January, February and March are the heart of whale season on Maui, and they are some of our favorite weeks of the year in Kihei. Humpbacks spout in the bay off Sugar Beach, the sea stays in the mid 70s, afternoons run in the low 80s, and the sun sets a little later every week. If you are planning a winter trip now, this is the guide we would send you. It covers what each month brings and the 2027 dates to plan around, from the Great Whale Count and Chinese New Year to Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day weekend and spring break. It also covers Haleakala at sunrise, strawberries in Kula, big surf to watch on the north shore and calm mornings for swimming near the bungalows.
Winter in Kihei
After the fireworks of New Year's Eve, which our post on Christmas and New Year's on Maui covers, the island settles into an easy winter rhythm. Hawaii's public school students go back to class on January 5, 2027, and from then until the end of March three things set the pace of a stay with us: the whales, the weather and a calendar of local events that runs from songwriter showcases to lion dances.
The whales are the headline. More than half of the humpback whales in the North Pacific spend the winter around the Hawaiian Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, designated by Congress in 1992, protects them and the shallow water where they mate, give birth and raise their calves. The sanctuary's visitor center is a short drive south of our bungalows on South Kihei Road, and in the 2026 shore counts Maui logged more whale sightings than any other island.
The weather is the other half. Long-term averages for Kahului put January and February highs at about 82°F with nights in the low to mid 60s, and March a touch warmer. NOAA's records put the sea at about 75 to 76°F all three months. On the south shore that adds up to sunny mornings, a breeze in the afternoon and a long run of beach days.
Our best time to visit Maui guide compares every month of the year, our whale watching in Kihei guide covers the shore spots and the boats, and Whale Season From the Lanai is our own winter diary. Here we go month by month through early 2027, with the dates to plan around and what we would book first.
Winter 2027 at a glance
January, February and March month by month
Each of the three months has its own feel, and every one of them makes a lovely winter trip. January opens with relaxed weeks after the holidays, then brings a three-day weekend for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Maui Oceanfront Marathon on January 17 and the first Great Whale Count of 2027 on the last Saturday of the month.
February is the month for whale lovers and the fullest on the calendar. Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, February 6. Valentine's Day is a Sunday, and Presidents' Day on Monday, February 15, makes a long weekend of both. The Pacific Whale Foundation usually holds its World Whale Day week in mid-February, with a parade on South Kihei Road, and the second whale count is on February 27. Upcountry, Kula Country Farms plans to open its strawberry U-pick in February, so from then on a farm day makes a sweet change from the beach.
March brings longer evenings, with sunset moving from about 6:30 to 6:40 p.m., and the first feel of spring. Hawaii's public schools take spring break March 15 to 19, the LPGA comes to Kapalua March 18 to 21, Prince Kuhio Day and Good Friday share Friday, March 26, Easter is March 28, and the season's last whale count is on March 27. Early March weekdays are some of our quietest mornings on Sugar Beach, with mothers and calves close to shore.
The table sums it up. The air temperatures are long-term averages from Kahului Airport, the nearest official weather station, the sea temperatures are from NOAA's gauge at Kahului Harbor, and the sunrise and sunset times are for Kihei on the first of each month, from the US Naval Observatory.
| Month | Day / night | Sea | Sunrise / sunset on the 1st | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 82°F / 64°F | About 76°F | 7:02 a.m. / 5:57 p.m. | Whales building, MLK weekend, marathon Jan 17, whale count Jan 30 |
| February | About 82°F / 64°F | About 75°F | 7:02 a.m. / 6:17 p.m. | Peak whales, Chinese New Year Feb 6, Valentine's, Presidents' Day, whale count Feb 27 |
| March | About 83°F / 65°F | About 76°F | 6:46 a.m. / 6:30 p.m. | Mothers and calves, spring break, LPGA at Kapalua, Kuhio Day, whale count Mar 27 |
Dates to know for early 2027
Here is every 2027 date we would plan around from January through March. Some organizers have already posted their 2027 dates, and for the rest we have listed the date we expect from last year's pattern. Many Maui organizers announce winter events in December or January, so we will keep this list updated, and the sources at the end of the post link to each organizer.
