The Hawaiians used to refer to the Kihei area as “Kamaʻole”, which means “barren.” Located on the coast, southwest of Haleakalā, the area was noted for its dry, dusty, and hot days with less than 13 inches of rain a year.
An effort in the early 1900s to establish a sugar plantation in the area met with failure. In 1930, only about 350 people made Kihei their home. There was no paved road. Other than the non-native kiawe trees and good fishing spots, there was little to attract people to Kihei.
Kihei for sale 1932-1950
In 1932, the government put eleven beach lots up for sale. Only six were sold.
Even in 1950, parcels capable of being cultivated sold for only $ 225 per acre. Residential property can be purchased for as little as five cents per square foot. It seemed that apart from a few scattered businesses, no one wanted to live or work in Kihei.
All of that changed in the late 1960s when water was funneled into the area from central and west Maui and developers saw an area ripe for sun-loving tourists.
Development 1970-1980
Kihei’s development was done without a real plan in mind. Much was gobbled up and condo units were built one on top of the other. Malls and malls appeared every two blocks.
Before long, tourists seeking inexpensive to moderate accommodation began flocking to Kihei.
Today, more than 60 condos, rentals, timeshares, and a few small hotels make Kihei one of the busiest beach towns in Hawaii. Visitors seem willing to forgo lush scenery to save some money.
Kihei today
Today Kihei retains much of that ’70s look. Aside from more tourists, more traffic, and some more exclusive merchants, little has changed. However, it remains a top destination for visitors who want to spend time on Maui without depleting their savings accounts.
The city is surrounded by beaches and S. Kihei Road on one side and the new Piʻilani Road on the other. The road is primarily used by visitors staying in the posh Wailea Resort area to avoid traffic in Kihei.
Beaches
What once drew Hawaiians to Kihei remains the areas most desirable attraction: the beaches and the ocean.
The Kihei coastline consists of beach after beach culminating in the fine if somewhat repetitive names of Kamaʻole I, II and III. These beaches are anything but barren today, as you will see on almost any weekend. They are also some of the best protected beaches in Hawaii.
Best of all, when you leave almost any accommodation in Kihei, the beach is right across the street.
Postcard views
One Kihei beach may be favored for swimming, another for body surfing or board surfing. Each one is wide, sandy, and sunny, making for a postcard-perfect tropical beach par excellence.
A wonderful feature of this coastal city is its views of Kahoʻolawe, Molokini, Lanaʻi, and West Maui. From this vantage point, the West Maui Mountains appear to be a separate island, a mysterious Shangri La in the distance.
Kalama Beach Park
Kihei’s Kalama Beach Park has shady lawns and palm trees dotting its 36 oceanfront acres. You can often find a great craft fair, music concerts, and other fun events at this family park.
Skaters will appreciate the skate park. There are also baseball fields, basketball courts, an inline hockey rink, a picnic pavilion, and a nice playground.
Shopping in Kihei
If shopping is high on your list, there are no fewer than ten malls of varying sizes among Kihei condos and hotels.
Azeka Place, in the city center, is Kihei’s largest shopping center with more than 50 shops and restaurants. A little further afield, the Piʻilani Village Shopping Center is a new 150,000-square-foot facility that includes the largest Safeway grocery store in the state, a large Hilo Hattie store.
Where to eat
Dining out is never a problem in Kihei. While many visitors choose to cook their own meals in their condo units, the city has a wide selection of restaurants, from fast food and moderately priced chains to several high-end restaurants offering regional Hawaiian and Pacific Coast cuisine. .
The fun doesn’t stop with the sunset. Kihei’s nightlife includes dance clubs, karaoke spots, and several sports bars.
Something for everyone in Kihei
Bird watchers and nature lovers will also find something to enjoy. At the northern tip of Kihei is the National Wildlife Conservation District, Keālia Pond, where endangered Hawaiian stilts and foci thrive in a saltwater swamp that is easily visible from the road.
Nearby, the port of Māʻalaea is the launch site for an armada of pleasure boats that take visitors on charter fishing excursions, whale watching expeditions and snorkeling trips to Molokini.
There is an excellent public golf course in Kihei, the Maui Nui Golf Club, as well as world-class golf courses in Wailea and Makena.
In Kihei, anyone can enjoy the sun, surf and sand that are the hallmark of the area.
Here, Hawaiians once lived in scattered villages, fished the sea, and kept fish ponds for royalty. Kamehameha I tied up his war canoes during his conquest of Maui and I accepted the first cattle brought to Hawaii from British explorer George Vancouver. Here today, budget-minded visitors make their base to explore the beauty of Maui, the Valley Island.
