Why visit Wailea
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 30 parks and trails, 32 places to eat, 22 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Oanapuka, Po'olenalena Beach Park and Kamaole Park II.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; February lows average 63°F.
Weather in Wailea
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Wailea
Wailea is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 6,027. Prior to 2010, the area was part of the Wailea-Makena census-designated place. The community was developed in 1971 by a partnership of Alexander & Baldwin and Northwestern Mutual.
From the Wikipedia article Wailea, Hawaii (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks2
Parks, trails and playgrounds30
18 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes32
Fabiani's Italian Restaurant
Restaurant · Italian · 0.5 mi
34 Wailea Gateway Place, Kihei
MonkeyPod Kitchen
Restaurant · 0.5 mi
10 Wailea Gateway Place B-201, Kihei, HI 96753
20 more on the map.
History
Wailea was originally a fishing settlement and its name translates to “water of lea” the goddess of canoe-builders. Legend has it she transformed the area into a beautiful forest for birds and would frequently fly above it to appreciate its beauty. In ancient Hawaiian times natives would settle toward the mountains of Wailea where they grew sweet potatoes (uala) and would venture down to the shore to fish.
In the past two centuries cattle raising became a mainstay of the economy and led to the formation of places such as Ulupalakua Ranch.
From the History section of Wailea, Hawaii on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay22
Shopping7
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of Wailea
101 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°F | 64°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 80°F | 63°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 81°F | 64°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 83°F | 64°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 84°F | 66°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 68°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 69°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 87°F | 69°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 86°F | 68°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 83°F | 67°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 81°F | 65°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Makena Golf Crs 249.1 (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Maui County has had 29 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-10-07: Hurricane Lala (Hurricane)
- 2026-10-07: Hurricane Lowell (Hurricane)
- 2026-09-25: Tropical Storm Nolo (Tropical Storm)
- 2026-04-07: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2025-09-23: Holomua Fire (Fire)
- 2023-08-10: Wildfires And High Winds (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kahului Airport (OGG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 15 miles away.
- Keokea 5 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Kihei 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Kula 8 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Kahului 12 mi north, about 20 min by car
- Pukalani 12 mi northeast, about 19 min by car
- Waikapu 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Makawao 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Haliimaile 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Wailuku 15 mi north, about 24 min by car
- Waihee-Waiehu 17 mi north, about 28 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Wailea, HI, Ekrem Canli, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.