The tide times and heights of these Maui tide charts are predictions and are not adjusted for local fluctuations due to weather, bathymetry, or any other factors that may result in minor descrepencies. The measurements are based on Kahului Harbor and may vary in both times and heights based on location and should not be relied upon for navigation.

The time is measured horizontally by hour beginning with 12 midnight through 12 midnight the following day. Tide heights are measured vertically in feet with these tide graphs. To determine the current Hawaiian tide report, simply follow the line up from the current time of day, then follow the line horizontally for the height.

The gravitational force acting upon the water on earth by both the moon and sun is what causes the tides. Essentially, the tides are simply very broad waves that travel across our oceans as the water is attracted toward the moon and the sun. An expansive wave bulges toward these celestial bodies as the Earth rotates around the sun and the moon rotates around the Earth. Tide readings may differ by location due to island topography interfering with the flow of the water as it is displaced by this force.

Generally speaking, there are four tidal shifts per 24 hour period marked by a rise and fall caused by the moon to a greater extent and lesser by the sun. The strongest and highest tides are called a "spring tide" which occurs when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction with the Earth in a line. The Full Moon phase results in a lesser high tide since the Moon slightly offsets the gravitational pull of the Sun. The maximum tidal force happens during new moon, when the Moon gets between the Sun and Earth. "Neap tide" occurs when the Moon is at a 90° angle to the Earth during First and Third Quarter phases. These phases are separated by about seven days between springs and neaps. Other factors also cause flucuations in tides such as the changing distance of the Moon and Earth, marked by "perigee" when the distance is greater, and by "apogee" when the distance is lesser. This phase occurs about every 7 and a half cycles, perigee of course creating the highest tidal range.