We were having supper with relatives from the US last night and we said we were going to Maui - they said 'don't stay in Kihei, it stinks." That sounds just great as we have booked and paid for a condo there. I've never heard this before - they said something about a sugarcane plantation. Can anyone help me out here? Also, we're looking for a nice, oceanside place to go to brunch in Kihei area on Sunday after church.
How far is it from Kihei to Napili Bay?
THANKS FOR ANY INPUT - I REALLY WANT TO HEAR THAT KIHEI DOESN"T STINK!!!!

Kehei is quite a ways from Napili Bay, and it isn't nearly as nice as Kaanapali, Napili Bay, or Kaupalua.
IF there's any way to cancel your condo and stay at these other locations, I would do it in a heartbeat, even if it meant losing your deposit.

Our friends that were in Maui the same time we were stayed at the Sugar Beach Hotel/Condo and they too said they were awakened to a stench of burning sickly sweet smoke that filled their room. I don't know if this goes on everyday. But this occured Sept 30th for sure. I would definately change or get closer to Lahaina if I could.

That's a bit overstated. Kihei is a relatively big town, and IF you get a condo that is adjacent to some sugar cane fields, and IF you happen to be there while the fields are being harvested and burned, and IF the wind is blowing in the right direction, then you might have this problem. That's a lot of IF's.

If you will be staying at the south end of Kihei, close to Wailea, there is no bad smell at all.

I just got back from Maui last week and although we stayed in Wailea we went to Kihei several times during our stay to eat, shop etc. I never smelled anything when we were there so maybe it depends on the wind etc. We could see the smoke coming from the smoke stack but I never smelled it. Good luck, I am sure you will have a great trip!

I prefer the beaches south of Kihei and in my opinion they are much better than those near Lahaina and Kaanapali. Kaanapali I found to be full of sterile condos and Lahaina full of T-shirt shops. The snorkeling south of Kihei at Makena beach is outstanding, I swam among sea turtles and many tropical fish. Kihei is also not as far to drive to the top of the Volcana, Hana and the seven pools as Lahaina and Kaanapali are.

Thanks to everyone for answering. Actually, we're staying very close to where St. Theresa's Catholic Church is so maybe that will help you in responding to my message.

Baddeck, I live in Kihei. There are some real problems with odors in north Kihei, but they are not sugar-related.

There is cane all over the island. Cane fields are burned, this is a fact. But they are not burned constantly. Most visitors who come here for a week will neve encounter a cane fire. And the smell of a burning cane field is more like the smell of burning leaves and molasses than anything truly noxious. Actually, for me the smell of a burning cane field evokes memories of a fall trip to New England that I took as a child, where the fall foliage was punctuated by the smell of buring leaves.

If a cane field has been burned recently, then it won't be burned again until it is replanted and matures, in 24 months. I had once heard one of Maui's respected cultural icons, Uncle Charlie Maxwell, say that while the cane smoke sometimes bothers him up in Pukalani, when he smells the smoke from a cane fire he is secure in the knowledge that it is coming from green cane fields and open spaces that have not been replaced by subdivisions.

The real odor problems near Sugar Beach come from decaying seaweed that tends to wash ashore there and from Kealia Pond to the immediate north. When it is very dry the pond level drops and fish begin to die. Neither has been an issue this year, as compared to past years. These are seasonal and are affected by other factors. The seaweed problem cannot be predicted, although Maui County has addressed it more vigorously in recent years. Again, I have not noticed either fragrance this year.

St. Thersa's is on Lipoa which is kind of in the middle of Kihei. It is about 2 miles from Sugar Beach. It's a bit windier there than down where I live, and the area is busier, with shopping centers, the Post Office, the DMV--I guess you could call the area from Lipoa to Piikea Kihei's commercial hub. But, on the upside you are close to grocery stores, Long's Drugs, and many restaurant choices. As for the beach, well you will probably want to drive a few miles down the our beaches to the south. From Charlie Young beach on down you will find a nice variety if beaches for swimming, snorkeling and boogie/body boarding, and if you get a south swell while you are here, you might even get in some decent surfing down towards Makena.

Kihei to Napili will be maybe an hour away, depending on the time of day and such it could be more.

Quite close to St. Theresa's for breakfast is Stella Blues. It is casual. Big Wave Cafe is also near there, again, casual. If you want more of a brunch try looking towards the resorts in Wailea, to the south a few minutes. The Maui Prince has a brunch in the Prince Court that is supposed to be among the best on the island. I am not a big brunch person, so I can't really compare it to others, other than to say the one time I was there it was very impressive. I am sure that the Four Season and the Grand both do an excellent brunch as well. Perhaps someone who has brunched at either of these can add some input.