Two clusters stand out. The middle of February stacks Chinese New Year celebrations, Valentine's Day, the Presidents' Day weekend and, if the pattern holds, World Whale Day into about ten days, which makes it the liveliest stretch of the winter in Kihei. The middle of March brings Hawaii's spring break, the LPGA tournament at Kapalua and many mainland spring breaks together. Those are the weeks to book furthest ahead.
The three whale count Saturdays are worth knowing even if you do not volunteer. Teams of counters set up on headlands and beach parks around the island from 8 a.m. to noon, and walking past a count site with your own binoculars is a fun way to learn what to look for. Each count also makes a good excuse for an early start and a beach breakfast.
Beaches, parks, shops and restaurants stay open on all of these holidays; near us, only the sanctuary's visitor center closes, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day. Most of the community events on the list, from the lion dances to the parade and the ho'olaule'a, have been free, so they are easy to drop into a day once you are here.
| Date | Event | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jan 6 to Sat Jan 9 | Maui Songwriters Festival | Kapalua, West Maui | Announced |
| Sat Jan 16 to Mon Jan 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend | Holiday Monday | Announced |
| Sun Jan 17, 8 a.m. | Maui Oceanfront Marathon, half, 6-mile and 5K | Wailea and Ma'alaea to Launiupoko | Announced |
| Sat Jan 30, 8 a.m. to noon | Great Whale Count | Shore sites around Maui | Announced |
| Fri Feb 5, evening | Wailuku First Friday, Lunar New Year eve | Market Street, Wailuku | Expected, 2026 pattern |
| Sat Feb 6 | Chinese New Year, Year of the Goat | Lion dances in Wailuku and Kahului | Date set, events expected |
| Mid-February | World Whale Day week and parade | South Kihei Road, Kihei | Expected, 2026 pattern |
| Sun Feb 14 | Valentine's Day | Everywhere | Calendar |
| Mon Feb 15 | Presidents' Day | Holiday Monday | Announced |
| Sat Feb 27, 8 a.m. to noon | Great Whale Count | Shore sites around Maui | Announced |
| Mon Mar 15 to Fri Mar 19 | Hawaii public school spring break | Statewide | Announced |
| Thu Mar 18 to Sun Mar 21 | LPGA LOTTE Championship | Plantation Course, Kapalua | Announced |
| Fri Mar 26 | Prince Kuhio Day and Good Friday | State holiday | Announced |
| Late March | Prince Kuhio Maui Ho'olaule'a | Queen Ka'ahumanu Center, Kahului | Expected, 2026 pattern |
| Sat Mar 27, 8 a.m. to noon | Great Whale Count | Shore sites around Maui | Announced |
| Sun Mar 28 | Easter Sunday | Everywhere | Calendar |
Kihei weather from January to March
Kihei sits on the leeward side of Maui, sheltered by Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains, and winter here is warm and bright. Long-term averages at Kahului Airport put the typical high at about 82°F in January and February and about 83°F in March, with nights around 64 to 65°F. That is shorts-and-sandals weather by day and a light layer on the lanai after dark.
The ocean barely changes through the season. NOAA's long-term monthly averages at Kahului Harbor are about 76°F in January, 75°F in February and 76°F in March, a few degrees below late summer and very comfortable for a morning swim. If you get chilly easily, a rash guard or a thin wetsuit top makes a long snorkel more fun, and kids who spend all day in the water like one too.
Winter mornings are the calmest part of the day on the south shore. The water off Sugar Beach and the Kamaole beaches is often glassy at sunrise, and a breeze usually fills in after lunch, which is when the kitesurfers come out toward Ma'alaea. Winter showers keep the hills behind Kihei green, one of the nice surprises of the season, and they are usually short and tend to stay over the mountains. If clouds roll in one afternoon, take it as a good excuse for a drive Upcountry or an early dinner.
