One thing visitors to Hawaii and to Maui are surprised about when they come here for the first time is how many different weather patterns and climates there are. What are the differences and what causes them?
One of the wettest spots on earth is located within miles of a desert coastal plain with very little rainfall during the year. In a very close proximity you have the 10,023 foot peak of Haleakala where there is a tundra high altitude climate in contrast with the tropical rain forests of east Maui; and then the dry central valley and West and South Maui Coasts.
Up in Kula, where I live, you even have different climates within elevations in the same area. It is wetter and cooler at the 3800' elevation compared to the dryer lower Kula area at around 2000' elevation with Kiawe trees and scrub and grasslands.
In Haiku and East Maui you are in the tropical rain forest and even within the rain forest there are varying degrees of wetness.
In West Maui and Lahaina (In Hawaiian the name translates to relentless sun) it is hot and dry and the beaches and sunsets are incredible.
It's truly amazing when you get to know how different each area is. In general it is rainier and wetter in the east (windward) facing sides of the islands and dryer and hotter in the west (leeward) facing sides of the islands. The typical trade wind flow of our weather patterns often has winds coming in from the east bringing in rainfall which deposits on the eastern (windward) and up mountain (mauka) slopes.
So where do you want to live on Maui? If you like tropical rainforest and proximity to windsurfing then you definitely want to be on the North Shore or in Haiku, Upcountry. If you like beaches, restaurants, shopping then you would want to live in south Maui including Makena, Wailea, Kihei or in West Maui in Laniopoko, Lahaina, Kaanapali. The closer you get to Kapalua the more wind and rain you get as it's just peaking over the edge toward the windward of West Maui Mountains. And of course if you are a golfer then Wailea, Kaanapali and Kapalua are the places you would want to consider. If you like cooler weather then Kula is the place to be - colder at the higher elevation and warmer at the lower elevations.
If you want more information about Maui feel free to contact me by phone or email at (808) 344-0294 Direct or scott@mauirealestateadvisor.com or visit my site at http://www.mauirealestateadvisor.com/
For information on different areas of Maui select the following links:
Wailea & Makena real estate
Upcountry real estate
South Maui real estate
West Maui real estate
Aloha,
Scott J. Innes
Jim Sanders Realty, Inc.
(808) 344-0294 Direct
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