Kihei, Hawaii Facts for Kids

"Kihei" redirects here. For other uses, see Kihei (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Kihei Kīhei
Census-designated place
Kihei beach with the West Maui Mountains in the distance
Location in Maui County and the state of Hawaii
Kihei Location in Hawaii
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Maui
Area
• Total	11.75 sq mi (30.42 km²)
• Land	9.36 sq mi (24.25 km²)
• Water	2.38 sq mi (6.17 km²)
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	21,423
• Density	2,287.80/sq mi (883.36/km²)
Time zone	UTC-10 (Hawaii-Aleutian)
ZIP code	96753
Area code(s)	808
FIPS code	15-36500
GNIS feature ID	0361181

Kihei (pronounced KEE-hay) is a sunny town located on the island of Maui in Hawaii, United States. It is a popular spot for both locals and visitors. In 2020, about 21,423 people lived there.

Where is Kihei?
- Kihei's Climate
Who Lives in Kihei?
Getting Around Kihei
- Bus Travel Tips
- Park and Ride Options
Fun Things to Do in Kihei
Kihei's Research Centers
- Whale Research
- Technology and Disaster Help
Gallery
See also

Where is Kihei?

Kihei is on the south side of Maui. It sits on the "leeward" side of the Haleakala volcano. This means it's usually protected from strong winds.

Kihei's Climate

Kihei has a very dry climate. It gets less than 10 inches of rain each year. This makes it a sunny place to visit.

Who Lives in Kihei?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
2010	20,881	—
2020	21,423	2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

Kihei is home to many different people. In 2000, about 16,749 people lived here. By 2020, the population grew to 21,423. The average age of people living in Kihei was 35 years old.

Getting Around Kihei

You can use the Maui Bus system to travel in Kihei. This public bus can take you to places like Kahului and Maalaea. From there, you can connect to many other towns on Maui.

Bus Travel Tips

Buses have limited space for luggage. You can only bring one carry-on sized bag.
Bus fares were stopped after the 2023 Maui wildfires. As of early 2024, riding the bus is still free.

Park and Ride Options

There is a special parking lot called the Kihei Junction Park and Ride. It is a meeting spot for hikers, bikers, and people sharing rides. It's located between Kihei, Lahaina, and Wailuku.

Fun Things to Do in Kihei

Kihei has cool places to visit. The Kihei Aquatic Center is a great spot for swimming. It hosts swim meets and other water activities.

Kihei's Research Centers

Kihei is home to several important research places. These centers study different things.

Whale Research

The main office for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is in Kihei. They work to protect humpback whales and their ocean home.

Technology and Disaster Help

The Maui Research and Technology Park is also here. It includes:

The Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC), which uses powerful computers.
The Pacific Disaster Center, which helps plan for and respond to disasters.

These centers are overseen by the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory (AMOS).