Quick Answer: Living in Wailuku and Kahului puts you near Maui’s county government, main hospital, airport and harbor. Per the REALTORSยฎ Association of Maui, Wailuku single-family homes sold at a $1,040,000 median from January through August 2026 (85 sales), down from $1,200,000. Kahului held at $1,100,000 on 67 sales, and Wailuku condos sold at a $630,000 median.
Update (October 12, 2026): For September 2026, the REALTORS® Association of Maui reported a Maui County condo median of $660,000 on 72 sales and a single-family median of $1,150,000 on 52 sales. For January through September, the condo median was $655,000 (down 6.8%) and the single-family median was $1,219,000 (down 6.2%). My September 2026 Maui market report has the full breakdown.
If you’d like current figures for a specific building or neighborhood, call or text me at 808-481-9748.
I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTORยฎ in Kฤซhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and while much of my work is in South Maui, I often point people moving here toward Central Maui too. Many newcomers picture an oceanfront condo in Kฤซhei or a farmhouse in Kula, but a lot of everyday island life runs through Wailuku and Kahului. Here’s what living in Wailuku and Kahului is like, what homes cost, and what I’d check before buying.
What is it like living in Wailuku and Kahului?
Wailuku and Kahului sit side by side on the isthmus between the West Maui Mountains and Haleakalฤ, and together they work as Maui’s hub for government, medical care, shopping and travel.
Wailuku is the county seat. It sits at the mouth of สปฤชao Valley, and its historic downtown has narrow lanes, small shops and older plantation-style bungalows. Newer neighborhoods such as Kehalani, a master-planned community built on former sugar plantation land starting in the 1990s, offer more modern homes. Wailuku had 17,697 residents in the 2020 Census.
Kahului is larger, with 28,219 residents in 2020. It’s the retail center for Maui County and home to Kahului Airport, the island’s deep-draft harbor, the University of Hawaiสปi Maui College and Queen Kaสปahumanu Center. Kahului’s climate is dry, sunny and famously breezy.
What do homes cost in Wailuku and Kahului in 2026?
As of RAM’s January through August 2026 figures, single-family medians were $1,040,000 in Wailuku and $1,100,000 in Kahului, both below the $1,225,000 countywide median. The percentage changes below are my own calculations from RAM’s numbers.
| Central Maui market (Jan.โAug.) | 2026 sales | 2025 sales | 2026 median | 2025 median | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailuku single-family | 85 | 91 | $1,040,000 | $1,200,000 | -13.3% |
| Kahului single-family | 67 | 54 | $1,100,000 | $1,099,000 | about flat |
| Wailuku condos | 49 | 46 | $630,000 | $587,500 | +7.2% |
| All Maui County single-family | 485 | 471 | $1,225,000 | $1,300,000 | -5.8% |
That makes Wailuku and Kahului among the more accessible places on the island for buyers who want a house rather than a condo. In August 2026 alone, nine Wailuku homes sold at a $949,000 median, and 13 Kahului homes sold at a $1,100,000 median.
For longer-term context, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates Wailuku’s homeownership rate at 70.6% and its median rent at $1,762 a month. These survey estimates trail the current market, but they show a housing stock that is mostly owner-occupied rather than vacation rentals.
What’s close to homes in Central Maui?
Major employers, the airport, shopping, medical care, public libraries and community parks are all a short drive from most Central Maui homes.
- Major employers. Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente and the County of Maui are in Wailuku, and retail, airport and harbor operations are in Kahului. Living close to work can save a long daily drive.
- Travel access. Kahului Airport is only minutes away, which makes neighbor-island and mainland trips much easier.
- Everyday amenities. Both towns have public libraries and community parks, and Queen Kaสปahumanu Center anchors Kahului’s shopping.
- Primary-home market. Central Maui is built around full-time living rather than visitor rentals, with a homeownership rate in Wailuku of about 70%.
What new housing is coming to Central Maui?
Construction is underway on Kehalani Apartments, a 35-unit affordable rental project by the Dowling Company in Wailuku, with completion set for January 2028. The one- to three-bedroom apartments are for households earning 60% or less of area median income.
Projects like this won’t change prices overnight, but they add long-term rental options in an area with strong demand for long-term housing.
What should you check before buying in Wailuku or Kahului?
- Flood zones. Parts of Central Maui sit near streams and drainage channels. Check the flood zone before you make an offer, especially if you’ll need a mortgage.
- Association rules. Planned communities like Kehalani have homeowner associations with their own rules and fees. Read the documents and budget for the dues.
- Commute patterns. Central Maui is a good base, but if you work in Lahaina, Kฤสปanapali or Wailea, test the drive at rush hour before you commit.
- Utility costs. Electricity rates on Maui have risen sharply this year. Ask the seller for recent bills so you know what to expect.
My Take: What I’m Telling People Moving to Maui
If your priority is a single-family home for full-time living, I think Central Maui deserves a serious look. Wailuku’s year-to-date median of $1,040,000 sits well below the countywide $1,225,000, and with 85 Wailuku sales and 67 Kahului sales through August, there’s a real market to compare.
The two towns are moving differently. Wailuku’s single-family median is down 13.3%, which may give buyers room to negotiate, while Kahului is about flat with more sales than last year. Wailuku condos went the other way, up 7.2%, so I wouldn’t assume every Central Maui segment is softening.
Before an offer, I’d pull the flood zone, the HOA budget for any planned community, and a year of electric bills. Those three items can change your monthly cost as much as a modest difference in price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wailuku or Kahului cheaper than Kฤซhei?
For single-family homes, yes. RAM’s year-to-date medians through August 2026 were $1,040,000 in Wailuku and $1,100,000 in Kahului, compared with $1,250,000 in Kฤซhei.
What is the population of Wailuku and Kahului?
The 2020 Census counted 17,697 residents in Wailuku and 28,219 in Kahului.
What’s close to homes in Central Maui?
Parks, libraries, and short drives to major employers, shopping, the airport and medical care.
Are there condos in Wailuku?
Yes. Wailuku had 49 condo sales from January through August 2026, at a $630,000 median.
Comparing areas? See my companion guides to buying in Upcountry Maui: Kula, Makawao and Pukalani, Maui condo prices by area in 2026, and Maui electricity rates in 2026.
Ask Benjamin
Wailuku and Kahului don’t always make the travel brochures, but they’re where much of Maui lives and works. I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and if you’d like to tour Kehalani, old Wailuku or Kahului’s established subdivisions, or see what’s on the market right now, call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.
Sources: REALTORSยฎ Association of Maui August 2026 market report; U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census and American Community Survey QuickFacts); Maui Now and The Maui News on Kehalani Apartments (Sept. 2026).
Talk to Benjamin Finnerty, Your Maui REALTOR®
This guide was written by Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with The 808 Team at Keller Williams Realty Maui, based in Kīhei. Whether you’re buying, selling, or planning a move to Maui, I’m happy to answer your questions, no pressure.
📞 Call or text: 808-481-9748
✉️ Email: benjamin@the808team.com
🌐 Website: benjamin.the808team.com
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