Where to stay in maui Kihei vs Paia vs Wailea vs Lahaina, Kaanapali
 

Hi I am trying to figure out where to stay in Maui and appreciate any help.
We are heading there in March for a week.
We like Kite surfing and we want to learn surfing.
We like to go stay somewhere beach from and easy access to kite beach or surfing beach.
We also like to be in place that has some restaurants /pubs at night and that is charming with tropical beauty ... Any suggestions where we can stay? coz I can't find something like that ...
We can stay 3 days in one place and 3 in another if there is no one place to fit the above description.
I was looking for the north shore but then I read that Kieh has good surf breaks for biggener but it is not very pretty then I read that kaanapali has also nice breaks but it might be further away from kite beach...
Thank you for your help

It's a matter of personal preference. Personally, I wouldn't stay in Lahaina, as it's so busy, but some people would like it for that reason. And I find Kaanapali too crowded, but it might be right for you. Wailea is my favorite.

None of the places are a bad choice. Go and see what you like, next trip you will know where you want to stay.

It's a small island and easy to get around so just pick a place to stay and then you can drive to other places. That said, my favorite places when we were on Maui were Napili and Paia.

Hi there,

I was there in Oct-Nov 2014 and we stayed in Wailea and looooved it. It's beautiful, there are a decent amount of restos and shops around to keep you busy and it's close to mostly everything. However, when I go back to Maui, I will stay in Kihei simply because it's cheaper.
Yes kihei may lack a little in the "beauty" category, but seeing as it's so easy to get everywhere you need to be on the island, it's really not a big deal. Plus what it lacks in looks in makes up for in price and practicality. We bounced from beach to beach almost everyday, so even if the beach closest to you in Kihei isn't what you want, within a few minutes you can be somewhere else.

Layla :-)

Thank you for your help ... I m tempted to book Wailea but it doesn't seem to have surfing or kite surfing schools. Kihie seems like a better choice.
Paia is also high on my list.

Hi Rirou,

Even if you book in Wailea because you prefer it as a place to stay, Kihei is just minutes away so you can head there for your surfing school.

:-)

that is charming with tropical beauty

That is NOT Kihei. The beaches in Kihei are nice, but the area does not scream "tropical beauty".

We loved staying at Kihei Surfside. Its right down the street from the boat ramp for snorkel/dive trips. We even snorkeled out front of the building. It doesn't show it in the picture, but if you walk past the parking lot, you can access a beach next door.

(This is just a link for pictures, you can also find units at VRBO, etc.)
https://www.kiheisurfsideresort.com/ksf_pix.php

good recs from aucho.

I don't see a problem with staying in Kihei, since it's so easy to get everywhere else.

That part of the island is naturally very dry being in the rain shadow of Haleakala. The tropical feel has to come from irrigation and Wailea does much more than Kihei.
Kihei has three of the best swimming and snorkeling beaches on the island and a plethora of cocoanut palms.

Kite surfing is near Paia, but I'd stay in South Kihei for the swimming and snorkeling beaches of South Maui and a wide variety of restaurants. You'll also pay less if you stay in one condo for your whole time.

Kihei is nine miles (20 minutes) from Kahului (OGG -- and where you begin Road to Hana, Halekala and Upcountry).

Lahaina/Kaanapali is more than twice as far, and the sole access is via a 2-lane road between Maalaea and Lahaina. (Gets old.)

With less than a week on Maui...choose a central location. Wailea is lovely, but more expensive than Kihei.

If you want heavily tropical, you want Hana.

What's the lodging budget? When will you visit Maui?

Thank you for all the info.
I am flexible on budget, it is a special trip and it is taking us around 25+hrs flying to get to Maui so we want to make the best of it.. as I mentioned our interest is in kite surfing then surfing more than diving and snorkeling - we want to be in a beautiful place but also close (preferably waking distance) to beaches where we can do our sports... I know Hana is very tropical and looks gorgeous but I didn't read any surfing or kite surfing beaches there... Kihei seems the best option so far though it seems it lack beauty... we might as well check Wailea
Thank you for all info

Hi Rirou,
Regardless of where you end up you will be happy on Maui. Don't let the fact that people are telling you that Kihei "lacks beauty" deter you from staying there. I avoided Kihei and picked Wailea for that exact reason. However, now that I have been there I would definitely stay in Kihei next time. It is the most budget friendly and so close to everything else.
Let us know what you decide!
:-)

Kihei is a 'real' town -- a beach town with real residents. It also has vacation rentals. By contrast, Kapalua, Kaanapali and Wailea are 'destination resorts', developed (manicured) for tourism.

We own at Maui Kamaole in South Kihei. I like that property and Palms in Wailea as somewhat larger and newer. They are low-rise, low-density complexes at a lower price than complexes on the ocean side of the road. I also like low-rise Wailea Elua and Ekahi -- older, more expensive, also quite peaceful. Top drawer are Makena Surf, Wailea Beach Villas, Ho'olai at the Grand Wailea, Polo Beach Club.

<restaurants /pubs at night and that is charming with tropical beauty>

Lahaina has that.

Granted, Hawaii is just about all touristy, but Lahaina is just a bit too touristy for me. It's a drop-off point for the cruise lines, which should tell you something.

Just to digress a bit. We spent about three days at the Lahaina Best Western five years ago. We chose it for its central location in regards to restaurants and shops and had decent parking. We also like the fact that it was a close walk to the ferries that would take you to Lanai and Molokai. We spent a day at the beach that was walking distance from the Lanai ferry. In Molokai, we spent the day walking around town (their business area is really a very short strip of about three blocks), checked out the offerings at the handful of the shops and chose a restaurant to have lunch at which they had maybe three to pick from. Walked the beach that was on the way back to the ferry. If you want to experience a slow day away from the bustle of the bigger Hawaiian towns, Molokai is the way to go.

Making you aware that the Lahaina to Molokai ferry stopped running October 27/16, due to financial losses. You can fly, but it's considerably more expensive.

I'm sorry to hear that the Lahaina-Molokai ferry is no longer running. It was a very affordable way to explore another aspect of Hawaii.