Maalaea Photos
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Maalaea, Maui
Maalaea is a small fishing village located in central Maui, in the southern part of the isthmus between the mountain ranges of Haaleakala and west Maui. The town’s Maalaea Harbor accommodates inter-island shipping vessels, whale-watching cruises and boat charters. Snorkeling and diving excursions to the tiny offshore island of Molokini depart from here.
The harbor is also famous for the visiting humpback whales in winter and for the renowned fastest rideable wave, the tubular-perfect Maalaea Pipeline wave. The wave is produced when a southerly swell hits Maui.
A proposal to blast a new harbor entrance to improve the harbor’s safety during stormy weather threatens to destroy the Maalaea surfbreak as well as Maalaea’s marine habitat. The proposal has been lobbied against by locals, surfers and environmentalists.
Located near the harbor is the famed Maui Ocean Center, where different marine species can be viewed up close. Along the harbor are condominiums, restaurants, specialty and dive shops.
Nearby is the 691-acre Kelia Pond Bird Sanctuary, which is home to many native species of birds including the Hawaiian stilt and coot and hawskbill turtles. Maalaea Bay is also a humpback whale sanctuary.
Based on a 2000 census survey, 454 people resided in the 7.7- square mile (20 square kilometer) town surrounded by fields of sugar cane. The population was dominantly Caucasians (85.90%). Asians are approximately 6.61% of the population, and Latinos account for 4.41%. Native Hawaiians make up only 1.54% of the population.
Maalaea’s zip code is 96753.
Maalaea Overview
- Small fishing town on Maui's south coast
- Snorkeling/dive tour boats to nearby Molokini depart from here
- Maui Ocean Center located here
Location: Maui's south shore
