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Kahului Real Estate: Homes, Townhomes and Condos in Central Maui (2026)

By Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR (RS-66616), The Kawaguchi Group, eXp Realty (RB-21841). Selling in Hawaii since 2005. Updated November 13, 2026.

Aerial view of Kahului Harbor and the town around it
Kahului Harbor from the air, October 2014. Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer (updated November 13, 2026): Kahului is Maui's commercial hub and one of its main year-round residential areas, with the airport, harbor, big-box stores and subdivisions of single-family homes and townhomes. October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) show 3 Kahului house sales at a $1.0 million median and 6 condo sales at a $277,500 median. For buyers, it is often the most practical place on Maui to live day to day.

Kahului sits on the flat isthmus between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains. It has the island's main airport, its commercial harbor and most of its larger stores. Neighborhoods range from older plantation-era subdivisions near the harbor to newer master-planned areas on the south side of town.

Because it is central, many people who work anywhere on the island live in Kahului or neighboring Wailuku. Here is what the market looks like this fall and what to check before buying.

Neighborhoods and housing types

Older Kahului subdivisions near the harbor and the shopping district have smaller single-family homes on modest lots, many expanded over the years. Newer master-planned neighborhoods such as Maui Lani on the south side add single-family homes, townhomes and condos with association dues. Kahului also has a small condo segment, which is why its condo median is much lower than Maui's overall; Harbor Lights was among the Maui complexes with a sale in October.

Kahului house median, Oct 2026$1.0 million (3 sales)
Kahului condo median, Oct 2026$277,500 (6 sales)
Maui County house median, Oct 2026$1,179,000

These are October 2026 median prices from the Title Guaranty Hawaii market report for Maui (effective November 2, 2026). Title Guaranty is a Hawaii title and escrow company, and its free monthly report compiles the island board's MLS sales statistics. One month is a small sample, so treat any single-area median as a starting point and look at actual comparable sales.

Aerial view of the Kahului Airport terminal and nearby coast
Kahului Airport and the north coast, 2005. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Living centrally

Kahului's appeal is convenience: the airport, shopping and services are minutes away, and the main highways to South Maui, West Maui, Upcountry and the North Shore all start here. It is breezy and drier than the North Shore, with less rain than Haiku and less heat than Kihei. Noise near the airport flight paths and the industrial areas is worth checking at different times of day.

Rental rules

Apartment-zoned condos: Maui County's Ordinance 5909 (Bill 9) phases out transient vacation rental use in the A-1 and A-2 apartment districts. In the West Maui community plan area the use must end on January 1, 2029; everywhere else in the county it ends on January 1, 2031. Validly existing timeshare units and uses operating under a variance are exempt, and hotel-zoned properties are not covered. A separate 2026 ordinance created new H-3 and H-4 hotel districts that some apartment-zoned complexes are trying to move into, one property at a time, so a building's status can change; I track it in my Maui rezoning update.

Houses: in residential and agricultural districts, nightly rentals generally need a county short-term rental home or bed-and-breakfast permit, and those permits are limited. Never assume a house can be rented nightly because a previous owner did it. Few Kahului properties are vacation rentals; most investors here rent long term. Owners who rent to the same tenant for 12 months or more can apply for the long-term rental tax class.

Nightly rental income is taxed separately from property tax: the state transient accommodations tax is 11% as of January 1, 2026, each county adds a 3% county TAT, and general excise tax is 4.5% in both Maui County and Hawaii County, so plan on about 18.5% of gross rent before income tax.

Kahului Bay with the West Maui Mountains behind
Kahului Bay and the West Maui Mountains, July 2013. Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons.

Flood maps and hazards

Before you fall for a view, check four maps for the exact parcel: the state's Flood Hazard Assessment Tool for FEMA flood zones, the tsunami evacuation zone map, the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Viewer for shoreline exposure, and the Special Management Area boundary, which adds a permit layer for most work near the shoreline. After the August 2023 wildfires, I also ask about vegetation, defensible space and insurance availability early, especially on dry leeward slopes. Condo buyers should read the association's budget, reserve study and master insurance policy, because master premiums have pushed maintenance fees up across Hawaii.

Low-lying parts of Kahului near the harbor and ponds can fall in flood or tsunami evacuation zones, so check the parcel.

