As Maui's light industrial and retail center, Kahului is the island's largest town and sits along central Maui's north shore. Even though steady development has changed the area's natural tropical landscape, the town more than makes up for it with its affordable real estate, commercial shopping centers, and healthy arts scene. Alongside malls and major department stores, popular restaurants such as Koho's, Ichiban, and Restaurant Matsu line the town's streets. While big box stores like Home Depot and Wal-Mart have setup shop in Kahului to provide necessities for the surrounding population, local farmers, conscious consumers, and environmental advocates continue to promote self-sustainability through farmers markets, seminars, and "green development" of homes and condominiums. Despite its proximity to the island's major airport, Kahului is not recognized as a tourist destination. For the most part Kahului neighborhoods consist of condos and single-family homes. Residents can enjoy Maui's natural beauty at nearby Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanaha Beach County Park, and the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, or visit a piece of history that is the Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum. World-renowned social leaders, artists, music groups, and many more often visit Kahului at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Since the 1960s, Maui's population has been on a steady incline. With an increased population, the area's real estate needs have expanded, placing Kahului and the neighboring town of Wailuku in constant planning of future condominium and home developments. Such planning has been essential to the health of Kahului's real estate market, allowing condo and homeowners to enjoy both the benefits of Hawaii's traditionally steady real estate market and Maui's creative growth. |
