Maui Travel Guide – Hawaiʻi in November
Visiting Maui in November is a great time to go. The weather is warm, and it’s the start of whale season, so you are likely to witness the majestic humpback whales migrating to the island’s waters. It’s also before the peak holiday crowds arrive, making it a potentially more relaxed experience.
Here’s why November is a great time to visit:
- Pleasant Weather: November offers comfortable temperatures, ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit during the day, cooling down to the high 60s in the evening. While it’s the start of the rainy season, showers are typically brief and don’t significantly impact outdoor activities.
- Whale Watching Season: November marks the beginning of whale watching season, with humpback whales migrating to Maui’s warm waters to breed and give birth.
- Fewer Crowds: November falls within Maui’s shoulder season, meaning you’ll encounter fewer tourists compared to peak seasons, resulting in shorter lines at attractions and restaurants, and less traffic.
- Lower Prices: With fewer crowds, you can often find better deals on flights and accommodations in November compared to the busier winter months.
- Unique Events: Maui hosts several events in November, including the Made in Maui Festival, showcasing local arts, crafts, and food. Additionally, the Wailea Restaurant Week offers prix fixe menus at some of the island’s best restaurants.
- Outdoor Activities: Enjoy the beautiful weather with hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and other outdoor activities.
Experience the Famous Haleakalā Sunrise Tour
Checklist for Maui in November:
A trip to Maui in November requires packing for warm, tropical weather with the possibility of rain. Essentials include lightweight clothing, swimwear, and reef-safe sunscreen. A light jacket or sweater is recommended for cooler evenings, and a rain jacket or umbrella is advisable due to the start of the rainy season. Don’t forget sturdy shoes for hiking, comfortable sandals, and a hat for sun protection.
Maui Clothing:
- Lightweight clothing: T-shirts, shorts, sundresses, and breathable fabrics.
- Swimsuits: Multiple swimsuits are recommended for enjoying Maui’s beaches and pools.
- Light jacket or sweater: For cooler evenings.
- Rain jacket or umbrella: November marks the start of the rainy season.
- Hiking shoes: If you plan on exploring trails like the Road to Hana or Haleakala National Park.
- Comfortable sandals or flip-flops: For casual wear and beach days.
- Sun hat: Essential for sun protection.
- Warm layers: For Haleakala National Park, especially if you plan to see the sunrise or sunset.
Maui Gear & Accessories:
- Reef-safe sunscreen: To protect your skin and the delicate coral reefs.
- Sunglasses: For eye protection from the sun.
- Water bottle: To stay hydrated, especially during hikes.
- Waterproof phone pouch: To protect your phone from water and sand.
- Camera: To capture the stunning scenery.
- Backpack: For day trips and hikes.
- Beach bag: For carrying essentials to the beach.
- Bug spray: To protect against mosquitoes and other insects.
- First-aid kit: For minor injuries.
- Travel adapter: If needed for your electronic devices.
- Reusable shopping bags: To reduce plastic waste.
- Binoculars: For whale watching (November is the start of whale season!).
Maui Essentials:
- Book accommodations and rental cars in advance: November is still a popular time to visit Maui.
- Book park reservations: For Haleakala National Park or other activities that require reservations.
- Pack a guidebook or use a travel app: For exploring attractions and trails.
- Notify your bank and credit card companies of your travel plans: To avoid any issues with transactions.
- Consider travel insurance: For unexpected events.
- Learn a few basic Hawaiian phrases: It’s always appreciated by locals.
Tips for November in Maui:
- Check the weather forecast before you go: Maui weather can be unpredictable, especially during the rainy season.
- Be prepared for both warm and cool temperatures: Pack layers to adjust to changing weather conditions.
- Take advantage of the whale watching opportunities: November marks the start of whale season.
- Be respectful of the local culture and environment: Follow Leave No Trace principles and be mindful of the delicate ecosystem.
- Enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Maui!
Learn more on the Road to Hāna
Travel Pono
We want to help you do those things “pono” (in the right way).
Our Commitment:
“To impart to our guests a genuine understanding of the aloha spirit and help them to travel pono by fostering care and respect for our community, environment and host culture.”
The Hawaiian culture is all about sharing. Sharing from ancient times through to recent history, they have shared to such an extent that they’ve given almost everything they had, including their lives. We all want Hawaiian culture to grow and thrive again. Simply feeling the aloha and expressing it shows respect for the culture, and helps it grow stronger. A resident shows respect to a visitor by sharing aloha and welcoming the visitor by returning a friendly wave. The honor system is alive and well at most fruit stands across East Maui due to the trust the residents have in the visitors.
A visitor can reciprocate this trust and kindness by learning about a few things that can make life better for the area’s residents. Simple things, like driving according to road conditions and pulling off to let resident drivers go ahead is always a kind gesture. No one wants to have to constantly deal with trespassers, (especially the intentional ones), or badly parked vehicles – and that applies to anywhere in the world. Think about your actions as if it was your backyard. How would you want visitors to act towards you and your property? Now you know what is pono. Simply treat others as you would like to be treated and aloha will rule the day.
Keep in mind that residents need to go places too. Please move off the road if you decide to slow down or stop for a photo op or any other purpose, including, (but not limited to): standing in the road while picture taking; while driving a lot slower just to take a longer look (AKA: being a “looky loo”) or attempting to park. Make sure you’re completely off the road no matter why you’re stopping. Getting run into – or worse, getting run over, on what was supposed to be your “best day on Maui”, can turn even the best vacation into your worst nightmare.
Please don’t ignore any road signs. They are there for a good reason and visitors are asked to follow them for their own safety and the safety of the residents.
Things You Should Remember To Do to Share Your Aloha
Driving & Residents
Driving can be frustrating, no matter where you’re from, but island driving has it’s own challenges. Most roads in Maui were built over 100 years ago, during the heyday of the sugarcane industry, from little more than dirt pathways. Constant upgrades (widening & lane additions) have developed over the years for the main arteries which have resulted in several multi lane highways. Resort areas have experienced improved traffic flow, but there are few alternate routes when traffic gets snarled.
Many rural and residential roads (especially the road to Hana) are narrow with utility poles and vegetation quite close to the road’s edges. Though this seems dangerous (and it can be), residents have been driving these roads for generations and know every twist and bend. When visiting most tourist areas in the world, it can seem like the residents are the crazy drivers, and if they’re frustrated with heavy rental car traffic while trying to get to work or home, that can certainly be the case, but they also know the road well and know where they’re headed, whereas tourists generally don’t. The main thing to keep in mind is to slow down and let resident drivers pass. Be sure to give yourself a little extra time and just enjoy the scenery!
Coral Damage & Reef Safe Sunscreen
Recent research suggests there is ongoing coral bleaching happening all around Maui. Studies have found that harmful chemicals in commercial sunscreens may be contributing to this decline of our reef systems. Another reason reefs are becoming damaged is visitors walking on them. Not only can you become injured and incur nasty staph infections from walking on coral it also causes coral breakage which can take years for the reef to recover from.
E komo mai! We’re thrilled you chose to visit Maui for your vacation.
