Real Estate In Maui

It is quite understandable why real estate in Maui, Hawaii, is in high demand. Maui is considered one of the most beautiful of all the Hawaiian Islands and has been the vacation spot for visitors from around the world. Thus, although the population of the island itself is very small, it is actually an incredibly diverse and exciting place to live.

A Short History of Maui

Until Captain James Cook discovered Maui in 1778, the Marquesas and Tahitian peoples of Polynesia populated the Hawaiian Islands. After this western discovery, Maui and the islands of Hawaii became an outpost for foreign whalers, traders, and missionaries. The bay-area city of Lahaina became a central refuge for 500 ships.

King Kamehameha I, who conquered it after a bloody fight in the Iao Valley in 1796, united Maui with the rest of the Hawaiian Islands. For almost one hundred years, a succession of kings and queens ruled the Hawaiian Islands, Maui included. The last monarch to reign over the island was Queen Liliuokalani, who was deposed in 1893.

A year later, Hawaii became a republic, and in 1898 it became a possession of the United States of America. In 1900, the islands were named a U.S. territory. The year 1941 brought the U.S. into World War II after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. American statehood was granted to the islands in 1959.

A Quick Description of the Land of Maui

In order to understand the available real estate in Maui, it is good to know about the general geography of the island itself. It has a total area of 729 square miles and is about 48 miles long and 26 miles wide. It's highest point, the dead volcano Haleakala, sits 10,023 feet above sea level.

Maui is shaped rather like a pinched peanut, with the southeastern most landmass about twice the size of the northwestern one. The northern Kahului Bay and the southern Maalaea Bay pinch the island between these two masses, creating a lush valley. It is this valley that gives Maui its nickname: "The Valley Island."

Areas of Real Estate in Maui

There are seven unique regions on the island of Maui. Each region has its own personality and climate. The south and west sides of the island provide beautiful beachfront properties filled with sandy beaches and warm climates. The eastern side is filled with tropical rainforest growth, waterfalls, and black sand beaches.

The Upcountry area of the mainland, where the large volcano Haleakala stands, features a cooler climate with large expanses of green pastureland. A few people reside a mile below the peak of the mountain, where snow lightly falls during the winter months. With so many unique and different climate and region types, it is no wonder the island of Maui is considered one of the hot real estate spots in the world.