Getting around

Kahului Airport is about 5 to 10 minutes from most of Kahului. Wailuku is 5 to 10 minutes, Kihei 20 to 30, Paia 15, Pukalani 20 to 25, and Lahaina 40 to 55. These are our own estimates for light traffic, not official figures; rush hour, events and road work can add a lot of time.

Land tenure

Most Maui homes sell fee simple, meaning you own the land and the building. Leasehold still shows up, mainly in some condo projects, and when it does, the years left on the lease and the lease rent terms matter as much as the price, because they affect value and financing. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands homestead leases have their own eligibility rules and are not sold on the open market like fee simple homes. On older rural parcels, title can involve kuleana or access questions that a title company should clear before closing.

Property taxes

Maui County taxes by how a property is used, not just what it is worth, so the same house can carry very different bills. If you live in the home full time and qualify, the county's home exemption takes $300,000 off the assessed value and moves you into the low owner-occupied class. To qualify you must occupy the home more than 270 days a year, not rent out the whole property, and file a Hawaii resident income tax return with a Maui County address; the claim deadline for the 2027 assessment year is December 31, 2026.

Source: County of Maui Resolution No. 26-69, FD2. Tiers apply to the portion of value in each band.
Maui County class (FY July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027) Rate per $1,000 of net taxable value
Owner-occupied (with home exemption) $1.65 up to $1.5M; $1.80 from $1.5M to $4.5M; $5.00 above $4.5M
Non-owner-occupied (second homes, most investor homes) $6.25 up to $1M; $9.00 from $1M to $2.5M; $17.00 above $2.5M
Long-term rental (12+ months to the same tenant, exemption granted) $2.90 up to $1.5M; $5.00 from $1.5M to $3M; $8.50 above $3M
TVR-STRH (permitted short-term rentals) $13.00 up to $900K; $15.00 from $900K to $3M; $17.00 above $3M
Hotel and resort / Time share / Apartment $11.80 / $14.90 / $3.50

Illustration only, before any minimum tax or other credits: on a home assessed at $1,000,000, the owner-occupied math starts by subtracting the $300,000 exemption from $1,000,000 and applying the tiered rates above, for about $1,155 a year. The same home as a second home in the non-owner-occupied class is roughly $6,250 a year. Check the county's assessment for the actual property.

Kahului real estate FAQ

How much does a house cost in Kahului?

The Title Guaranty Hawaii market report shows 3 Kahului single-family sales in October 2026 at a median of $1.0 million. Countywide, the Maui single-family median was $1,179,000. With few sales, I use recent neighborhood comparables.

Why are Kahului condos cheaper?

Kahului has a small condo segment with many older and smaller units. Its October 2026 condo median was $277,500 on 6 sales, compared with $634,500 for Maui County.

What are property taxes on a Kahului home?

Using Maui County's July 2026 to June 2027 rates, a home assessed at $1,000,000 would be about $1,155 a year if you live there and get the $300,000 home exemption, or about $6,250 a year as a second home in the non-owner-occupied class, before any minimum tax or credits.

Is Kahului a good place to live if I work elsewhere on Maui?

It is the most central location on the island, with the main highways to South Maui, West Maui, Upcountry and the North Shore starting there, so commutes are often shorter than from the edges of the island.

Can I rent a Kahului house as a vacation rental?

Generally not without a county short-term rental home permit, and those are limited. Most Kahului investors rent long term and can apply for the long-term rental tax class.

Is Kahului in a flood or tsunami zone?

Some low-lying areas are. Look up the parcel on the state's Flood Hazard Assessment Tool and the tsunami evacuation map.

What is Maui Lani?

A newer master-planned neighborhood on the south side of Kahului with single-family homes, townhomes and condos, most with association dues and design rules.

Can Tony help me buy in Kahului?

Yes. My team is based on Oahu, and for Maui purchases we help buyers through eXp Realty's statewide network, including referrals to agents who work Kahului every day. Call or text (808) 201-3577.

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Sources

Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR (RS-66616), The Kawaguchi Group, eXp Realty (RB-21841). Selling in Hawaii since 2005. Phone (808) 201-3577. The Kawaguchi Group is based on Oahu; for neighbor-island purchases we work with buyers through eXp Realty's statewide network, including referrals to agents who work those areas every day. This page is general information, not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice. Market statistics are deemed reliable but not guaranteed and can be revised. Drive times are our own estimates for light traffic and will vary. Photos are of the general area and are not listings.

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