Best time to visit Maui

There are myriad things to see and do on Maui, from hiking tours to whale watching boat trips. The mild climate varies little throughout the year, making the island a popular tourist destination, but each season has its own particularities and recurring events.

However, each season has its own particularities and recurring events. Want to visit Maui for snorkelling? Have you booked a flight to get a tan on a tropical beach? Read on and find out when to go according to your tastes and hobbies.

There's no bad time to visit Hawaii. There are only two seasons - winter and summer - and the temperature varies by a few degrees. Rainfall is frequent but usually short-lived. After a shower, the sun shines again. However, there are some notable differences and activities, which are detailed below.

Sick of short days and freezing temperatures, then escape to Hawaii! Winter never comes here. Surfers and tourists in search of sun and beach come here at this time of year to recharge their batteries.

Prices are highest around Christmas and New Year's Eve and fall after January 6th.

If you're a golf enthusiast, Maui is the place to visit in winter. January sees the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the opening tournament on the PGA Tour. The competition currently takes place at the splendid Kapalua Resort.

In February, the highlight is Chinese New Year. Celebrations usually take place at two venues: Wo Hing Museum and Cookhouse in Lahaina (858 Front Street) and the Maui Mall in Kahului (70 East Kaahumanu Avenue).

Keep in mind that winter is Hawaii's wettest season and the worst month is March (especially in the first half of the year). Don't worry, there are plenty of things to do in Maui when it rains.

Visit Maui for Christmas

A flight to Maui will take your mind off the cold, snow and heavy coats. At Christmas, temperatures range from 14°C to 22°C, ideal for relaxing on the beach and doing water sports.

You'll see the most exotic Christmas lights in Lahaina, a historic town that's home to art galleries, Maui's best restaurants and numerous accommodation options.

Here, decorations wrap around the banyan tree, a ficus genus of tree. You'll find them at Banyan Tree Court, a public park at the corner of Front and Canal Streets.

If you're not staying in a hotel, you can buy the ingredients for Christmas lunch or dinner at supermarkets. Otherwise, you can always book a table at restaurants that don't close on 25 December. Here are a few options:

• Mala Ocean Tavern, an establishment overlooking the sea. It opens at brunch time and its dishes are prepared with the freshest Hawaiian produce (1307 Front Street, Lahaina).
• Gannon's, the perfect choice for combining great food and live music every night. Gannon's has been named one of the top 100 outdoor dining restaurants in the United States (100 Wailea Golf Club Drive

Wailea)

• The Plantation House, a restaurant that blends local cuisine with a touch of Mediterranean flair. Here, the sunsets will take your breath away (2000 Plantation Club Dr, Lahaina).
• Kitchen 5315, Hawaiian recipes with a hint of Asia. Located inside the Napili Shores resort (5315 Lower Honoapiilani Rd #153, Lahaina).

Most tourists come to the island in summer or winter. Spring is the low season, but that doesn't mean it's not worth visiting.

A good reason is the flowering of the jacaranda, a subtropical tree native to South America. The splendid lavender-coloured flowers can be seen mainly on the slopes of Mount Haleakala and in inland areas.

If you're a nature lover, I recommend a trip to Upcountry, home of the paniolos, the Hawaiian cowboys. Cattle are not the only ones that have acclimatised well - even strawberries thrive in this part of Maui. The farms in Kula Country offer a service called "Strawberry U-Pick".

In practice, you are given a small basket and you pick the strawberries yourself, which you then eat. Normally, the visit includes an explanation about the cultivation of this delicacy. It's a fun activity, perfect if you're travelling to Maui with children.

If you're planning a trip to Maui in March, with a bit of luck you'll coincide with the Ocean and Whale Arts Festival. At the beginning of winter, cetaceans come to Hawaii's warm, shallow waters to mate, give birth and care for their young.

The festival is held in the town of Lahaina for two days in a row, usually at the beginning of the month, and features activities such as photo exhibits, ocean art contests for kids, presentations and more.

At this time of year, the island is mostly frequented by tourist families from the continental United States. Summer is synonymous with lighter currents, an aspect that surfers tend to dislike, but those looking for relaxation or a leisurely swim in the crystal-clear waters do.

One of the highlights is the Waʻa Kiakahi Canoe Festival, an event that celebrates traditional canoeing skills. In the Hawaiian language, Wa'a Kaikahi means single-masted canoe. Even if you don't participate, it's worth seeing. It usually departs from Kaanapali Beach or other nearby beaches.

Another important event is Kamehameha Day on 11 June. This day honours the eponymous king, the first king of Hawaii and famous for unifying the islands in 1810. On this day, statues depicting him are adorned with leis (Hawaiian floral garlands). There are also parades and live traditional music.

For local cuisine, don't miss the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival. Local, national and international purveyors showcase their wares at the splendid Kapalua resort. The event is held in June.

Without a doubt, the best attraction is Halloween. It's the most celebrated holiday and its epicentre is Lahaina. For the occasion, traffic is shut down on Front Street and a colourful parade colours the street. In addition, bars and restaurants come alive with events and live music.

The festivities begin around 16:00 but I recommend arriving at least 45 minutes early. Admission is free and almost everyone wears a costume, so don't get caught off guard! You can pick one up at Spirit Halloween, a themed shop in Kahului (270 Dairy Rd Ste 180).

This time of year is also the perfect time to enjoy an American classic: Thanksgiving. Most restaurants offer a menu themed around the star of the holiday, the turkey. To enjoy a good feast, I recommend you book a table at:

• Leoda's (820 Olowalu Village Rd, Lahaina)
• Humble Market Kitchen (3700 Wailea Alanui Dr, Kihei)
• Wolfgang Puck (3900 Wailea Alanui)
• Hula Grill (2435 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina)

In this case, it's best to visit Maui in the in-between seasons. To make it easier: April to June and September to mid-December.

As for accommodation, it depends on the age of your child: with a newborn, it might be better to opt for a hotel and enjoy their included services.

If your children are old enough, you can also book a rented flat. In both cases, I recommend booking a rental car or a transfer from Maui airport. You'll get to your accommodation quickly and be able to focus on what matters most: a family trip in a place of your dreams.

For the best value for money, it's best to fly in the low season. In Maui this corresponds to the months of April, May, September, October and November.

When the tourist flow is less intense, it's easier to find bargains on hotels, b&b's and rentals.

Also, a visit during these months allows you to enjoy activities that you can't do at other times of the year. In my opinion, the most evocative is Tango no Sekku, a festival introduced by Japanese immigrants around the 6th century. It is celebrated on 5 May and celebrates the healthy growth and development of children.

On this day, the streets are filled with koinobori, traditional Japanese flags in the shape of a tent. It is a deeply felt tradition and families of Japanese origin put up a kite for each male child. You can also enjoy kashiwamochi, a rice cake with a sweet bean filling.

If you're travelling in autumn, you'll be pleased to know that whale season runs from November to May. Hawaii is the destination of thousands of whales on their annual winter migration. For more information, I advise you to read the article on whale watching in Maui.

Hawaii's hurricane season runs from June to November. However, cyclones tend to avoid this location. Maui is surrounded by four islands and the likelihood of a hurricane making landfall is extremely small. Therefore, you won't have to worry about this atmospheric phenomenon.