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July on Maui
July 2026 on Maui brings paniolo rodeo traditions, Fourth of July fireworks over resort waters, Obon festival dances at Buddhist temples, slack-key guitar under the stars, and weekly town parties across the island. Here is what to put on your calendar:
Food vendors, local crafts, and a uniquely Maui Western-Hawaiian atmosphere
Why It Matters: This is not a transplanted mainland rodeo. Makawao's paniolo culture predates the American West's cowboy era, and this event is one of the few places you can see that heritage on full display. The parade alone is worth the drive upcountry.
Both the Kaanapali and Wailea resort areas typically put on fireworks displays over the water on July 4th. Exact locations and times vary year to year — check resort websites as the date approaches for confirmed details.
Maui Buddhist temples including Paia Mantokuji Mission and Kahului Hongwanji
What to Expect:
Community dancing around a yagura (raised platform) with taiko drumming
Japanese festival food — andagi, yakitori, shave ice, noodles
Open to everyone, no tickets or reservations needed
Dances typically run Saturday evenings from dusk
Obon honors ancestors and is one of the most distinctly local-feeling events you can attend in Hawaii. Each temple runs its own bon dance on different weekends, so check local listings for the July schedule.
Maui Friday Town Parties
Friday evenings throughout July
Rotating towns: Lahaina, Makawao, Kihei, Wailuku
Free weekly street parties with live music, food trucks, and local vendors. Each town hosts on a different Friday of the month. The Maui County website posts the July rotation schedule.
These are low-key, genuinely local gatherings — a good way to see a side of Maui that the resort areas don't show you.
Napili Kai Slack Key Guitar Concert
Wednesdays, 7:30 PM throughout July
Napili Kai Beach Resort, West Maui
The Masters of Hawaiian Music series features intimate slack-key guitar and ukulele performances in a beachfront setting. Slack-key guitar (ki ho'alu) is Hawaii's signature instrumental tradition, and this weekly concert is one of the best places on Maui to hear it up close.
Book Early: July is peak season. Hotels, rental cars, and popular tours fill up fast. Lock in reservations at least 2-3 months ahead.
Transportation:Rent a car for Upcountry events like the Makawao Rodeo. Makawao is about 45 minutes from most resort areas.
Weather: July is peak summer — expect warm, sunny days in the 80s with trade winds keeping things comfortable. Perfect for beach time and outdoor activities.
Local Tip: Balance organized events with Maui's natural attractions. July's reliable weather makes it ideal for a Haleakala sunrise visit, the Road to Hana, or snorkeling at Molokini Crater.
Trades are breezy right now with scattered showers on the windward side and mountains; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Tomorrow stays breezy with the same pattern.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is still uncertain. If it comes closer, expect heavier rain over a longer stretch; if it stays farther out, impacts will be shorter and lighter. Winds will increase late this week, with potential gusts over 70 miles per hour on the highest summits.
Plan your leeward beach time and snorkeling for today through Tuesday. Save summit drives and offshore water sports for after Saturday, and check updates daily as this develops.
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Trade winds are pushing across Maui right now and staying breezy through tomorrow. Windward slopes and peaks will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. Rough seas mean a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain. Late this week, winds will increase across Maui, with summit gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph on Haleakala. The Big Island—especially Hilo and Puna—faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding if the storm tracks close.
Leeward beaches and snorkeling work best today through Tuesday. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday.
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Voice
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Trades are kicking today with moderate wind and rough seas. Windward slopes will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain, but the Big Island faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding, especially in the Hilo and Puna areas. Summit winds could exceed 70 mph late in the week. Check forecasts daily as the situation develops.
Leeward snorkeling and beach time work well through Tuesday. Save summit drives and windward hikes for today or tomorrow, and avoid offshore water sports and high elevations Thursday through Saturday.
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Voice
Read the transcript
Trades are steady now with scattered showers on the windward side and ridges; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Through Tuesday it stays breezy with rough seas around Maui and the Big Island, where a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is uncertain. Winds will increase across the eastern islands late this week, with potential for summit gusts over 70 mph on Maui and the Big Island if the storm intensifies.
Get your beach and snorkel time in today and tomorrow on the leeward coast. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday as conditions deteriorate. The track could shift significantly—check updates daily.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
Created with AI from this HawaiiGuide page and read by a computer-generated voice. Double-check fees, hours, and reservations on the full page before you head out. Hawaiian pronunciation is tricky for synthesized speech and a few words may land slightly off; mahalo for your patience as we keep refining.
Mele and Kani are computer-generated voice options chosen for clarity and warmth.
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