About Maui
Maui Communities
Use this "Maui Communities" guide to start your search for Maui neighborhoods that suit your family's needs. Our neighborhood can be very eclectic. Don't be surprised if you find a 1950's Hawaiian plantation home next to a luxury Maui beachfront estate. Look to the Fine Island Properties Team your local Maui real estate agents to share with you their insider knowledge on the advantages to each Maui neighborhood. If you have questions be sure to call the Fine Island Properties Team and we will be happy to assist you in your Maui home search.
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South Maui
Miles of sunny beaches, crystal blue waters, and wonderful year round weather draws thousands of visitors yearly to South Maui.
South Maui encompasses the resort area of Makena/Wailea to the North Kihei area including Sugar Beach. From Resort hotels like the Four Seasons Wailea to condominums specializing in vacation rental the one thing they all have in common are the world class beaches throughout the South Maui area and the abundant sunshine. Do you like to snorkel, surf, paddle or boogie board? All of these activities and even windsurfing on windy days can be done in South Maui. Sea turtles, and many tropical fish can be viewed just off the shores at beaches like Kamaole III, or Ulua Beach. Go all the way to the end of the road adn you will be at La Perouse Bay. This is a great place to snorkel with dolphin sightings, and a hike through Maui's last lava flow is a must, but with good hiking shoes. The rocks can cut right through your sandels (slippers). Shopping is great at Maalaea Shopping Center next to the world famous Maui Ocean Center Aquarium and includes fine stores featuring beach gear to Tommy Bahama sportswear. Kihei shops like the Maui Clothing Outlet have bargains on beachwear designs from Jams to Tory Richards. The Made on Maui shop at the Kamaole Shopping Center features gifts handcrafted or designed here on Maui. Dining is varied and there is everything from Fish & Chips and BBQ at Beach Bums in Maalaea, Irish music at Mulligans in Wailea to world class cuisine at the Wailea hotels including Spago and Duo at the Four Seasons to Humuhumu at the Grand Wailea, and , Ruth Cris & Longhis at the Shops at Wailea. Don't forget while at the Shops at Wailea to browse the art galleries with world famous artists works featured. Some of our favorites include "The Twins" at Lahaina Galleries and Bernard K Passman art and jewelry. Entertainment on Maui tends to be the musical kind and not that many clubs feature dancing. The dancing that is featured is the Hula at the hotels nightly Luau. A Luau is not to be missed. You will be treated to some local dishes, some polynesian dancing, & some shows feature fire twirling too.Location Hawaii -
Upcountry Maui
Beautiful Upcountry Maui where the days are sunny and cool and the nights are quiet with stunning starry skies.
Upcountry offers a unique blend of art meets country living. Gorgeous scenes of the countryside including stands of eucalyptus forests, ocean bicoastal views, rolling hills and scenic pastures with grazing horses and cattle abound. It is just as common to see a horse around Makawao town as an art gallery. Kula offers botanical garden tours including the famous Alii Lavender Gardens and the best French Restaurant complete with crepes and other delicacies are available at La Provence. Maui's own Tedeschi Winery is located Upcountry in Ulupalakua. On the way there stop by Grandmas coffee house in Keokea. Pukalani features it's only Golf Course with Ocean Views and stately Norfolk Pines. Upcountry in the spring is noted for its wonderful display of flowering purple jacaranda trees. And the most famous site is the ride to the summit of the dormant volcano Haleakala which means "House of the Sun" in Hawaiian. Don't miss all that Upcountry offers.
