Everyone hears of Maui’s famous resort areas of Lahaina, Kaanapali and Wailea. On the other hand, Kihei is lesser known for swank hotels, but is a budget traveler’s dream.
After a recent search on VRBO.com and AirBnB.com, I was able to find vacation condo rentals that sleep two to four for under $100 per night. If you up the budget to $175 to $200, you can easily find attractive vacation rentals with ocean views that sleep up to six.
According to a VRBO article, Kihei may be considered Maui’s best kept secret. I tend to agree with them. Though Kihei is not heavily laden with hotels, which can be a good thing, it does offer some nice condo accommodations. Of course, you savvy GoVisitHawaii.com readers already know that staying in a condo can save you lots of money.
There are three Kamaole beach parks that have lifeguard stations. You can read about those beaches via these links:
Kihei is a family-friendly location. Part of that is due to the lifeguarded beaches parks. Of course, condos tend to be more appealing for families, too.
In addition to the lovely beaches and inexpensive accommodations, Kihei has many tasty, local restaurants that are relatively budget friendly.
Why is Kihei cheaper? The vacation rentals don’t offer fancy restaurants, spas and golf courses. They mostly have a residential feel. Though the vacation rentals don’t have all the bells and whistles that you find in most Maui hotels, many do offer lovely swimming pools and access to barbecue grills. Of course, if you want to experience the spas, restaurants, etc at the fancier hotels, you are welcome to do so. You just can’t use their pools.
Kihei is centrally located, making it a convenient base to explore the island. Kihei is considered to be part of the South Maui Resorts. It’s just north of swank Wailea and less than a 30 minute drive from the Kahului Airport (OGG).
The VRBO article had some interesting facts about Kihei that I thought were worth mentioning. First, the weather can be fairly predictable.
Kihei’s weather is ideal almost year round. Temperatures average between 75 and 85 degrees, and while other areas of Maui tend to have a rainy season from November to March, Kihei averages less than 12 inches per year.
Next the beaches are great for water sports. (Too be honest, are there any/many bad beaches in Hawaii?)
Kihei’s largest draw is its fine beaches. In fact, the Kihei coast consists of one wide, sandy, sunny beach after another. Under the attentive watch of lifeguards, these beaches are also considered some of the safest areas in Hawaii.
Regular visitors to Kihei learn some of the town’s beaches are renowned for swimming, while others for scuba diving, body surfing, or board surfing. The water remains warm year round, often climbing to 80 degrees in the summer.
I guess the “secret” about Kihei is out now. 😉
See more suggestions for where to stay on Maui.
Sheila Beal
12 comments
Hi, this is great info. Just wondering do you know any site good to look for condos in the Kihei area? Thanks. We are looking to go in Dec.
We normally go through VRBO, but you can find condos on Expedia, Travelocity, etc. Here are tips for choosing a condo rental in Hawaii — https://govisithawaii.com/2011/02/01/tips-for-selecting-a-hawaii-vacation-rental/
Is there a public transportation to move from one town to another? or we would need a rental?
There is a public bus service on Maui, however stops may not always convenient. Ideally, we recommend renting a car.
Hi Sheila, We are flying in and out of Kahului Maui. We have 8 days excluding the travel days. Where would recommend staying? Can we cover one more island probably big island? We are looking for a stay with proper kitchen.
Thanks
There are many, many places to stay with a kitchen on Maui. Our “where to stay” articles cover all our advice on where to stay. In addition, this article may also be helpful https://govisithawaii.com/2017/05/03/how-to-choose-a-hawaii-hotel-condo-or-villa/
As for how many islands to visit, see this article: https://govisithawaii.com/2014/01/14/how-many-islands-should-you-visit-during-your-hawaii-vacation/
Should we stay in Kihei or Wailea to cover everything in Maui? I am looking for a place where there is a Walmart or Costco nearby. Please let me know. The above links were helpful but I am not able to get answer for these questions.
Thanks.
Have you looked at Kihei and Wailea on a map? They’re beside each other, so very close.
Check Google Maps or some other mapping application for Walmart and Costco and the proximity to the areas you’re considering. Kihei is slightly closer, but there’s not a huge difference.
We are visiting Maui for the first time and we have two small children aged 5 and 1.5 Do you recommend taking Hana tour? If so how do we book it? Are there any restrictions for kids?
In general, I don’t think small children would enjoy such a long day on an incredibly curvy road and having to get in and out of a vehicle many times.
We’re planning a trip to Maui next Feb mainly for whale watching and of course lovely beaches. I read that Kihei is a good place to stay and an all enclusive would be nice but we’re open to renting a condo. We’ll rent a car as well. While we’re there how can we arrange a day whale watching tour? Can we get a brochure on Maui for other tips. Thanks for your help. Kathy
There are a lot of boating companies who do whale watching tours. They’re usually just about 2 hours long. Some good companies to look into are: Alii Nui, Trilogy, Pride of Maui and Pacific Whale Foundation.
We don’t offer any printed materials. Some good starting points for you would be:
– Our first time visitors guide https://govisithawaii.com/first-time-visitors-guide-to-hawaii/
– Maui itinerary https://govisithawaii.com/2016/08/02/seven-day-maui-vacation-itinerary/