their annual winter migration. For more information, I advise you to read the article about whale watching in Maui.

In Hawaii, the hurricane season runs from June to November. However, cyclones usually avoid this location. Maui is surrounded by four islands and the probability of a hurricane making landfall is extremely small. Therefore, you will not have to worry about this atmospheric phenomenon.