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Lahaina Harbor and Lighthouse
Located within the Lahaina & Kaanapali Region on Maui
This lighthouse was the first in Hawaii and one of the earliest on the US Pacific Coast. It stood in front of the historic Pioneer Inn (destroyed in the August 2023 wildfire) and was built in 1840 to help guide whaleboats coming ashore. The tower grew from a 9-foot wooden tower at construction to 26 feet in 1866. Whale oil provided the light that was kept burning by a Hawaiian lighthouse watchman. In 1905 it was rebuilt, and in 1916, the US Coast Guard dedicated the current concrete lighthouse. The concrete tower itself survived the August 2023 fire and still stands at the harbor, off Front Street in the center of Lahaina.
August 2023 — Catastrophic Wildfire
Devastating wildfires destroyed much of Lahaina town on Maui in August 2023, including devastation along Front Street and much of the surrounding areas. Lahaina Small Boat Harbor sustained an estimated $30 million in damage and was closed for over two years. In December 2025, the harbor began a phased reopening for limited commercial ocean operations. Much of the surrounding area, including Banyan Tree Park and many historic sites, remains under reconstruction. The rebuild is ongoing and expected to continue for several years. See our Lahaina rebuilding update for the latest on the town's recovery.
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Trade winds are strong right now, with high surf hitting the south shore today. Windward areas are seeing frequent showers through the weekend.
South-facing beaches have dangerous surf today through Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will build rough water by Sunday or Monday. The bigger picture is a tropical system, Fausto, heading our way. It's weakening but should arrive near the islands by Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. The exact track is still uncertain, so check the forecast daily.
Get your beach time and water activities in today through early next week on the leeward side, where conditions stay calmer. Be ready to shift plans by midweek when conditions turn rough.
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Windy conditions across Maui right now, with trade winds gusting strong. South-facing shores have high surf today and will see another big swell Saturday and Sunday—the water's dangerous unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Through the weekend, windward areas will get frequent showers while trade winds stay gusty. The bigger picture arrives midweek: Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward the islands and should reach Maui as a tropical storm or weaker system Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll bring rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Hit the leeward beaches and snorkel south Maui coasts today through early next week, but stay out of windward and south-facing waters through Sunday.
0:000:54
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Windy conditions dominate right now with strong trade winds pushing across the island. South-facing shores have high surf today—dangerous water if you're not an experienced swimmer.
Through the weekend, those south shores see another big swell Saturday and Sunday, and east-facing shores will build dangerous conditions by Sunday or Monday. Windward areas get frequent showers. A tropical system—the remnants of Hurricane Fausto—is weakening and headed toward the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system by Tuesday or Wednesday, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain midweek. Timing and track are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Leeward beaches on the Kona side stay your best bet today through early next week, but avoid the water on the windward and south shores through Sunday.
0:000:57
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Strong trade winds are pushing showers across windward areas through the weekend. On Kauaʻi, expect frequent showers on the windward side.
High surf is running on south-facing shores today and will build again Saturday and Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will also see dangerous swell by Sunday or Monday. Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward Hawaii. By Tuesday or Wednesday it should reach the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily through midweek.
Beach time on leeward shores works through early next week. Plan water activities for today, but be ready to shift if Fausto's track becomes clearer—conditions will deteriorate by midweek.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