Some of our favorite Neighborhoods Upcountry by city are:
Kula features Kulamanu a newer neighborhood where there are still some incredible homes being built with bi-coastal ocean views. Kula Kai is a charming established neighborhood just off Omaopio Rd and Kula Glen features large lots with stately homes and lovely landscaping. Kula is divided into two areas, Upper Kula and Lower Kula. In Upper Kula you will definately need a fireplace in the winter months, where Lower Kula weather is similar to Pukalani. In Makwao you will find the Kamaaina neighborhood of Makawao Ranch Acres and a best kept secret is Maui Uplands complete with pool and tennis court for the residents of these mainly 1/2 lots with custom homes. Off Baldwin Avenue you will find many historic homes that take you back to another era. Pukalani features Kua Aina Ridge just off Old Haleakala Highway and surrounded by the golf course is the area of Pukalani Terrace. There are custom deed restricted neighborhoods for every budget including the townhomes of Liholani Golf Villas, the single family homes of Pukalani Fairway Estates and the custom homes of the Dowling community called The Residences of Kulamalu, The Kulamalu Hilltop and The Cottages of Kulamalu. Depending on your thought Kula 200 has a Pukalani address but borders Kula so either way you think of it Kula 200 offers substancial acreage with custom built homes in a country setting just minutes to the convenience of the Pukalani stores.
There are so many more neighborhoods and pocket areas that we would love to show you. If you are looking Upcountry look first to Fine Island Properties to be your Guide. -
Central Maui
The seat of Maui County Government and More. Central Maui offers suburban, and urban lifestyle. In addtion to our government offices, county seat, the town of Wailuku which was home to sugar cane processing in the old days is once again an upcoming community. The old storefronts are being rented and new communities including the major planned developement of Kehalani are being built. Great Maui Real Estate buys can be found at Kehalani and the other new communities including Akolea and Koa. Wailuku Heights which is at the top near the base of the steep cliffs of the West Maui Mountains still is considered the "Queen" of the hill with sweeping ocean views from most homes. The gentleman 2 acre estates of Wailuku Country Estates feature homes and cottages, many with agricultural fields. Oceanview Estates and Waiehu Terrace are located nearby. MAPA's office and new charter school are in Wailuku as well as the Iao Theatre. Some great productions are put on every year by the two theatre communities. The Maui County Fair is held yearly in Wailuku at the War Memorial Site. Everyones favorite Saigon Cafe with "sassy" service and great food can be found in Wailuku too. Iao Needle State Park where you can swim in the river, hike or picnic is a favorite site along with the Heritage Gardens. Bailey House celebrates the Missionary "stamp" on life in Wailuku and there are several historic Churches.
St Anthony School, Wailuku Elementary, and Iao Intermediate are in Wailuku as well as Baldwin H.S. whose football team always does well. Go catch a game at the War Memorial field. Our 2 hospitals, Kaiser and Maui Memorial are in Wailuku along with many medical services.
Wailuku is slowly spreading and interconnecting out toward Maalaea and it is already linked to Kahului. A great place to call "home" on Maui.Location Hawaii -
West Maui
West Maui was the original center for the Kingdom of Hawaii. From there on its history is rich and colorful. Whaling ships dropped anchor here and Front Street was once lined with grog shops for the sailors in port. Now Front St. offers everything from the finest art galleries in the world, tourist hot spots, shopping, and yes some "grog" shops too.
In addition to Lahaina the area of Kapalua just above Napili offers championship golf courses and the annual Mercedes Benz tournament is played there. Some of Maui's finest and most luxurious homes are located in the area called West Maui. The waters off West Maui also offer great surfing spots including the famous Honolua Bay. Snorkeling is a favorite and just outside the Sheraton's back door is the area known as Black Rock or Pu'u Keka'a This Kaanapali spot is a best bet for seeing all types of colorful fish. At nightime just prior to the luau a diver dives from the top of this cliff into the ocean to symbolize the ancient Hawaiian belief that this is where the souls of this world jumped into the next world. Along with the Resort area of Kaanapali, the tourist area of Lahaina and Honokowai there are the areas up on the mountain slopes where Pineapple production is still ongoing today. Neighborhoods of Kaanapali Hillside, Puamana, Launiupoko are some of our favorites. West Maui is a blend of past, present and a peak at the future all in one beautiful place.Location Hawaii -
Hana Maui
A true Maui paradise. Remotely located several hours out past Haiku on a narrow winding road that has soaring cliffs, bamboo jungles, crashing blue waters, and taro fields. The nicest people live in Hana and will welcome you to the area. A do not miss is the annual Taro Festival which is around April every year. One of the best plate lunches can be found just past Hana town on the left hand side of the road. Uncle cooks under a tent in the front yard. Don't miss out. Shave ice at Hana Bay is another treat and if you are lucky enough to stay at the Hana Hotel you are in for a real treat. The spa and service there is first class. One of our favorite things to do just outside Hana is to swim and surf at Hamoa Beach and then go on to the Oheo Gulch to swim in the pools or hike through the bamboo forest to the 400ft waterfall. You will create many beautiful memories in Hana.
