Maui County sees well-above-average rainfall in August with heavy rains from Lala

Maui County recorded rainfall well above average in August, when Hurricane Lala brought heavy wind and rain Aug. 14-17 and several rain gauges logging totals six to 10 times their typical levels for the month, according to the National Weather Service.

Maui County officials recently estimated Lala’s damage impacts of at least $10 million to $15 million.

Nearly every rainfall monitoring site in the county exceeded its historical August average, the weather agency reported. The lone exception was not specified in the summary.

The US Geological Survey’s West Wailuaiki Stream gauge recorded the county’s highest monthly total, at 39.76 inches, or 233% of average, forecasters said. The same gage also logged the county’s highest single-day total, 11.22 inches, on Aug. 16.

Kahului Airport set a daily rainfall record on Aug. 15 with 0.29 inches, breaking the previous record of 0.23 inches set in 1993, according to the agency.

Four rain gauges recorded their wettest August on record, the National Weather Service reported:

• Kaunakakai Mauka Ua Net, with records dating to 1991 (data missing for 2015 and 2025)
• Kula 1 RAWS, with records dating to 2010
• Lahainaluna Ua Net, with records dating to 1991 (data missing for 1993, 2003 and 2014)
• Pukalani Ua Net, with records dating to 1992 (data missing for 2024)

Year-to-date totals at all reporting sites in the county ranged between 100% and 400% of average, boosted by August’s rainfall, the agency said. Puʻu Kukui remains the wettest site in the county for the year, with 281.66 inches recorded, or 109% of average.

Maps detailing August and year-to-date rainfall totals for Maui County and Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are available from the National Weather Service, along with year-to-date maps for Maui and Molokaʻi/Lānaʻi.