Wettest June

Maui just experienced its second wettest June in 107 years, with an average of 9.3 inches of rainfall—about 5.9 inches above normal—according to reporting by The Maui News and the Hawaii Monthly Climate Summary. The article notes that 83% of Maui’s land area saw at least abnormally wet conditions, and 16% experienced extreme wetness or worse, with portions of Maui and Kahoolawe receiving nearly double their usual June rainfall. Puu Kukui in the West Maui Mountains recorded the county’s highest monthly total at 36.55 inches and the highest daily total of 6.31 inches on June 2, marking its wettest June since 2005. Statewide, June was the third wettest in 107 years, while Oahu and Kauai saw much more typical rainfall, underscoring just how exceptional Maui’s summer rains were, as highlighted by The Maui News.

Events This Week

Theater & Performing Arts
Maui OnStage presents William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged) from July 10–26 at the Historic Iao Theater in Wailuku—a fast-paced, 90-minute comedy.
On July 13, Maui OnStage also hosts The Sunshine Boys, Neil Simon’s classic comedy, for a one-night performance.

Outdoor Markets & Food Trucks
South Maui Gardens in Kihei offers daily food trucks, local vendors, and a relaxed outdoor setting throughout the week.
On July 16, their Artisan Market Day features handmade goods from local artists and small businesses.

Live Music & Entertainment
Likkle Jordee headlines a reggae and dancehall night with DJ BoomSHOT on July 10 at da Playground Maui in Wailuku.
Mele: The Hawaiian Music Experience takes place July 14 at the Maui Ocean Center, featuring an immersive blend of live Hawaiian music and visual storytelling.
On July 11, Pizza Madness in Kihei hosts Second Saturday Trivia, a casual, family-friendly game night.

Sports & Outdoor Events
The Manduke Baldwin Memorial Cup returns July 12 at the Maui Polo Club in Makawao, featuring a cowboy polo match followed by high-goal arena play.

4th Of July Around Maui

Fourth of July 2026 on Maui: Key Events and Experiences

Maui’s Fourth of July in 2026 offers a mix of fireworks, rodeo action, coastal cruises, and resort festivals spread across Wailea, Maʻalaea, Kaʻanapali, and Upcountry Makawao. With America250 adding extra significance to this year’s holiday, visitors and residents have several ways to build a full-day celebration.

Wailea Fireworks and Evening in South Maui

Wailea hosts Maui’s primary confirmed public fireworks display for 2026, launched from offshore barges along the South Maui coastline on Saturday, July 4. The show is scheduled for 9:00 PM and runs about 10 minutes, visible from Wailea Beach, the coastal path, and oceanfront restaurants and resorts.

Mulligans on the Blue in Wailea features a holiday “Space Rock” concert from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, giving guests live music and a built-in vantage point for the 9:00 PM fireworks that follow. Grand Wailea layers in family-friendly programming around the holiday, including lawn and pool games, outdoor movies, and luʻau-style experiences, with the Wailea Community Association fireworks visible just steps from the resort.

Maʻalaea Harbor Fireworks Cruises

Maʻalaea Harbor is the main launch point for sunset and fireworks cruises that position guests offshore to watch the Wailea display from the water. Pacific Whale Foundation runs multiple dedicated Fourth of July sails, with catamarans departing around 6:00–6:30 PM for roughly 2.5-hour cruises that cover sunset and the 9:00 PM fireworks window.

Sail Trilogy offers a fireworks cruise departing closer to 7:30 PM, catering to guests who prefer a slightly later boarding while still timing the trip for sunset and the show. Aliʻi Nui adds premium options, including a cocktail cruise and an adults-only dinner cruise with elevated food, bar service, and limited capacity, aimed at guests looking for an upscale holiday experience on the water.

