Best place to stay in Maui
 

I am staying in Maui in August for one week with my partner and his 12 year old son. We are on a budget. Where is best to stay. Maalae seems good value - but would we be better in Wailea?

Maalaea wouldn't be a good 1st choice

Good budget tourist areas are Kihei, Kahana and Honokawai. Otherwise if you don't mind a small studio without AC, there are a few places in Napili steps from the sands of a beautiful beach that are available at real good prices.

Agree; Maalaea is a windy area with some drainage from the agricultural area.
Nearby Kihei has many options for condos, is near the Kamehameha Beach Parks, and from there its easy to access many other beaches to the south.
South Kihei is IMO the best location (a bit quieter than central and south, which abut town).
Check out VRBO:

https://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rental...uth-maui/kihei

Hi, we stayed many years at South Kihei which we really love, but now we have stayed three years in Maalaea and we love it because nearly all of the condos have lanai a looking right at the water. We never used to think we would like it because people said it was windy but it isn't at all. Try it out!

The Grand Wailea is my favorite hotel on Maui.The condos we've tried in Wailea have been nice, but no more special than elsewhere.If I am remembering the names right, are not on the Beach,there was a nicer one.I think it was Akahi on the beach, so I liked it better.

Akahi

Ekahi (just correcting spelling in case one is googling it). I don't think it's terribly "budget" though. There'll be more budget options in Kihei.

I think you will find that there's a little bit more going on in Kihei, especially for a 12-year-old, and I think you'll be able to find good bargains there.

But also understand that while Kihei has very nice beaches, the town itself is a real town, and lacks a tropical "feel".

good at ya cuteoldgal1

I'd love to hear which naysayers have actually stayed in Maalaea. I personally haven't but finding the right rental, I would in a heartbeat.

I would in a heartbeat.<<

Have you been to Maui? Maalaea is a central location, most tourists at least slow down while driving by. Its just a few older properties away from most of the things I want to do on Maui. But if you have been there, and you are happy, stay there. I personally don't fly 5000 miles to settle for meh...but that's me


Lets see what I can say nice about Maalaea
1) 2 for 1 whale watches leave from that harbor
2) lets see...on a rainy day the ocean center is close
3) It would shorten my drive from the West Side if I want to go to Mamas fish house
4) Closer to the airport

My question is have you stayed in Maalaea? The OP is on a budget. I already stated that I have not but if I found a nice rental, I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

I have been to Maui many times on and off budget. I have stayed at kaanapali shores twice, hana in 4 different propertiies, 4S twice, Marriot Wailea, GrandWailea never again, Kea Lani, Napili Kai Resort and Aloha Pualani when it was a rental in Kihei.


For me it wouldn't be deciding between Kihei and Maalaea or Napili, it would be about the individual rental that offers the most. I just don't see the reason to dismiss Maalaea when you haven't stayed there to call it ''meh'

From http://hi-mauicounty.civicplus.com/D...er/View/83262:

On March 16, 2010, the County of Maui provided funding to conduct research to investigate the identify point and non-point pollution and nutrient sources that may have led to drastic declines in coral heath and complexity of the benthic community and subsequently promoted excessive algal growth in Maalaea Bay....
A nearshore reef flat extending from the eastern Harbor Breakwater to Haycraft Park (essentially the area where the shoreline is lined with Condominiums) is characterized by a narrow region of high algae growth....
Results of sample analysis coupled with estimates of hydrologic fluxes of groundwater in the Maalaea area reveal that while injection wells contribute a relatively small amount of water to total groundwater discharge, they contribute about 17% of the nitrogen and 73% of the phosphorus to the shoreline area fronting the condominiums. As the injection well discharge is enriched in phosphorus relative to other sources of ground water, it provides a good nutrient source for algal along the shoreline. These results suggest that reduction of injection well effluent discharges may decrease the present biomass of algae in the nearshore zone fronting the Condominiums....
input of sediment through from delivery by both wind and surface flow. While sediment impacts have been a longstanding issue in the Maalaea region

"sediment impacts have been a longstanding issue in the Maalaea region"
I've stayed there, tried to warn a sibling off, and both of us found it very windy (different times of year) and the water "meh"; we drove down the coast to better beaches when we wanted to swim.

I haven't spent my Maui vacation in Kahului either, but Ive been there enough times to advise first time travelers that Kahului probably isn't their best vacation choice. Maalaea could be a reasonable choice for the right person, maybe someone with an interest in that harbor or the ocean center. Otherwise no

I don't even like going down to Maalaea, and if I did stay there, that would probably be a time they burn the sugarcane and Id be smoked out. First time tourists have better options

Well put.