What’s your favorite property?

I’d have to answer…for what? Am I looking for peace & quiet? For beachfront access? For resale value? For on-site amenities? For price, location, view, size? To live in all or part of the time? To vacation in or use as a vacation rental & hope for a good return on my investment?

There are 10 different properties in Ma’alaea, all possessing qualities of their own and each one a favorite depending on the criteria. This is such a commonly asked question I created a whole separate page for it. Go to My Favorites.

Is there a beach?

Yes, miles of sandy swimming beach that begin near the end of the road and stretch approx. 4 miles to Kihei. Very popular for any time of the day beach walks. The last 3 condos on the road… Kanai A Nalu, Hono Kai & Makani A Kai are beachfront properties & have beach access. Otherwise access can be gained through the park just past the last condo (Makani A Kai). The first seven properties are oceanfront but located on a rocky reef. Although a property is oceanfront, views can vary depending on the location of a particular unit. My page on Beaches goes into a little more detail.

Does the wind blow in Ma’alaea?

Most definitely!!

Those of us who live & work here consider the wind a real blessing. Rather than sweatin’ the lbs. away on other parts of the island, the afternoon trades in Ma’alaea are a welcome relief. Mornings are typically still & quiet, as are evenings. The trades help ‘blow’ off the sweltering afternoon heat. Just make sure you dress appropriately! There’s been more than one occasion when I’ve had to anchor my dress. (Kinda hard to do when both hands are full). ...There's an old saying here on Maui: You can always tell the difference between female visitors and resident the minute they get off the plane. The visitors hold on to their hats. The locals - their SKIRTS!

Does it snow on Maui?

Sure…we call it ‘Maui snow’. It’s a lot darker than what you normally see. Many sugar cane fields island wide are still harvested by burning. (No longer done in Ma’alaea). They are burnt at maturity (about every 18 months or so) and depending on where they’re burning & the direction of the wind, all parts of the island can experience sugar cane burn. Shoot, I could hardly breathe in Kihei yesterday for the smoke in the air so I drove to Ma’alaea where the air was clear.

All kidding aside though, there can sometimes be REAL snow on top of Haleakala Crater during the winter months. Not much -- a dusting at most -- but worth a drive up to the top just for the novelty if you know it's up there.

I hear Ma’alaea gets a lot of cane smoke.

At times, of course. But so do Kihei, Kahului, Lahaina and other areas.

It depends on where they’re burning & the direction of the wind. Since Kihei gets relatively little wind, it’s actually harder on my allergies there than in Ma’alaea. The fields of Ma’alaea are no longer being burnt, but cut. So the effects of cane burning in Ma’alaea are not necessarily any worse than other parts of the island. That’s just part of island living.

Are prices going up in Ma’alaea?

Without a doubt! Once a quiet little village that was passed over by traveling tourists, Maalaea has become known as the newest "town" on Maui. Since the Maui Ocean Center & the many shops & restaurants have opened, the demand for Ma’alaea property has increased dramatically. Since 1998 inventory has dropped by over 90%. With the increase in sales & the decrease in inventory, comes the increase in prices. It’s becoming harder & harder to finds available properties. So don’t snooze & lose! For more information on sales, see real estate info.

Got a question I didn't answer here? Feel free to email me and I'll get right back to you.