What Is “Maui Wowie” from the Viral “Goin’ Back to Honolulu” Song?

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Content creator Jemaree Jay explains why people are hanging off street signs and poles while singing "mawie wowie"

Co-authored by Jemaree Jay and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: November 11, 2025 Fact Checked

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Maui Wowie Meaning

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Why “Maui Wowie” Is Trending

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How to Do the Trend

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If you’ve been seeing TikTok users hanging off street signs and lip-syncing the lyrics, “Going back to Honolulu just to get that, that Maui Wowie,” you’re not alone. It’s consuming everyone’s feed (and confusing them), but luckily, we’re here to break it down for you! In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Maui Wowie (sometimes spelled "mowie wowie" or "mawie wowie"), including what it means, why it’s trending on TikTok, and how to make your own video to participate in the trend, with insights from content creator Jemaree Jay.

What does “Maui Wowie” mean?

According to content creator Jemaree Jay, “Maui Wowie” refers to a strain of marijuana from Hawaii. It’s featured in Kid Cudi’s song “Maui Wowie,” which is the audio for a viral TikTok trend where users hang from street crossing poles and lip-sync the lyrics, “Goin’ back to Honolulu just to get that, that Maui Wowie.”

Section 1 of 3:

“Maui Wowie” Meaning

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Maui Wowie is a sativa-dominant strain of marijuana from Hawaii. Also spelled “Maui Waui,” "Mowie Wowie," or "Mawie Wowie," it's a variety of marijuana made from a cross of Hawaiian and another unknown strain. It’s known for its tropical flavor and uplifting effects, often recommended for people who plan to smoke in the daytime or attend social activities.^{[1]
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- “Maui Wowie” is also the name of a song about this strain of marijuana by rapper and singer Kid Cudi. According to content creator Jemaree Jay, “Maui Wowie is a type of marijuana from Honolulu, Hawaii, so that’s why Kid Cudi says he’s ‘going back to Honolulu’ to get it in the song.”^{[2]
  X
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  Jemaree Jay
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  Expert Interview} The song was released on Kid Cudi’s 2008 mixtape A Kid Named Cudi.
- What kind of high is Maui Wowie? It’s described as a euphoric high, with many users experiencing a boost in energy, creativity, focus, and mental clarity. Some claim to feel a decrease in stress and anxiety, too.
- How did Maui Wowie get its name? Maui Wowie originated from Maui in the 1960s. During this time, Hawaii was a prime location for cannabis cultivation, due to its climate, volcanic soil, and lower law enforcement scrutiny compared to the mainland U.S.^{[3]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Jemaree Jay is a content creator based in Miami, Florida who examples pop culture trends through a comedic lens. He shares his content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube under the handle @jemareejay.

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Why is “Maui Wowie” by Kid Cudi trending?

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Kid Cudi’s song “Maui Wowie” is trending because of a TikTok challenge. In the Maui Wowie challenge, creators hang on a street crossing pole and lip-sync the lyrics, “Goin’ back to Honolulu just to get that, that Maui Wowie.” It became a trend after TikTok user @aaronxbrownn posted a video of himself hanging from a street crossing pole and lip-syncing to the song on September 5, 2025. There's no specific reason why he did this, but it was a hit on TikTok and got over 5.5 million views in 2 weeks. Soon, other users began to recreate his video.^{[4]
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- Jay says, “The song has been trending for a few months, but it increased once people started [posting TikToks of themselves] hanging from things while the song is playing in the background.”^{[5]
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- The trend is a fun way to show off your fit, face card, or strength—many users hold onto the street crossing pole using just one arm!
- If there’s not a street crossing pole nearby, you can try hanging onto monkey bars, basketball hoops, trees, bathroom doors, or whatever works for you.
- Kid Cudi’s song was released in 2008, but didn’t hit the Billboard 100 charts until October 2025 after the song went viral on TikTok. Cudi posted a celebratory statement on Instagram to thank his fans and even posted a video of himself doing the trend!
- Other celebrities and influencers who have participated in the Maui Wowie challenge include FaZe Rug, Demi Bagby, Haley Baylee, Andrew Davila, and Rob from Love Island.

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How to Do the “Maui Wowie” TikTok Trend

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Find a structure to hang from and film a video lip-syncing to “Maui Wowie.” Look for a sturdy structure you can safely hang from, like a street pole, traffic light pole, monkey bars, or a strong tree branch. Jump up and use your arms to hang from the structure until you feel stable. Then, have your friend open TikTok and record a new video, selecting the sound “Maui Wowie” by Kid Cudi. As the music plays, lip-sync the lyrics and dangle your legs.
- If you want to be extra impressive, try hanging with only one arm!
- Can’t grab onto the structure on your own? No worries! You can always get a boost from your friend and work on building your arm muscles in the meantime.