Ever wondered why Maui is called The Valley Isle?

It’s because of the large flatland that seperates the two volcanoes and bridges the east and west sides of the island.

Nestled between the tall green grass and the deep-water harbor…is Kahului.   
 
Kahului is where the locals go…to shop, to dine, to play...

In fact, straight off the plane you can find some of Maui’s best shopping, affordable restaurants, the island’s top kite & windsurfing spot, plus plenty of local history.

When the sugar cane industry emerged in the late 1860’s, Kahului centered entirely around the harbor.

The first railroad on the islands, The Kahului Railroad Company, was completed on Maui in 1897, and carried sugar & pineapples from Wailuku to the wharfs.
Kahului quickly became the lifeline
of the island.

In the 1950’s, the Kahului development company built affordable housing for the cane workers… for many, the dream of home ownership finally became a reality. 

And for this reason, the developers named Kahului “Dream City.”


If you travel southwest of the airport, you can’t miss Kahului Harbor.

This bustling port thrived in the 20th century as Maui’s premiere harbor
And commercial center.

Even today, the island is dependant on this port… it’s the only deep- water harbor where ships can dock 
on the island. 

Gigantic barges carry commodities in
& out of the port daily… from paper products to automobiles, the majority of the island’s goods pass through here.

It is also a popular destination for cruise ships from around the world.…


In World War ii, Japanese submarines attacked the harbor twice…
failing both times.  

In 1943, the Kahului Naval Air Station was established to protect this important seaport.

To this day, the harbor is still a conduit to the rest of the island.

Over-looking the harbor is the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. This $32 million dollar complex offers special events, live performances and art galleries.

The last pineapple cannery in the united states was located in the center of Kahului.

The red bricked building, built in 1926, could processes 90,000 tons of pineapples, and at its peak, made 60 million cans of this sweet tropical fruit per year…


If you are interested in outdoor shopping……on friday mornings the Aloha Friday Farmer’s Market is where you’ll find the Valley Isles’ local farmers offering fresh cut flowers and locally grown produce. Visit the food court for a breakfast or lunch buffet prepared by culinary students. The Aloha Friday Farmer’s Market is open every friday and is located at the Maui Community College.

Saturday mornings the Maui swap meet is a great place to find hand-made Hawaiian clothing and local arts & crafts. Located next to the Kahului post office the swap meet is open every Saturday.

Kahului is also home to the best kite and winsurfing spot on the island.  Kanaha beach, with its low sloping sandy bottom and strong winds, is the ideal location to catch a wave…

Whether you are out for fun, shopping, are interested in culture… or local history…

Kahului has so much to offer…
 
Perhaps Kahului could be your dream city too!