Tell me about Kihei and Lahaina compared to Waikiki (extended stay, to buy)

[Travelin' Guy]

Thanks got the tips. Can I live in Lahaina and bus to Kaanapali for a job?

I'll post what I think of Lahaina after living there for a little while.

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by Travelin' Guy

Can I live in Lahaina and bus to Kaanapali for a job?

The bus system has gotten much better/more reliable. The remaining unknown is whether there are any resort marketing jobs in Ka'anapali.

There are more jobs than there were a few months ago, but the better-paying ones tend to go to people already here unless your qualifications make you an immediate star/rainmaker.

Since you seem flexible, you'll likely find work of some sort. In addition to the bus system, there's a fairly extensive casual network for ride-sharing. A lot of Ka'anapali employees live on the other side of the island, and pass right through Lahainatown on their way to/from work.

Best of luck.

[Calico Salsa]

Maui Bus does run within the Lahaina - Kaanapali area. Check their PDF schedule to know where exactly it stops, so you can know if you will live/work near those stops. Also the bus doesn't run 24 hours a day; it will depend on your shift as to whether some of this will work out for you.

You can download the schedule here:
Maui County, HI - Official Website - Bus Service Information

Fare is $1.00 per leg, but they also have monthly passes.

[winkosmosis]

I'm moving to Kihei as soon as my lease in Wailuku is up. It's going to be worth it driving to work and parking in the street, so I can walk to the beach and actually be around young people, participate in a nightlife, etc.

South Kihei and Wailea is the one part of Maui where I really feel at home.

[Koale]

You have to realize that Maui is not that big of an Island. It takes 10 minutes
to drive from Wailuku/Kahului areas to Kihei. Wherever you end up will provide beaches and some sort of 'night life'. Maui is pretty happening anywhere you go after the sun goes down. Paia is buzzed all night long. Kihei jumps and Lahaina is pretty happening. The Island is terrific.
Koale

[Calico Salsa]

I find the comments on Kihei having a nightlife really intriguing. The hot spots seem to be the Kalama Village area, but other than that block of bars & pubs, where else?

The resorts in Wailea have some nightlife, but usually have more of an expectation of visitor-based standards...not too casual, and not too rowdy.

Henry's is gone, right?

I'm curious because I tend to think of Kihei as not much nightlife at all, compared to most other urban areas.

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by Calico Salsa

I find the comments on Kihei having a nightlife really intriguing. The hot spots seem to be the Kalama Village area, but other than that block of bars & pubs, where else?

The resorts in Wailea have some nightlife, but usually have more of an expectation of visitor-based standards...not too casual, and not too rowdy.

Henry's is gone, right?

I'm curious because I tend to think of Kihei as not much nightlife at all, compared to most other urban areas.

Yeah, Kalama is what I'm talking about. More nightlife than Wailuku, that's for sure.

Lahaina probably has better nightlife but I get the impression it's fewer permanent residents and more transients and short termers.

[boodhabunny]

Kihei nightlife seems to have a younger crowd than Lahaina. Maybe it's my imagination but that's the impression I've gotten.

I know lots of people in Kihei who commute to Ka`anapali to work in the hotel/restaurant trade. The commute gets old for them fast.

[Calico Salsa]

Got it, thanks!

Sometime back Wailuku started First Fridays, a once-a-month evening street closure & party. It began with lots of music, but I'm not sure the music part has continued.

Kihei crowd does seem younger than Lahaina, and I would agree that's probably because Kihei's night population is more local-living. Lahaina nightlife seems to be more visitors. If someone wants either the high-30s upwards, or more changeover in the people, Lahaina is a good choice. If someone wants a younger and more regular crowd, then Kihei.

Kiwi Roadhouse just opened up about 6 weeks ago, and I'm told that seems to have a kind of biker bar feel, but friendly. They have live music in the evenings and are open for breakfast too. They are on Lipoa, in the same mini mall that now has a Farmers Market on Saturdays.

[whynot?]

We've actually heard spring break kids complaining on the beach that "Maui is dead" and they're "going back to Waikiki." If I could say "good riddance" in Hawaiian, I would (with aloha, of course), but I think another reason that Lahaina's so-called-nightlife is "older" is that it comprises all of West Maui: waiters, retail clerks, tourist activity barkers, realtors, restaurateurs, and other business owners.

Our friends who "go out" cut across the spectrum from 20-somethings to 60-somethings, and include people who commute to Lahaina as well as those who live here. But West Maui is so cut off from the rest of the island, that if you want to go out, you just tend to end up in the few places that are open late in/around Lahaina. No matter how old you are.

Just my humble observation. I go to bed at 8 most nights.