Kihei Travel Guide, Maui

Kihei is a little different compared to the rest of Maui so we've created this Kihei Travel Guide to help you decide on the best activities, lodgings and eateries in this wonderful area of Maui.

About Kihei

Kihei is home to beautiful beaches, wonderful snorkeling, and mouth-watering food from diverse cuisines. This region of southwestern Maui, located just north of Wailea, is quite a bit sunnier than much of Hawaii. So, if you’re looking to catch some rays, Kihei might be your ideal destination.

Photo by Tristan Ramberg on Unsplash

Weather

While much of Hawaii generally receives two predictable seasons, Kihei’s climate differs a bit from the islands’ typical weather patterns. Specifically, although this area receives less total rain than most of Hawaii, the wet season runs a bit longer into April and the warmer, drier season runs all the way through November. From May to November, you can expect as little as one total day of rain the entire dry season. During this season, monthly average highs range from 86 to 90 degrees, peaking in August and September. In December, temperatures drop and rain increases. You’ll see monthly average highs from 81 to 83 degrees and between two to five days of rain per month through April.

Hotels and Resorts

There are several hotels throughout Kihei serving a range of price points. The three most popular options are located on the southern end of town. These are the Maui Coastal Hotel, WorldMark Kihei, and Aloha Aku Inn & Suites. For an upscale option, you can check out the Maui Sunset Resort located right on the beach at Waipuilani Park. If you aren’t traveling with kids, Kohea Kai Maui is another great resort option. The hotels and resorts in Kihei are about 20 minutes from Kahului Airport. There are also several rental car agencies at the airport including National, Enterprise, Thrifty, Hertz, and a few more in the town of Kihei.

Kihei Restaurants

One of the best things about Kihei is all of the outstanding dining options. We highly recommend Nutcharee's Authentic Thai Food, which has the best Thai on the entire island. Kihei Caffe has outstanding breakfast and coffee. For Hawaiian-American, Nalu's South Shore Grill is delicious. Three's Bar & Grill is great if you’re looking for a place to grab a drink. Check out South Maui Fish Company for seafood. Brekkie Bowls is a local favorite featuring health foods like acai bowls.

Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / John Hook

Kihei Beaches

Much of Kihei’s coast is lined with beaches. If you’re with young children, Charley Young Beach is great due to its protected tidepools and has the added bonus of frequent turtle sightings. Kamaole Beach Parks I, II, and III have a full range of facilities such as lifeguards, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms, along with plenty of white-sand real estate.

Cove Beach Park and Kamaole beach also have wonderful facilities including beach volleyball. If you’re looking to snorkel, Keawakapu Beach has calm waters and plenty of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Just remember, if you see a sea turtle while you're swimming, be sure to keep your distance. These are protected animals and getting too close will result in a fine.

Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Brooke Dombroski / @brooklynhawaii

Things to Do in Kihei

If you’re looking for other things to do, there are loads of adventure, snorkel, and tour companies throughout Kihei. You might consider a boat tour or a hiking experience along the 10-mile Lanahai Pali Trail. Or, you could rent a stand-up paddleboard, kayak, or surfboard from one of several rental companies.

Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Mark Kushimi

This area is also great because it provides easy access to all of the wonderful attractions to the south like the art galleries, luau, and golfing, without having to pay the steep lodging prices that are typically found in Wailea. Just north of town, you’ll find a National Wildlife Refuge, where you can take a beautiful stroll through protected wetlands which features views of the surrounding ridges. There are also several coastal boardwalks to explore if you’d like to get a view of Maui’s beautiful sapphire waters.

Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash

The best thing about Kihei is that since the weather is always sunny, you’ll almost never get rained out of an activity. We highly recommend staying in Kihei if you’re looking to soak up some sun. And, if you are staying somewhere on the island with a bit more rain, you can always make the trip to Kihei to track down the sunshine.

Visiting Maui? Shaka Guide has 6 tours on the island. Check them out here!