Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Waikapu has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 74°F (23°C). Winters average 70°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 330 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 23.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 24 / among the cleanest air in the country. The city sits at an elevation of 1,608 feet.
Temperature
70°F Jan (21°C)77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
74.1°F
37% above US avg
January Average
70°F (21°C)
July Average
77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,608 ft (490 m)
Area
11.0 sq mi (28.5 km²)
Population Density
331/sq mi
Coordinates
20.8367°N, 156.5306°W
Timezone
Pacific/Honolulu
County
Maui County County
Nearest Airport
Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole (KOA) 86 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall23.3"
39% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)10.12"
Driest Month (Jun)3.58"
Air Quality
AQI Median
24.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
93.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability
41.3 / 100
Community Resilience
86.4 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively Moderate
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
No Rating
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Tsunami
Relatively High
Volcano
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
974 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M5.3.
Apr 14, 2019
20 km E of Kalaoa, Hawaii
M5.3
144 km
13 km
Jul 5, 2021
12 km NNW of Kukuihaele, Hawaii
M5.2
116 km
27 km
Jun 27, 1998
51 km NW of Kalaoa, Hawaii
M5.1
89 km
4 km
Mar 20, 1995
Maui region, Hawaii
M4.8
84 km
13 km
May 11, 1995
5 km NNE of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii
M4.8
149 km
14 km
Mar 9, 2017
70 km NNE of Kualapu‘u, Hawaii
M4.7
109 km
32 km
Jan 25, 2022
10 km NNE of Wailua, Hawaii
M4.7
48 km
41 km
Aug 2, 1990
22 km SE of Waikoloa, Hawaii
M4.7
148 km
16 km
May 22, 2022
3 km NW of H?lualoa, Hawaii
M4.7
145 km
9 km
Feb 17, 2017
25 km WNW of Puako, Hawaii
M4.7
99 km
40 km
Mar 20, 2016
13 km SE of Waikoloa, Hawaii
M4.6
140 km
30 km
Mar 20, 2022
21 km SSE of Waimea, Hawaii
M4.5
148 km
24 km
Nov 22, 1998
30 km NW of H?w?, Hawaii
M4.5
68 km
26 km
Apr 5, 2015
12 km W of Kalaoa, Hawaii
M4.5
129 km
8 km
Oct 20, 2011
21 km SE of Waimea, Hawaii
M4.5
149 km
16 km
Jun 21, 2013
49 km N of Kualapu‘u, Hawaii
M4.5
98 km
35 km
Aug 7, 2014
12 km NNE of Puako, Hawaii
M4.5
114 km
15 km
Jul 18, 1996
17 km SSE of Waimea, Hawaii
M4.4
144 km
12 km
Jun 3, 1999
Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
M4.4
140 km
26 km
Jul 27, 2006
36 km SSW of M?kena, Hawaii
M4.4
54 km
31 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
5 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 1.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Hone
Category 1
86 mph
249 km
2020
Douglas
Category 1
92 mph
83 km
2018
Lane
Category 2
104 mph
277 km
2016
Lester
Category 1
81 mph
193 km
2014
Ana
Category 1
81 mph
283 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
7 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF0.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 11, 2011
EF0
11 km
0.0 mi
0
Sep 23, 2008
EF0
43 km
0.8 mi
0
Mar 25, 2006
EF0
21 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 23, 2006
EF0
49 km
1.0 mi
0
Jan 29, 1974
EF0
55 km
0.1 mi
0
May 27, 1973
EF0
42 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 22, 1967
EF0
3 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 0.1 m (0 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
2006
HAWAII
Earthquake
0.1 m
—
123 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
4 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Haleakala (33 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Haleakala
Shield
3,055 m (10,023 ft)
1750
33 km
Hualalai
Shield
2,523 m (8,278 ft)
1801
145 km
Mauna Kea
Shield
4,205 m (13,796 ft)
-2460
158 km
Mauna Loa
Shield
4,170 m (13,681 ft)
1984
179 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
10 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: KAUNAKAKAI (8,355 acres, 2009).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2009
KAUNAKAKAI
8,355
56 km
2019
WAIKO RD
7,915
9 km
2016
MAALAEA
6,028
5 km
2023
PULEHU
5,712
14 km
2019
CENTRAL MAUI
5,530
14 km
2016
KAHIKINUI
5,341
37 km
2007
OLOWALU
2,549
10 km
2007
UPPER WAIOHULI
2,376
28 km
2023
LAHAINA
2,129
15 km
2022
KAUAULU VALLEY
1,920
12 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
70°F (21°C)
10.1 in
Wettest
February
66°F (19°C)
7.9 in
Coldest
March
67°F (20°C)
9.0 in
April
68°F (20°C)
9.6 in
May
69°F (21°C)
5.8 in
June
71°F (22°C)
3.6 in
Driest
July
77°F (25°C)
4.7 in
Warmest
August
73°F (23°C)
5.7 in
September
73°F (23°C)
4.1 in
October
72°F (22°C)
6.4 in
November
70°F (21°C)
10.0 in
December
68°F (20°C)
9.1 in
Waikapu has a seasonal temperature swing of 11°F / from 66°F in February to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 85.8 inches, with January being the wettest month (10.1") and June the driest (3.6").