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The Coconut ChroniclesThe MauiRealEstate.com Newsletter
Volume 5, page 2 ...
Coconut Community Spotlight: WailukuLocated on the east flank of the West Maui Mountains and abutting the North Shore of Maui, Wailuku is Maui's home to medical facilities, state and local governments and county courts. It is also one of Maui's most historically rich communities. While Wailuku fell upon some hard times starting in the 50s and 60s, it is experiencing a renaissance with redevelopment and renovation in the downtown area and new development on its peripheries. Wailuku HistoryWailuku has been one of the most populous and important communities in Maui since the pre-contact period. The cool east flank of the West Maui Mountains and abundant water made the area popular for native Hawaiians. High Chief Pi'ilani made the area a political center. Later, Kahekili, the last powerful pre-contact area chief on Maui, chose to call the Wailuku area his home. Kahekili's reign came to an end in 1790 when Kamehamea invaded from the Big Island. The massive battle raged in Wailuku for two days with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. Kamehamea turned the tide in his favor when he brought a canon into the fray. Kahekili and the Maui warriors were forced to retreat into the narrow and steep walled confines of the Iao Valley. Maui's warriors were slaughtered and the Iao River was said to have run red. On and off skirmishes continued for the next couple of years as the people of Maui fought to retain their autonomy. In 1795, Kamehamea invaded again, subduing the island once and for all. While Wailuku remained a population center throughout the 19th century, the community experienced an era of diminished political significance. In 1800 Kamehamea moved to Lahaina and made it the capital of Hawaii. The 19th century was also a time of increased influence from Anglos. Captain Cook arrived off of Kahului Bay in 1778, but the first missionaries did not arrive in Wailuku until 1832. The overthrow of the Hawaiian Government in 1904 resulted in the adaptation of American Style government in the islands. Wailuku was chosen over Lahaina as the county seat of the islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai due to its more modern water system. Wailuku's restored political prominence coincided with a surge in industry. The central valley of Maui became a focal point of sugar cane production and the Wailuku area grew to accommodate the needs of field hands, the Lunas that oversaw field operations and the Sugar Barons. The Sugar Barons resided in an area bounded by North Main and High Street, establishing this area as one of the most prominent addresses on the island for the better part of the twentieth century. Company stores and Japanese owned markets led to the initial growth of store fronts starting in the mid to late 1800s. By the early 1900s, the intersection of main and market was the busiest on island and a reflection of Wailuku's growing prosperity. The Iao Theater was the first movie theater built in all of the Hawaiian Islands in 1927. While Maui may be next to paradise, it is not immune to some of the problems of the mainland. Suburban communities and strip malls led to the decay of many American urban centers after World War II. Wailuku faced some of these problems as well as a diminished sugar cane industry. Many of its old historic buildings began to fall into disrepair. Fortunately, many of the beautiful structures that remain from these bygone eras have avoided the wrecking ball and restoration began to occur throughout the mid to late nineties and continues today. The most important first step was the restoration of the Historic Iao Theater in 1995. The Wailuku area redevelopment plan will ensure that older structures are preserved and restored.
Wailuku ActivitiesWailuku's central valley location means that it is a short distance from everything. Within a short drive is the windsurfing and surfing of the North Shore, the beaches of South Maui and the beaches near Lahaina in West Maui. The community in and of itself has much to offer. Wailuku is the gateway to the beautiful Iao Valley and the West Maui mountains. There are short hikes in and around the Iao Valley state park and the Iao Stream offers the chance to cool off in a number of swimming holes. Waiehu Beach Park and surrounding areas offer a couple of great places to play in the waves if you like to surf or body board. The Waiehu Golf Course in Wailuku is the island's only municipal course and both Sandalwood Course and Dunes at Maui Lani are within ten minutes of Wailuku. The Dunes Course has been selected as one of the 5 best kept secret golf courses in America by Golf Digest. The restored Iao Theater features performances from local theater productions. The Maui Arts and Cultural Center is located right on the outskirts of Wailuku in Kahului. This beautiful facility and its attractions are the envy of much larger mainland attractions. Before taking in a show, there are some good restaurants downtown such as the Saigon Café and Saeng Thai. Wailuku Real EstateWailuku's central location, government facilities, hospitals, natural beauty and history are all an important factor in the area's desirability. Wailuku is also an area with tremendous diversity in housing. From starter condos, to ocean front and mountain estates, Wailuku has it all. Wailuku Condos Wailuku Town Waiehu Wailuku Newer Subdivisions Wailuku Heights Note: Article was originally published in early 2005 and prices have not been updated. Contact Billy and Pete today for a Wailuku Real Estate Market update. Or you can check out the current MLS listings for Wailuku Homes for Sale and Wailuku Condos for Sale. Taste of the TropicsNight time can be a little bit cooler in Maui during January with temperatures in the 60s and even the 50s in places up in the upcountry. These cooler temperatures make it a perfect time for soups. Here is a favorite from Carla's Mom.Roasted Chicken with Wild Rice Soup
1. Prepare rice according to package directions, set aside. Yield: 8 servings Coconut Cultural Calendar
December 17 - February 5 Monday- Tuesday, January 3-4 January 3 - February 7 January 4 - 25 Wednesday, January 5 January 6, 7, 8 & 9 Thursday-Saturday, January 6-8 January 8- February 20 Schaefer International Gallery Opening reception Friday, Jan 7, 5:30 pm Sunday, January 9 Tuesday, January 11, 7:00 pm January 11 - February 15 Wednesday, January 12 Wednesday, January 12 January 13 - February 17 January 13 - February 17 Thursday, January 13 Thursday, January 13 Friday, January 14 Friday- Saturday, January 14-15 January 18 - March 8 January 19 - March 9 Tuesday, January 18 Wednesday, January 19 January 20 - March 17 January 20 Thursday, January 20 January 21, 22, & 23 January 22 - February 5 Saturday, January 22 Sunday, January 23 January 24 - March 21 January 24 - March 14 Wednesday, January 26 Thursday, Jan 27, 7:30 pm Thursday, January 27, 7:00 pm January 28, 29 & 30 Jan 27, 28, 29 & 30 January 28 - February 25 Friday-Sunday, January 28-30 Saturday-Sunday, January 29 - 30
Continued in » Real Estate Market Update
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MauiRealEstate Team : Billy Jalbert : (808) 283-6377 Copyright © 2004-2007 MauiRealEstate.com. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy: Site Map |
For a good
overview of Wailuku and Maui history, it is worth making a visit to the 
The following
calendar highlights some of the cultural events on Maui at places like the Maui Arts and Cultural center and the
Hui No'Eau Arts Center.
