Wailuku

At the foot of the lush West Maui Mountains, Wailuku offers cooler temperatures and a well-appointed lifestyle of modern conveniences. It’s home to one of Maui’s largest master planned communities, enhancing its pleasant, upbeat vibe. Adam Miller, Realtor with Real Broker, says, “Wailuku is more of a commercial area than nearby Waikapu. You have government buildings in Wailuku, as well as Main Street through the center. Wailuku also has Kehalani, one of only two planned communities on Maui. And across Kehalani’s more than a dozen neighborhoods you can find everything from condos in the $500,000 range to $2 million-plus properties to new construction. It’s walkable, bikable, close to major retailers and services, and the views are epic. From some homes you can see the sunrise and sunset on both coasts.”

A key gem in Wailuku, the master-planned Kehalani community spreads across 550 acres of green landscape. Once complete, it will be the largest planned community on the island of Maui. Along Kehalani’s sidewalks you can find quiet, luxury duplex homes built in 2016 for around $800,000 with ecofriendly solar panels. In Ho’olea Terrace, you can view ships in the harbor from two-story condos averaging around $600,000. Condos with Spanish-style roof tiles and earthtone stucco exteriors are found in the gated Villas in Kehalani for around $900,000. Two-story town houses for around $700,000 comprise Iliahi; and in the gated Koa neighborhood, you’ll find manicured single-family mansions for around $2 million, built on terraced slopes to maximize the sweeping vista.

Public school students can attend Wailuku Elementary, Iao Intermediate and Henry Perrine Baldwin High School, all within the community. Every year, the H.P. Baldwin High family gathers for the “We Baldwin” block party on the school’s front lawn, featuring local entertainment, student performances and a caravan of food trucks.

Public parks dot the neighborhood, including the expansive green lawn of Keahalani Mauka Park. Kepaniwai Park offers a beautiful escape with a Japanese temple where you can stroll along the Iao stream through themed gardens. The War Memorial Stadium Complex in Wailuku is home to the Maui Interscholastic Baseball and American Legion games, as well as the site of the annual Maui County Fair. This pivotal event delights more than 100,000 visitors with rides, comedy acts, live music and livestock exhibits. The fair’s food court, complete with pie contests, is a hands-down highlight. You’ll also find the public eight-lane Coach Sakamoto Pool at the War Memorial Stadium Complex, named in honor of legendary Swim Coach Soichi Sakamoto who developed Olympic champions in the ‘30s and ‘40s.

Wailuku offers an assortment of eateries to choose among, including A Saigon Café, famous for Vietnamese soups crafted with only fresh ingredients. At the quaint Japanese-Hawaiian Ichiban Okazuya, locals line up for customized meals incorporating tempura, steamed veggies, fish cakes and other scrumptious ingredients. Maui Coffee Attic draws a following for its house pastries and live music on the patio; and the hip, family-owned Wailuku Coffee Company in a converted gas station is popular for its full espresso bar and build-your-own sandwiches and salads. Since 1994, Stillwell’s Bakery and Café is also well worth visiting; their signature homemade Chinese chicken salad, elegant cakes and decadent cream horns are crowd-pleasers. Wailuku is also home to Home Maid Bakery, listed on Yelp’s 2022 Top 10 Bakeries on Maui, where locals indulge in Portuguese and Japanese-inspired treats.

One of Wailuku’s best assets is proximity to a plethora of suburban essentials. Your Wailuku home is only about 5 miles from the main Kahului Airport and big box retailers including Target, Walmart and Costco. There’s also a Safeway and the Maui Memorial Medical Center right within the community. If a comfortable community with plenty of conveniences feels like home, you’ll want to explore friendly Wailuku.

Written By

Daniel Berti

Photography Contributed By

Paul Peck

Video By

Michael McAdams