Wailuku is located in Central Maui west of Kahului in Hawaii. It is primarily a residential old Hawaiian town, and it was the main tourist destination for people traveling to Maui in the early 20th century. Since then resort towns such as Wailea and Ka’anapali have surpassed it, and in fact there are not hotels present in Wailuku. Tourists that travel to the Central Maui typically stay at Kahului. Residents that live in Wailuku get to enjoy some of the coolest climates in Maui.
Wailuku sits at the base of the West Maui Volcano, and it is home to many historic sites. Some of those sites are Ka’ahumanu Church, Civic Center Historic District, Chee Kung Tong Society, and Bailey House. Several of Maui’s government offices are also located in Wailuku.
There are several shopping centers in Wailuku such as Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center and the Maui Mall. Also, Market Street is the main business district with its many old-fashioned looking wood storefronts. Even those these exist many residents still prefer to do their shopping and take care of other business affairs at the nearby town of Kahului.
There are many small neighborhoods so real estate in Wailuku is usually easily available. There is also a wide market range to help fit nearly anyone’s budget. The neighborhood of Old Wailuku Town has prices starting at the lower end of the range around $350,000. There are also homes for around the same price across the street from the beach. Most of these homes will need a lot of work, but sit at great locations for lower prices. Many people purchase these homes with the intention of tearing down the older structures, and building newer homes on prime land. Some other fixer uppers start at about $400,000 in the popular neighborhoods of Waikapu Gardens and Waiolani Pikake. Homes at the pricier range are located in the neighborhoods of Sand Hills Estates, Wailuku Heights, and Waiehu around $800,000.
Wailuku is home to many native Hawaiians. One neighborhood, Waiehu Kou, is dedicated to Native Americans only according to the requirements of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. This area gives locals a chance to have affordable home ownership.
Condos are not very prevalent in Wailuku because of the lack of a tourist community. Some condos can be found in Puunone Towers and Puunoe Terrace for under $100 thousand. Kehalani Gardens and the Villas and Kehalani and Iliahi at Kehalani have a handful of condominiums between $200,000 and $400,000.
The average sale price for a condo is Wailuku is $129,000, and the average price for a home is $355,000. Most homes were on the market for 247 days. Many foreclosures and short sales can also be found in this area.
Wailuku offers residents some peace and quiet away from the more tourist centric cities of Maui. This area is great for people who love small town living with a big historical presence. Also, Wailuku is set for major redevelopments in the near future so anyone interested in real estate may want to get in on the action.