Higher up, it cools off fast. Kula, at about 3,000 feet, is noticeably cooler than the beach, so bring a sweater for a farm day. The summit of Haleakala, at 10,023 feet, runs about 30°F cooler than the coast, and we cover what to wear there in the sunrise section below.
If you are choosing between the three months, the weather is about the same in each. Pick the month that fits your calendar and the events you want, and plan beach time for the mornings.
Sunrise and sunset times in Kihei
Winter days on Maui are shorter than summer ones but longer than most of our guests are used to at home. On New Year's Day the sun rises over Haleakala at about 7:02 a.m. and sets at about 5:57 p.m. By the end of March, sunrise has moved to about 6:20 a.m. and sunset to about 6:40 p.m., so you gain about three quarters of an hour of evening light over the three months.
From our bungalows the winter sun goes down over the bay, out toward Kaho'olawe and Lana'i, and the evening walk on Sugar Beach soon becomes part of every day. In January, plan sunset drinks for about 6 p.m. By Valentine's Day sunset is closer to 6:25, and by spring break it is about 6:35. The sky keeps its color for another 20 to 25 minutes after the sun drops, which is the best light for photos of the channel.
Mornings matter in whale season too. The first hours after sunrise are usually calm, which makes spouts easier to spot, and on the January 2026 whale count the peak 15 minutes statewide came from 9 to 9:15 a.m. Set your coffee out on the lanai at first light and keep the binoculars by the door.
Here are the times for Kihei from the US Naval Observatory; first light is when the sky starts to brighten, and last light is when the glow fades. The summit of Haleakala is high enough that its sunrise differs a little from the beach, so check the park's posted sunrise time the day before you go up.
| Date | First light | Sunrise | Sunset | Last light |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | 6:38 a.m. | 7:02 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 6:21 p.m. |
| January 15 | 6:41 a.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:29 p.m. |
| February 1 | 6:39 a.m. | 7:02 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:40 p.m. |
| February 14 | 6:34 a.m. | 6:56 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:47 p.m. |
| March 1 | 6:24 a.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 6:53 p.m. |
| March 15 | 6:12 a.m. | 6:34 a.m. | 6:35 p.m. | 6:57 p.m. |
| March 31 | 5:58 a.m. | 6:20 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 7:02 p.m. |
Whale season in Kihei
Humpbacks start to arrive in November, and from January through March the channel between Maui, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe is as full as it gets. The whales come to Hawaii to mate, give birth and nurse their calves, and the warm, shallow water off Kihei and Ma'alaea is right in the middle of it. From the sand across the road from our bungalows you can watch spouts, tail slaps and breaches with a cup of coffee in hand.
The counts show how full the water is. On the January 31, 2026 count, volunteers on Maui recorded 694 whale sightings, the most of any island, and on February 28 they logged 847 whale sightings off Maui out of 1,935 statewide. Each count covers a single four-hour morning from shore, and the numbers show just how busy the bay gets in midwinter. As March goes on, the first whales start the long trip north, and sightings continue into April.
Through the season you may see males chasing each other in competition pods, mothers resting near the surface with their calves, and the full breach that everyone hopes for. Federal rules keep everyone on the water at least 100 yards from humpbacks, and the rule covers kayaks, paddleboards and swimmers as well as boats. Whale watching boats leave from Ma'alaea Harbor, about ten minutes north of us.
For shore watching close to home, walk north on Sugar Beach at first light, or drive five minutes up North Kihei Road to the boardwalk at Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, where winter brings Pacific golden-plovers and other shorebirds from Alaska alongside the resident Hawaiian stilts, and you can scan the bay at the same time. On a weekday, stop by the sanctuary's visitor center at 726 South Kihei Road, open 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with exhibits, family programs and a beachfront view toward Kaho'olawe, Lana'i and West Maui.
For height, try the McGregor Point lookout past Ma'alaea or the first switchbacks of the Lahaina Pali Trail, about 20 minutes from us. Our whale watching guide has the details on each spot and on choosing a boat.