Kihei and South Maui: The Sunny-Side Guide
South Maui — Kihei, Wailea and Makena — sits in the rain shadow of Haleakala, which makes it the sunniest, driest part of the island. It is also the most practical base: central, beach-lined, and full of condos and vacation rentals at every price.
Kihei
Kihei is the unpretentious, good-value heart of the south coast: six miles of beaches, the reliable Kama'ole I, II and III parks, food trucks, snorkel shops and sunset bars. It is where many families set up for a week and barely move the car.
Wailea and Makena
Just south, Wailea is the polished resort enclave — manicured beaches, a coastal walking path, golf and fine dining. Beyond it, Makena turns wilder, ending at the vast sands of Big Beach and the snorkeling coves of 'Ahihi-Kina'u.
A great base
From South Maui you are 15 minutes from the airport and Ma'alaea's snorkel boats, 40 from Lahaina, and an easy run to the Upcountry and Haleakala roads. Sunset over the islands of Kaho'olawe and Lanai is the nightly show.
Where Hale Kai sits
Our demonstration villa, Hale Kai, is set on this sunny South Maui coast — the calm, swimmable side of the island where the beach really is just past the lawn. It is the kind of location that makes a vacation-rental website like this one easy to fill.
Photo: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Planning a Maui stay?
This article lives on RentMauiNow.com — a demonstration vacation-rental website that is itself for sale. See the 10 best places to stay in Maui, or learn how to own a site like this.