By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: Māʻalaea condos sold at a $512,500 median from January through September 2026, down 17.9% from $624,500 a year earlier, on 14 sales both years, per the REALTORS® Association of Maui. Several Māʻalaea complexes are also part of the County’s hotel-rezoning debate, which will decide whether they can keep vacation rentals after Bill 9.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui. Māʻalaea condos sit just west of Kīhei along Māʻalaea Bay, and they come up often when buyers compare South Maui options. It’s a small market, almost entirely condos, and it’s caught in the middle of Maui’s biggest zoning question. Here’s what the data and the County’s process show as of October 2026.

Where is Māʻalaea, and what’s there?

Māʻalaea is a small harbor community on Maui’s south-central coast, between Kīhei and the road to West Maui. It’s home to Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor, a State of Hawaiʻi harbor, and the Maui Ocean Center aquarium. Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge sits between Māʻalaea and North Kīhei.

Housing here is mainly low- and mid-rise condo buildings along the bay. Many were built as apartment-zoned condos and have long operated as vacation rentals, which is why zoning matters so much for prices.

What are Māʻalaea condo prices in 2026?

Prices are lower than last year, with the same number of sales. Here are RAM’s figures, as of its report dated October 1, 2026, with nearby areas for comparison:

Condo area (Jan–Sep)	2026 sales	2026 median	2025 median	Change
Māʻalaea	14	$512,500	$624,500	-17.9%
Kīhei	222	$596,000	$675,000	-11.7%
Nāpili/Kahana/Honokōwai	106	$537,500	$610,000	-11.9%
All Maui County	620	$655,000	$702,500	-6.8%

With so few sales, a single transaction can swing the median. In September 2026 alone, three Māʻalaea condos sold at a $249,500 median, while the one August sale closed at $920,000. RAM shows no single-family home sales in Māʻalaea so far in 2026. For more context, see my Maui condo prices by area breakdown.

How does Bill 9 affect Māʻalaea condos?

Bill 9 (Ordinance 5909, signed December 15, 2025) phases out vacation rentals in apartment-zoned buildings on the Minatoya List, with the phase-out outside West Maui set for the end of 2030. For Māʻalaea buildings on that list, the long-term value depends heavily on whether they win hotel zoning under Bill 88 (Ordinance 6008), which created the new H-3 and H-4 hotel districts and took effect June 22, 2026.

Here’s where Māʻalaea properties stand, based on County actions reported by Maui Now:

• First batch: Hono Kai and Milowai-Māʻalaea were included in Resolution 26-110 in July. The Maui Planning Commission later recommended approval for only five of that batch’s 48 properties: Hale Kāʻanapali, Kūʻau Plaza, Maui Schooner, Hono Koa and Hana Kai Maui. None are in Māʻalaea.
• Leasehold property: Kanaʻi A Nalu, an 80-unit leasehold property in Māʻalaea, was in a group of leasehold properties the commission recommended denying, citing housing potential.
• Second batch: On September 30, the Council voted 5-4 to refer bills covering 32 shoreline condo complexes in Māʻalaea, Kīhei and West Maui to the Planning Commission, using sea-level-rise and shoreline criteria.

The Council has the final say. If the Planning Commission recommends against a bill, the Council needs six of nine votes to pass it. For the full picture, see my post on the 32 shoreline condos headed to the Planning Commission.

What should I check before buying a condo in Māʻalaea?

Check zoning, tenure, the association’s finances and financing options, in that order.

• Zoning and rental rules: Confirm the building’s zoning, whether it’s on the Minatoya List, and where it stands in the hotel-rezoning process. Also read the association’s own rental rules.
• Fee simple or leasehold: Some Māʻalaea property is leasehold, so check the lease term, rent and renegotiation dates. My leasehold vs. fee simple guide explains the differences.
• Association health: Review reserves, the master insurance policy and any planned or pending special assessments, especially in oceanfront buildings.
• Shoreline exposure: The same shoreline criteria that could qualify a building for hotel zoning can also mean erosion, flood zone and repair issues.
• Financing: Buildings with heavy rental operations can be harder to finance with conventional loans. Ask your lender to review the building early.

My Take: What I’m Telling Māʻalaea Buyers and Sellers

For buyers, Māʻalaea’s 2026 median is below Kīhei’s and the County’s, which is part of why it’s getting a second look. But the discount is tied to real uncertainty. I suggest running the numbers two ways: one assuming the building keeps vacation rentals through hotel zoning, and one assuming it doesn’t and the unit becomes a long-term rental or a primary home. If the purchase only works in the first scenario, the price may not leave enough room for risk.

For sellers, Māʻalaea’s small sample means area medians won’t price your unit. Recent closed sales in your own building, its zoning status and the association’s financial picture will. If your building is in the current referral, buyers will ask about it, so have the documents ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median condo price in Māʻalaea?

From January through September 2026, the Māʻalaea condo median was $512,500 on 14 sales, down 17.9% from a year earlier, per RAM.

Can Māʻalaea condos still be vacation rentals?

For now, legally permitted vacation rentals on the Minatoya List can continue. Under Bill 9, those in apartment districts outside West Maui are set to phase out at the end of 2030 unless the property is rezoned to a hotel district.

Are any Māʻalaea condos being considered for hotel zoning?

Yes. Hono Kai and Milowai-Māʻalaea were in the first batch, and the 32-complex referral sent to the Planning Commission on September 30, 2026 includes Māʻalaea complexes. The Council has not made a final decision.

Is Māʻalaea part of Kīhei?

No. Māʻalaea is its own area in RAM’s market reports, separate from Kīhei, though the two are next to each other along South Maui’s coast.

Ask Benjamin

Māʻalaea is small, but every building has its own story. I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and I’m happy to pull recent sales, zoning status and association details for any Māʻalaea building you’re considering. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: REALTORS® Association of Maui September 2026 report (dated Oct. 1, 2026); Maui Now (July 9, Sept. 29 and Sept. 30, 2026); County of Maui on Bill 9 (Dec. 15, 2025).