Address Search

Wailuku Real Estate: Homes and Neighborhoods in Maui's County Seat (2026)

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

View over Wailuku town toward Kahului Harbor
Wailuku and Kahului Harbor seen from above town, November 2020. Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer (updated November 13, 2026): Wailuku is Maui's county seat and one of its most active single-family markets. October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) show 10 Wailuku house sales at a $957,500 median, below the countywide $1,179,000, and 3 condo sales at $545,000. Kehalani was among the island's most active neighborhoods. It is a practical choice for buyers who want a central location and some of the island's more attainable single-family prices.

Wailuku sits at the foot of the West Maui Mountains, at the mouth of Iao Valley, just west of Kahului. Its historic town center holds the county and state offices and the courts, and its neighborhoods spread across the slope from older plantation-era streets to newer subdivisions.

The Wailuku area for buyers also takes in Waikapu to the south and Waihee and Waiehu to the north. Here is how it breaks down.

Neighborhoods

Old Wailuku has older single-family homes on hilly streets near the town center. Kehalani is a newer master-planned area with single-family homes and townhomes; it had 2 sales in October. Waikapu, south of town, mixes older homes and newer planned development. Waiehu and Waihee, to the north, are more rural, with larger lots and a golf course; the Title Guaranty Hawaii market report shows one Waihee house sale in October at $725,000.

Wailuku house median, Oct 2026$957,500 (10 sales)
Wailuku condo median, Oct 2026$545,000 (3 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 Wailuku neighborhoods below the West Maui Mountains
Wailuku from the air, February 2010. Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons.

Why buyers look at Wailuku

It is central, close to the hospital, the courts and county offices, and a short drive from the airport. Single-family homes here have often been priced below the island median, which is why first-time buyers often look here first. Weather varies across town: higher neighborhoods near the mountains are cooler and wetter, while lower areas are drier and windier.

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. Most Wailuku investment property is long-term rental. 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.

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.

Wailuku has steep valleys and streams, including Iao Stream, so flood zones and drainage matter on some parcels.

Getting around

From Wailuku, Kahului Airport is about 10 to 15 minutes, Kihei 25 to 35, Lahaina 40 to 55, and Pukalani 25 to 30. 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 $950,000, the owner-occupied math starts by subtracting the $300,000 exemption from $950,000 and applying the tiered rates above, for about $1,072 a year. The same home as a second home in the non-owner-occupied class is roughly $5,938 a year. Check the county's assessment for the actual property.

Wailuku real estate FAQ

How much does a house cost in Wailuku?

The Title Guaranty Hawaii market report shows 10 Wailuku single-family sales in October 2026 at a median of $957,500, below the Maui County median of $1,179,000.

What neighborhoods are part of Wailuku?

Old Wailuku near the town center, Kehalani, Waikapu to the south, and Waiehu and Waihee to the north. Each has different lot sizes, ages of homes and association rules.

What are property taxes on a Wailuku home?

Using Maui County's July 2026 to June 2027 rates, a home assessed at $950,000 would be about $1,072 a year if you live there and get the $300,000 home exemption, or about $5,938 a year as a second home in the non-owner-occupied class, before any minimum tax or credits.

Are there condos in Wailuku?

A few. The Title Guaranty Hawaii market report shows 3 Wailuku condo sales in October 2026 at a median of $545,000, plus townhome communities in newer neighborhoods.

Is Wailuku in a flood zone?

Some areas near streams and valleys are. Check the exact parcel on the state's Flood Hazard Assessment Tool.

How far is Wailuku from Kahului Airport?

Our estimate is about 10 to 15 minutes in light traffic.

Can I rent a Wailuku house nightly?

Generally not without a limited county short-term rental home permit. Most Wailuku investors rent long term.

Can Tony help me buy in Wailuku?

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 Wailuku every day. Call or text (808) 201-3577.

Keep reading

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.

Address Search