Mahalo to "gone-to-maui".
I own a condo in Kihei as an investment, so I cannot be considered impartial on this topic. But to me Kihei is mostly paradise. I love to spend the day on some of Hawaii's best beaches, then walk across the street for a pitcher of beer and a game of pool.

great answer gone2maui!!! as an infrequent visitor, I was thinking everything you said, without the authority to put it into words.... very thoughtful,,,,,logandog...yup, I have stayed in all areas of the island, and after awhile Kehei gets magical. Where do you own. I am searching Kauai for a vacation condo investment, but my husband loves Maui just as much. Baddeck, make sure you head out to Makena Beach early on, as you will likely love it, as I do. There's some public parking between the grand resorts to gain public access. Have a blast.

Reminds me of the oft-posed question of the 1990's : Why does Taos hum?

I have stayed in all the different areas of Maui, and can guarantee you they all have good points. Nothing beats the southern Kihei and Wailea beaches in the morning. Sometimes they're a little breezy in the afternoon, but no big deal. Things in Kihei cost less than they do in the Kaanapali area - and the Wailea area - so don;t let it bother you.

I lived next to sugar cane fields on Oahu for three years and quickly got used to the smell - it's not unlike the smell of oranges being processed for orange juice here in Florida. Hey, stay loose! Chill out! Don't worry! You're going to Hawaii!

define stink
or could it be the other posters here
do not want to hang out around
local hawaiians? being around Hawaiians and local hawaiians is cool.

Sorry but I had to laugh at your question. My husband and I visited Maui in 2002 and after reading this board on a daily basis, I was so excited to experience the wonderful/tropical smells that were described on the board. Well, we were driving our convertible, top down, to our hotel in Wailea and boy oh boy, the smell was NOT tropical, or what I was expecting. Yes, it did smell unpleasant and nothing like I expected. We asked around and were told about the seaweed problem too. I guess its hit or miss. All in all though, we plan to go back, smell or not. The exceptional sights of Hawaii far outweigh the slight odor we went through in the Kihei area.

Well, Kihei is in the wind belt of Maui, but the condo prices for vacations are good. Look at a map of Maui. Shaped like a woman, eh?!
Kihei is at the front of the neck, the airport at the "troat" Wailea at the "chest" and Lahaina at the "nose".
Kihei to Lahaina at least 45 minutes.
However.... the best Sunday brunch on the island is at the Maui Prince hotel in Wailea ("chest") about $40 PP and will hold the most egregious gourmet for HOURS! You do need reservations and the beach there is the BEST!!!!

I too see a woman as the shape of
Maui
Kihei is closer to that
snorkeling reef site too!!

We stayed in Wailea (quieter - we are in our 50's) but ate in Kihei a couple of times and I went there each day to visit the chiropractor - yup, bad back in Hawaii, what a bummer! We were there in December, 2003 and didn't smell a thing. I don't think the area is as glamourous as Wailea or as busy as Kaanapali - check www.tripadvisor.com and type in the name of your condo or kihei and research the area. Some like quiet, some like noise and bustle, some like cheap, but remember - unless you plan to spend all your time at the resort - you can escape any 'smells' just by taking a drive - you will love Maui. We rented a convertible and enjoyed the entire island. All beaches in Hawaii are public - enjoy. Hope this helps.

HereToday, you say "I am sure that the Four Season and the Grand both do an excellent brunch as well. Perhaps someone who has brunched at either of these can add some input". How can you be sure they are excellent if you have not eaten there? I am careful about recommending expensive dining experiences when I have not tried them myself.

Just I am sure you are really a very nice person, you seem to be picking on semantics here, for the second time in as many days. Have I done something to offend you? You seem to have some sort of problem with my posts all of the sudden. I apologize if my conversational tone is not up to your standards.

I qualified my statement by saying I really don't eat brunch and that perhaps someone else who has could offer some input. I did not reccommend either of them directly, but rather brought them up as to suggest that the OP check them out as well. I am sure that you well understood my intentions, as I never said "Eat at the Four Seasons." I am sure that baddeck and others were able to understand my intent in that statement. If, perchance, anyone has gone to either resort for brunch based solely my post and felt that they were misled, than, please, accept my sincerest apology.