Makawao Stampede Rodeo in Upcountry Maui

Upcountry Maui celebrates the holiday weekend with the Makawao Stampede Rodeo at the Oskie Rice Event Center, one of the island’s longest-running paniolo gatherings. The Bull Bash on Friday, July 3 opens gates at 3:00 PM, with a pre-show concert at 5:00 PM and bull riding starting at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, July 4 is framed as the first Saturday night performance, with doors open from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM and pre-rodeo entertainment from 5:00 PM to 6:45 PM before main arena events kick off at 7:00 PM. Sunday, July 5 hosts the Championship Rodeo, beginning at 11:00 AM with food booths, craft vendors, and pre-rodeo music before the competition continues into the afternoon.

Westin Maui America250 Celebration and Drone Show

On West Maui, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Kaʻanapali marks the Fourth of July and America250 with an expanded celebration running July 1–6, 2026, centered on the Hōkūpaʻa Lawn. The July 4 schedule includes morning keiki activities such as face painting and airbrush tattoos, followed by an oceanfront lawn barbecue and DJ entertainment.

In the afternoon, the resort hosts its signature “Flowerworks” helicopter orchid drop over the pool deck, where thousands of orchids are released for guests to catch and weave into lei. The evening program features live music from the Adrian Trevino Band and a fire knife dancing showcase, leading into a synchronized drone light show over Kaʻanapali Beach around 8:30 PM as an eco-conscious alternative to traditional fireworks.

May Newsletter

Aloha All,

With Spring settled in and the Summer looming around the corner, there is a lot of Maui activity to keep track of.   Many readers are interested in one or two items so to help with those who prefer more details and charts, we are including links to several of the items covered in this Newsletter.  

Reviewing year over year real estate activity, the median sales price decreased 6.4 percent to $1,290,000 for Single Family homes and 8.9 percent to $651,250 for Condominium homes. Days on Market increased 8.7 percent for Single Family homes and 17.4 percent for Condominium homes.  New Listings increased 3.4 percent for Single Family homes, but decreased 21.3 percent for Condominium homes. Pending Sales increased 1.6 percent for Single Family homes and 9.7 percent for Condominium homes.

Here are the details: https://media.salecore.com/GetFile.ashx?p=DpRTFshdg

The Budget for Maui was approved effective July 1, 2026.  Following is the link for more details:

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Overview

Last but definitely not least, following is the proposed property tax for 2026-27.  Be sure to pay attention to the lowering of tier tables which may impact some property owners.  There is so much detail to cover we asked Perplexity for assistance us.  Please note that the first reading by the full Council with be May 15th with the following sometime in June: 

https://www.perplexity.ai/computer/a/maui-county-fy2027-residential-.cIPr2L7VxeNF8UkMMbr5g

Some things to look forward to: Finally! Merriman’s restaurant should open late 2026 in the former location of Five Palms at the Mana Kai in South Maui. https://manakaimauiresort.com/restaurant

Bob Hansen RB-17532               Clint Hansen BIC RB-59245            Donna D. Hansen R(S)-49765                                                                                                      808-283-9456                                               808-280-2764                                           808-280-1650                                                                            dad@MauiRealEstate.net       ClintHansen33@gmail.com          Hansens@MauiRealEstate.net

MAUI LUXURY REAL ESTATE LLC, The Hansen Ohana ~ Maui’s Real Estate Family over 30 year

      Information herein believed to be reliable but not guaranteed and subject to change

                                                                MauiRealEstate.NET

Iao Valley Closure

If the Iao Needle was on your Maui itinerary, you’ll want to rethink your timing. Iao Valley State Monument is closed from April 27 through June 26, pulling one of Central Maui’s most iconic stops off the map for two months.

For travelers who had already penciled it in, the news stings. Iao has never been a casual drop-in, between reservation requirements for non-residents, limited parking, and set operating hours, visiting has always taken a bit of planning. Now that window has narrowed considerably.

If your trip falls within the closure, consider reworking your Central Maui day around nearby alternatives like the Bailey House MuseumKepaniwai Heritage Gardens, or the Waihee Ridge Trail.