Kaanapali vs Kihei on Maui? Deciding where to stay we loved Waikiki this past December!

Totally different places. Kihei is laid back. Kaanapali is a bit more ritzy and has the big hotels. Both are great. Depends what you like!

We love beach time and good food, our girls loved the shopping in Waikiki so a little of everything I guess!

Just don’t expect the same shopping as Honolulu

Look up Lahaina too! Stayed there last time and loved it.

My vote would be Kihei. Kaanapali is too commercialized.

We have been to both numerous times. It really depends what you like. Kihei is more laid back, there's lots of local restuarants and mom and pop coffee shops on s. Kihei road. Kaanapali is more grande and big hotels etc. Kihei's weather is known to be drier. I personally like Kihei better, but everyone is different.

Both have nice beaches:)

I heard it was drier
leaning towards Kihei

Kīhei was excellent. Lots of turtles to swim with!!

Kihea hands down.

My family loves Kihei. Great beaches, small, walkable town. Lots of sea turtles. If you want some lovely souvenir shopping I recommend the 20 min drive up to Paia.

Kihei is cheaper. Kaanapali is very pricey! I would personally stay in Lahaina

Kihei. Such an easy-going place, lots of places to walk. Kaanapali seemed too ritzy. Drove everywhere. We definitely had better weather in Kihei! We stayed at Sugar Beach, N. Kihei Rd. Loved it.

I just stayed in kaanapali and didn't find there to be too much to be there other then the Maui brew pub was awesome.... Kihei I found to be super busy, I would say Lahaina over both of them....

I prefer Kihei
Best beaches
And lots of restaurant choices.

Sarah Langton-Gushue here is some info for you.

Maui!!!!!!

Maui is very touristy. Haven’t been to the other islands tho.

been to all, still a Waikiki person at best

We went there last March for the first time and had the same question regarding where to stay. We choose Kaanapali because we wanted a resort / vacation type feel with lush greenery, etc. and it did not disappoint. Loved it there! Was worried it was going to rain all the time but it did not rain at all. We did do a day trip to Kihei and found it just a regular town, with strip malls, less greenery etc. and we did not really want this experience ourselves. Nothing wrong with either, just depends on what type of holiday you want. I think next time (and we are going back for sure) we might rent a vrbo somewhere inland for a lot less money and just do day trips with the rental. (Used Maui cruisers ) All the beaches were nice, wherever we went on Maui. Fly in early enough so you can go to Costco by the airport which helps with costs if you will have a kitchen.

www.vrbo.com/702266
VRBO.COM
Our family Maui Condo..A home away from home. - vrbo

Mahalo all for your help in deciding leaning towards Kihei

Kihei for sure but take a day trip up to black Rock snorkelling there and the beach worth the day trip. Parking at Sheraton there is twenty bucks but order drinks in their bar on the beach and they will validate your parking

Also charley young beach in Kihei has a webcam so u can check out one of their several beaches from home

There is a free public parkade, connected to the Sheraton's parkade structure access right on the road. It is to the right of the beach path! Not very large, maybe 20 spaces so we went about 8 am to snorkel at Black Rock. This worked out nicely because it wasn't too busy there yet. And it gets really busy when all the hotel guests wander out onto the beach after breakfast. There are several such public parkades that were all free. And if you park at Whaler's Village, get them to validate your parking. Just buy something.

Kihei for sure. Best beaches, fun restaurants, lots of hotel resorts. Just spent five days in Kaanapali - beaches are eroding. Go to Big Beach south of Wailea too!

Thank you

big beach makena 1978

Mark wow so cool

I've stayed in both. Kaanapali we found sleepy, beaches were Ok, but everyone was older. We're in our 40's and not into partying but everything closed down after dark.
Kihei.... beautiful beaches and walkable town. I recommend staying by Kam III beach. We always rent a car so we can tour the island and Kihei is more central for that.
When we were on Oahu we stayed away from Waikiki... too touristy!