Maui in January
Whale season peak
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
January is a reasonable month in Maui — with trade-offs.
January is peak whale season, with humpbacks in the channel between Maui and Lanai.
January in detail
What January actually feels like
- Weather
- 18–28°C
- Warm, around 28°C, with showers.
- Crowds
- High
- Busy.
- Prices
- $$$$$
- High rates.
+Humpback whales offshore.
–The rainiest month, and busy.
My tip for January
Take a whale-watching boat from Ma'alaea Harbor.
- Whale watching
- Beaches
How January compares
Against the other eleven months
9th of 12 overall in Maui, 8th for weather, 10th for space, 10th for value. The emptiest month is May; the best value is May.
See all twelve months for MauiPlan around
What’s on in Maui in January
- Winter crowds
- Whale season and holidays push up prices.
- Rain
- The wettest months, mostly on the north and east sides.
December–March
November–March
Not set on January?
Even stronger months in Maui
Also good in January
Weather
Weather in Maui in January
In January Maui averages a high of 28°C (82°F) and a low of 18°C (64°F), with about 61 mm of rain or snow over 8 wet days. The warmest month is July (around 32°C) and the coolest is January (around 28°C); the wettest month is December.
- Average high
- 28°C
- 82°F
- Average low
- 18°C
- 64°F
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Wet days
- 8
Climate data: NOAA (Kahului Airport, 1991–2020). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
Maui in January: the questions people ask
- Is January a good time to visit Maui?
- January is a reasonable month in Maui — with trade-offs. It ranks 9 of 12 months in Maui overall (8 for weather, 10 for space, 10 for value). The main upside: Humpback whales offshore. The main downside: The rainiest month, and busy.
- What is the weather like in Maui in January?
- Average highs are around 28°C and lows around 18°C. Expect about 61 mm of rain or snow over roughly 8 wet days. Warm, around 28°C, with showers. For comparison, the warmest month is July (around 32°C) and the coolest is January (around 28°C).
- Is Maui crowded in January?
- Crowds are high. Busy. The quietest month is May.
- How expensive is Maui in January?
- Prices are at level 5 of 5 ($$$$$). High rates. The best-value month is May.
- When is the best time to visit Maui?
- In the CrowdFreeViews month scores, May is the best month overall (January ranks 9 of 12). The quietest month is May and the best value is May.