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About Maui's Diverse Communities
Most people think of Maui as warm sultry beaches and swaying coconut palms. Pictures of that hammock outside the beach shack are what come to mind when people tell you they are moving to Maui. You would be suprised at the number of diverse climates and lifestyle (other than the beach) choices Maui offers. Maui may look small on a map but it is very diverse and larger than it seems. Prior to hanging that hammock outside your beach home, decide what elements you want to live with. Check out an area map to get a better idea for the differing areas.
It is true: The beach areas of Maui are beautiful. There is no short supply of sandy beaches either on the South Side or West Side of Maui. Both are Resort areas with some fine shopping and dining too. Kihei feels like a suburb in a lot of respects with lots of housing along side the beach resort condos. Lots of Shopping including the Piilani Shopping Center which features the Safeway, Blockbuster, Starbucks and Jamba Juice. The best dining can be found at Roys Kihei, and there is also an Outback Steakhouse. Wailea is the jewel of the south side and features luxury hotels with luxury homes, condos and golf coures further up the hill. The restaurants are awesome in Wailea including Nicks Fishmarket at the Fairmont Kea Lani, MALA Wailea at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and a fun and funky favorite of ours is Mulligans on the Blue. Best Irish hangout in Maui. Seawatch and Makena Golf Club Clubhouse have casual yet elegant brunch/lunches and you can't beat the views.
Lahaina has some local housing, beach communities, and newer estate homes up on the hillside but the big attraction is the old town full of shops and dining including Cheeseburger in Paradise, Lahaina Grill, Kimos and many more. Gerards Maui at the Plantation Inn is a favorite West Side restaurant for us. Kaanapali is pure Resort Living and Napili and Kapalua offer fine Resort ammenities with some luxury condos & homes too. Shopping at Whaler Village and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the Hula Grill is a great way to spend the afternoon into the evening. Appetizers at the poolside bar of the Hyatt can't be outdone. One of the best beaches on Maui lines the front of the resorts, and the sunsets are breathtaking.
Keep in mind issues such as salt air rusting metal objects on your home, and the high winds and sand that comes with beach living. The temperatures on the west and south coastal areas are pretty even. Lows winter time in the 70's and high summer time in the 90's. Typically yards that seem lush and tropical on the west and south sides are this way because they have to be irrigated. Areas north of Lahaina on the west side do have more rain.
North Shore Maui offers great wind surfing and big coastal views as well as more tropical lush vegetation. Remember it is green for a reason. That side gets more rain. Irrigation is generally not necessary on the North Shore. The damp weather does bring mold. Most people who live on the North Shore side of Maui from Haiku out to Hana will tell you that you have to take precautions for mold that likes to grow in the closets and closed spaces. Paia tends to be drier and needs irrigation. Paia offers many eclectic restaurants including Paia Flatbread Co, and the best fish sandwich on Maui can be found at the Paia Fishmarket. Hana Hou in Haiku is always a treat., and our island famous Vasis is located there at the old cannery shops. Haiku and Paia offer areas further up on the mountain where the temperatures are slightly cooler than at sea level. North Shore living is laid back for the most part with smaller local style homes. You will find folks living "off the grid" and "off the land." However some of the most pricey beachfront residences are here, mainly in Sprecklesville just before Paia. The new trend is to have that gentleman's estate on an agricultural lot in the country. Many fine homes on acreage are available.
