Weather and sea conditions
The forecast for Lahaina, the wind in the channel, and what the numbers mean once you are on the water.
Lahaina forecast
National Weather Service, Honolulu.
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Hourly, daylight
Wind in the channel
Wind is what shapes a whale watch, not rain. Load the live map to see what is blowing between Maui and Lana‘i right now.
What it means for your trip
Trade winds
Maui’s prevailing wind is the north-east trade, and Lahaina sits in its lee. Mornings are usually calmest; the wind fills in through late morning and the afternoon can be choppy in the middle of the channel. If sea state matters to you — a nervous stomach, a long lens — take the 6:45 or 9:00 departure.
Kona wind
A few days each winter the wind swings to the south-west. Lahaina loses its shelter and we watch the sea state closely. It is also when the water goes flat and glassy on the north side, so a Kona day is not a bad day, just a different one.
Rain
Rain does not stop a whale watch. Whales do not mind, the boat has ponchos, and some of our best sightings have come under a squall. We cancel for sea state, not for showers, and if we cancel you are rebooked or refunded in full.
Swell
Winter north swells that make the surf famous rarely reach the Au‘au Channel, which is sheltered by Lana‘i and Moloka‘i. That shelter is the reason the whales are here, and the reason a small boat can be.
Forecast data is fetched from the National Weather Service when you open this page. The wind map is provided by Windy.com and loads only if you ask for it.
Looks good out there?
Book the departure that suits the forecast. Free cancellation to 24 hours before.