Kihei stretches along the sunny southwest coast of Maui, a string of beach parks and low-rise condominiums that has become the island's most popular base for budget-minded visitors. The weather is the main selling point — Kihei sits in the rain shadow of Haleakalā and gets far less rain than the resort areas further north, so the sunshine is close to guaranteed.
The beaches are excellent. Kamaole Beach Parks I, II, and III are wide sandy crescents with good swimming and snorkelling. Keawakapu Beach at the south end of town is quieter and arguably the most beautiful. In winter (December to April), humpback whales are visible from the shore — Kihei is one of the best spots in Hawaii for whale watching without even getting on a boat.
The town itself is more strip mall than charming village — a long stretch of South Kihei Road lined with shops, restaurants, and rental agencies. But the food has improved enormously, with good poke, plate lunches, and a growing number of casual restaurants worth seeking out. Kihei is also the jumping-off point for snorkelling trips to Molokini Crater, a half-submerged volcanic caldera with crystal-clear water offshore. The Kalepolepo Fishpond in north Kihei preserves an ancient Hawaiian aquaculture site dating to the 15th century. At the south end, the lava fields and marine reserve at La Pérouse Bay make a worthwhile excursion.