Central Maui has to very distinct areas with different climates. Kahului is in the windy flat plain of Maui and is relatively dry. Wailuku extends from Kahului up the Mountain side and sees more rainfall and cool mountain mists. Wailuku and Kahului used to offer mainly older homes. The advent of Kehalani community changed all that in a big way. From the base of the mountain on up to the older community of Wailuku Heights they have built starter homes, condos, apartments, townhouses and luxury homes. It is one of the fastest growing areas and offers much if you are wanting newly built housing. In old Wailuku town be sure to stop at the Maui Bakeshop for breakfast, Cafe Marc Aureil for lunch or dinner and Cafe Saigon is my personal favorite for dinner and "cheeky" service. Kahului is also the center of Maui's business community. Wal Mart, Kmart, Costco, the Airport, Car Dealers and more make Kahului the place to go for shopping, etc. Wailuku is the County Government Seat and features the Courthouse, Government buildings and a large medical community including Maui Memorial Medial Center and Kaiser.
East Maui is a very jungle like and remote area. It takes several hours to drive from Kahului (Central) out to the small town of Hana. The jungles and sea cliffs with fabulous bays abound starting from Huelo out to Hana. Past Hana and Oheo Gulch the land starts to open up and much of the open grassy land is devoted to the Hana Ranch. Cattle can be seen grazing the hills. Hana has a ranch store and a couple of restaurants. Many bed and breakfast places are available for tourists as well as the 5 star Hotel Hana Maui Resort and Spa. Don't forget to catch the Taro Festival every spring in Hana. It is a must do.
Upcountry is my (Gina) personal favorite and it is where I chose to live. Upcountry offers 3 climates. Makawao is the upper extended part of the Haiku North Shore Climate where rain and wind is plentiful. Cowboy country with horse farms and rolling hills can be found. Makawao has that charming country small town feel complete with wonderful shops and dining. Casanovas is a favorite dining spot our mine. Pukalani is drier than Makawao and the Haleakala highway separates the two. Pukalani offers the 2 larger grocery stores that serve the entire Upcountry area. It even has a Starbucks and a community swimming pool, and the Pukalani Golf Course. Temperatures tend to be 8-10 degrees cooler than those at sea level. Further up the mountainside is Kula. Kula is Cool is the motto and for good reason. On winter nights you will need a fireplace to keep you warm. Daytime temperatures are generally another few degrees cooler than Pukalani or Makawao and you may need that quilt at night. Most of Kula is hillside living. Very few parts are flat. Kula is noted for its Jacaranda trees that bloom bursting with purple every spring. Farms dot the landscape and Kula is famous for its Strawberries and Onions. For the best breakfast hit up La Provence for their pastries, frothy lattes or heavenly crepes. Kula is also noted for the afternoon cool mists that decend off Haleakala. Just past Kula out toward Ulupalakua Ranch area is Keokea. This is a quaint town with the Kula Hospital, Grandmas Coffee house and St Johns Episcopal Church among other interesting stops. Horses are all around and the views are famous.
Whether that hammock at the beach is still calling you, Upcountry Cool weather, or your dream is Country Living on the North Shore come to Maui. Maui offers a little something for everyone in terms of climate and lifestyle. Some fun weather facts are listed below:
Highest Recorded Temperature: Kahului Airport -- 96 degrees, Kihei -- 98 degrees.
Lowest Recorded Temperature: Kahului -- 48 degrees, Haleakala -- 14 degrees.
Average Temperature: Winter months - 71 degrees; Summer months - 79 degrees.
Rainfall: The island of Maui has rain forest and desert conditions. Kihei/Wailea receives 12 inches (most during the winter); Hana receives about 90 inches per year while mountain areas may get over 300 inches.
Trade Winds: The constant breezes keep Maui's temperature very comfortable. The winds are from the northeast at about 5-15 miles per hour, they naturally cool the air. Trade winds are nearly always calm in the morning hours.
Kona Winds: They come in the opposite direction of the trade winds and usually indicate bad weather is soon to arrive.Location Hawaii -
Maui Co Census Information
quickfacts.census.govWant to know the most current population for Maui and more. Ck out this US Census link.
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