Maui beach conditions this week are excellent across all south and west-facing shores. Surf is flat, visibility is exceptional, and there's no seaweed or sargassum — Hawaii is completely free from the Atlantic sargassum that hammers Caribbean beaches each spring. Here's the full breakdown by beach, plus live webcam links so you can check before you go.
📊 Week at a Glance
Overall Rating✅ Excellent — Best Week of the Season
Surf Height (south/west shores)1–2 ft · Calm
Water Visibility60–80 ft · Exceptional
Water Temperature80°F (26.5°C)
Jellyfish RiskLow — next watch window ~May 21
Seaweed / SargassumNone — Hawaii is sargassum-free
Trade Wind StrengthLight 5–10 mph · Comfortable
Rain ChanceVery low on south & west coasts
🏖️ Conditions by Beach
Maui has distinct beach personalities depending on which coast you're on. Here's the current read on each major area:
Kapalua Bay
✅ Best Pick This Week
Surf: Under 1 ft
Visibility: Exceptional
Crowd: Moderate
Best for: Snorkeling, families, calm water
Wailea Beach
✅ Excellent
Surf: 1–2 ft
Visibility: 80 ft
Crowd: Moderate
Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, sunset
Kaanapali Beach
✅ Excellent
Surf: 1–2 ft
Visibility: 60–70 ft
Crowd: Busy near resorts
Best for: Families, resort beach days
Big Beach (Makena)
✅ Excellent
Surf: 1–3 ft · Gentle shore break
Visibility: 70 ft
Crowd: Light
Best for: Body boarding, wide open sand
Hamoa Beach (Hana)
✅ Good
Surf: 2–4 ft
Crowd: Low
Best for: Scenic, remote beach day
Ho'okipa Beach (north shore)
⚠️ Experts Only
Surf: 4–8 ft · Active swells
Wind: 15–20 mph
Best for: Windsurfing, kitesurfing Not for swimming this week
💡 Pro tip this week: Kapalua Bay has a protected cove that stays calm even when trade winds pick up in the afternoon. For the clearest water and least crowds, go before 9 am or after 4 pm. Turtle sightings are common at both Kapalua and Wailea right now.
📹 Live Maui Beach Webcams
Want to check conditions before you head out? These webcams let you see what Maui beaches actually look like right now — wave height, crowd levels, and weather at a glance.
Box jellyfish at Maui beaches follow a predictable moon cycle — they typically appear on south-facing shores about 9–10 days after the full moon. Here's the forecast for May:
Event
Date
Box Jellyfish Risk Window
Full Moon
May 12, 2026
May 21–23 — watch south shores
This week (May 5–11)
Pre-full moon
Low risk — safe to swim
Portuguese Man-o-War
Year-round
Low risk · check beach flags
Portuguese man-o-war can wash up on any Maui beach after strong north or northwest winds. If you see a blue bubble on the sand, don't touch it — they can still sting after beaching. Green beach flags mean conditions are clear.
🌊 No Seaweed on Maui — Here's Why
If you've been researching Caribbean beaches and reading about sargassum, you can stop worrying about that for Maui. Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean — completely separate from the Atlantic sargassum belt that affects Cancun, Tulum, Punta Cana, and other Caribbean destinations each spring and summer.
Maui's water is free of sargassum year-round. You may see small patches of native limu seaweed near reef areas — this is a sign of a healthy reef ecosystem and is harmless to swimmers. It's nothing like the thick sargassum mats you'll see in Caribbean photos.
📅 May vs. Other Months — Is Now a Good Time?
Month
Surf (south/west)
Crowds
Jellyfish
Overall
May (now)
1–2 ft ✅
Low–moderate ✅
Watch after May 21
Excellent
June–August
1–3 ft ✅
High (summer crowds)
Monthly watch windows
Very Good
September–October
1–3 ft ✅
Low ✅
Monthly watch windows
Best value month
November–March
South calm, north 6–20 ft
Moderate
Low
Good (whale season)
April
Very calm ✅
Low–moderate ✅
Low
Excellent
Check Full Maui Conditions
Live surf, jellyfish risk, water quality and hotel deals — updated daily.
Maui beach conditions for the week of May 5–11, 2026 are excellent. Surf is calm at 1–2 ft on south and west facing shores. Water visibility is 60–80 ft. Jellyfish risk is low. No seaweed or sargassum — Hawaii is free from Atlantic sargassum year-round. Water temperature is 80°F.
Yes — May is one of the best months to visit Maui beaches. Trade winds are gentle, surf on the south and west coasts is minimal, and water visibility is at its annual best. Whale season has just ended, leaving the water uncrowded. No seaweed issues in Hawaii.
Box jellyfish risk at Maui beaches is low for the week of May 5–11. Box jellyfish typically appear 9–10 days after the full moon (the May full moon is May 12, so watch for them around May 21–22). Portuguese man-o-war can appear year-round but sightings are infrequent this time of year.
No sargassum or unusual seaweed at Maui beaches. Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean and is completely unaffected by the Atlantic sargassum belt that impacts Caribbean destinations like Cancun and Tulum. Small amounts of native limu seaweed are normal and harmless.
For the week of May 5–11, 2026, Kapalua Bay and Wailea Beach are top picks — both sheltered from any swell and have exceptional water clarity. Big Beach (Makena) has low surf and wide open sand. Kaanapali is calm and great for families. Ho'okipa on the north shore has elevated wind and surf — best left to experienced windsurfers.