Aloha Fridays Return to Kapalua: Local Market, Live Music, and Island Aloha

Aloha Fridays in Kapalua

Aloha, and welcome back to the blog!

Maui Land & Pineapple Company Inc. is bringing back one of West Maui's favorite community gatherings, and it is the perfect reason to spend a Friday evening outdoors in Kapalua.  Aloha Fridays offers a wonderful glimpse into the warmth and connection that make this community special.  The event spotlights local vendors, food trucks, and talented musicians and entertainers.

Event Details:

  • Event: Aloha Fridays at Kapalua
  • Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • Location: 1000 Kapalua Drive, Lahaina, HI 96761
  • Admission: FREE and open to the public
  • What to Bring: Guests are encouraged to bring their…

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Update: Maui County Council is continuing to meet on this with the next meeting scheduled for September 9, 2026.

Maui County's Housing and Land Use Committee is looking at rezoning apartment-zoned properties scheduled to phase out short-term rentals per Ordinance 5909 (Bill 9) that are unlikely to convert to affordable housing for a variety of reasons, including mixed zoning on the property, high maintenance fees, sea level rise exposure area.  

On August 5, 2026, the Maui County Council's Housing and Land Use Committee began reviewing properties in the Sea Level Rise Exposure Areas.

This is similar to the last round of council meetings that advanced to the Planning Department for consideration on September 4, 2026 which recommended several…

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Property Spotlight: The Whaler on Ka'anapali Beach
Introducing Whaler 412

Whaler at Kaanapali Beach Condos for Sale

Inside Whaler 412: A Fully Turn-key, Updated Ocean View Condo on KaĘ»anapali Beach

Whaler 412 is an updated one-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium for sale at The Whaler on KaĘ»anapali Beach.  Renovated with a beachy vibe, this single level floor plan is bright and airy, with an open flow to the large outdoor lanai.  The living room and bedrooms both have views of the ocean and beach.  Guests arrive at the property through a beautiful lobby that opens to Koi ponds and Tropical Gardens.  The Whaler is comprised of two buildings, and offers a beachside pool, a fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, a covered parking garage and elevators.  Located at the North end of…

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Maui County STR & Zoning Update, July 29, 2026

Update 8/10/26: Maui County Planning Commission is scheduled to meet on September 4, 2026 to review these ordinances.

On July 24, 2026, the Maui County Council passed two resolutions that would transition over 2000 apartment zoned short-term rentals into new hotel zoning.  The vote was 7-1.  

The properties are currently subject to Ordinance 5909, known as Bill 9, which will phase out short-term rentals in A1 and A2 apartment districts in West Maui on January 1, 2029 and across the rest of Maui County on January 1, 2030. At that time,  uses would be limited to long-term rentals (six months or longer), owner-occupied units, or non-owner-occupied (second homes).

Resolutions 26-110 and 26-111 efer…

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West Maui Condo Market Update: First Half of 2026 

The West Maui condominium market shifted meaningfully between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026. Closed sales rose 22% across the region, from 121 transactions to 148, while median and average sale prices eased and properties spent more time on market before selling. Together, these numbers point to a market with more choice for buyers and more competitive positioning for sellers.

Below is a look at what moved across West Maui overall, then district by district in the Kapalua Resort, Napili/Kahana/Honokowai, Kaanapali, and Lahaina.

West Maui Condos at a Glance

West Maui Condos Mid Year Market Summary 2026

Sales activity picked up notably, with closed transactions climbing from 121 to 148 year over year, a 22% increase.…

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Live Aloha, Give Aloha:
Protecting the Forest That Gives Kapalua Its Water

The Kapalua Resort sits within an expanse of the most extraordinary ahupua‘a on Maui — a traditional land division that runs unbroken from the mountain summit to the sea. It's easy to fall in love with the golden light on the golf courses, the turquoise water at D.T. Fleming Beach, or the quiet elegance of a Kapalua sunset. But none of it exists without what's happening quietly, far above the resort, at the top of the West Maui Mountains.

That's where Pu‘u Kukui begins.

We're kicking off a new series here on the blog called Live Aloha, Give Aloha — a spotlight on the organizationsdoing the real work of caring for Maui, and the many ways you can join in, whether that's…

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Kapalua Bay Villas for Sale

The Kapalua Bay Villas have three ocean-view swimming pools & BBQ areas

Introducing Kapalua Bay Villa 17G1-3

Perched along one of West Maui's most coveted stretches of coastline, Kapalua Bay Villa 17G1-3 offers a rare combination of oceanfront serenity and resort-level convenience. This fully furnished, move-in-ready two-bedroom, three-bathroom condominium is set within the iconic Kapalua Bay Villas community: a gated, low-density enclave known for direct beach access, sweeping Pacific Ocean views, and some of the finest resort amenities in Hawaii.

Kapalua Bay Villas 17G1-3 is updated with beautiful ocean views from every room

Kapalua Bay Villas 17G1-3 features an updated kitchen and dining room with a view of the Pacific and…

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Maui Bill 9, Bill 88 & Short-Term Rental Zoning: What Condo Owners and Buyers Need to Know

Kapalua Bay Villas

The Kapalua Bay Villas are an apartment-zoned condominium located in the Kapalua Resort

This post was originally posted on July 2, 2026, and updated August 15, 2026.

Editor’s Note: Maui’s short-term rental zoning landscape continues to evolve. This article reflects the legislation and proposals under consideration as of its original publication date. Subsequent County Council, Planning Commission and court actions may affect the information discussed below. Please see “Maui Short-Term Rentals: County Council and Zoning Updates” for the most recent developments.  It should be noted that Short Term Rentals (STR), Transient Vacation Rentals (TVR) and…

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Each year, Maui County does two things: assesses the value of the property AND sets new rates for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 1st-June 30th.  The Maui County Council has proposed the rates below for 2026-2027 as well as a summary of how they've changed over the years.

Maui County Property Tax Rates 2026 vs Prior Years

Rates are per $1000 of assessed value.  In 2020, the County introduced a new Tiered assessment.  Prior to that, there was a flat rate per the classification. The ranges of the tiers have been changed since first introduced.

Maui Property Tax Rates 2026, Maui STR Property Tax Rates 2026, Maui Owner Occupant Tax Rates

How have Maui Property Taxes Changed? What increased in 2026 vs. 2025?

  • Owner Occupied/Homeowner.  Tier 1 (0%),  Tier 2 (0%), Tier 3 (-13%)
  • Non-Owner Occupied.  Tier 1 (+6%),…

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May 18, 2026

In a historic meeting, the County of Maui announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. (MLP) to acquire its West Maui water infrastructure, which includes the water supply to the Kapalua Resort.  This acquisition is the latest in an effort to provide more security to West Maui residents an move one of the county's most valuable resources away from private companies and into the hands of the government. 

Maui County has many privately held water companies, which are a vestige of the old sugar and Pineapple Companies.  A lack of water has been cited as a barrier to building much-needed affordable housing for local residents in the wake of the Lahaina fire. 

In…

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