Welcome to Kihei on Maui’s bright and sunny South Shore! Often called the “gold coast” of Maui, Kihei is one of Hawaii’s busiest beach towns. This area has a population of about 20,000 people who, for the most part, work in the tourism and construction industries in the area. Additionally, several research facilities have offices in Kihei including the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary whose main office is here as well as Maui Research and Technology Park. Additionally, Monsanto has its seed operations in Kihei.
Kihei’s direct proximity to the ocean makes it a favorite for vacationers and locals. With its claim to fame being the beaches and beautiful water, there are several beach areas from which to choose. Kihei beaches are the best lifeguarded beaches in Hawaii.
The look and feel of the Kihei architecture is very much a classic 1970s beach town as that is when the area really started to boom. The main streets are lined with condo complexes with shopping centers like Azeka Place and Pi’ilani Village dotting the streets.
With all of the condos in Kihei real estate there are many choices from which to choose. The condos vary in price depending on the location of the community. Home values and list prices increase the further south you travel in Kihei. Additionally, the large spectrum of choices varies from fixer-uppers and those needing a little updating to grand estates with lots of green vegetation and beautiful panoramic vistas.
Condos start as low as the low- to mid-$200s in Kihei Kai Nani and go up from there. There are several communities like Hale Kamaole, Haleakala Shores, Maui Parkshore and Kamaole Sands (a very popular and large condominium community) that start in the low- to mid-$300s. Many communities offer more luxurious units as well that can easily list in the mid to upper $800s depending on their location and view. A new community nearing completion is Kai Ani Village. In addition to units starting in the mid $300s, this area is different in that some of the properties available are zoned for mixed use where some of the units make available residential living on the upper level and office space on the lower level. These will be priced in the mid-$700s. Hale Pau Hana and Maalaea Surf are two exclusive oceanfront communities with homes starting in the mid $800s and climbing to over $1 million. And, finally, for those who want to live in a community free from vacationers, Ke Alii Ocean Villas has units in the low-$500s to mid-$700s.
Single family homes are very prevalent as well. There is a broad spectrum of prices depending on the location and condition of the homes as well as the views. Some of the lower priced homes are in need of a little TLC and repair especially those listed in foreclosure or as a short sale. Kenolio Mauka is a small, intimate neighborhood that has homes listed in the mid- to upper-$300s while the Meadowlands start in the mid-$450s. As you travel south through Kihei, neighborhoods like Moana Estates, Kihei Alii Kai, and Kilohana Ridge start in the mid-$600s to mid-$700s with some topping $1 million.
Kihei is an area in Maui that offers the best of both worlds. With the large number of condominium communities, investors interested in rental investments have so many options. And, residents have several options for homes as well as a few condominium communities that are for long-term residents only. The median price for a single family home in November was $371,500 while condos were $268,500. The average number of days on the market was combined number of 161 days.
When considering the South Shore of Maui, make sure Kihei is a definite spot to check out. With its perfect location along the beach and so much from which to choose, you cannot go wrong here looking at this popular town!