Wailuku
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Wailuku, located on Maui, is the seat of Maui County. Unlike the commercial center of Kahului, Wailuku has a small-town plantation feel centered around its Main Street. Several buildings in Wailuku are registered as historic places. It is also the gateway to nearby Iao Valley and Iao Needle.Get in
By plane
- Kahului Airport is a major airport about 10 minutes away, in nearby Kahului. This airport has flights to many Hawaiian Islands, mainland, Alaska, and Vancouver, Canada.
- Honolulu International Airport, while not on Maui, is the most common way to get to Wailuku. Flights from around the world fly to here, and then take a short flight to the Kahului Airport.
By car
From Kahului, follow Kaahumanu Avenue (Hwy 32) west. Kaahumanu Avenue turns into Main Street after passing an overpass and viaduct. To get to Iao Valley, continue past High Street (Hwy 30) for about 0.5 mile, then take the fork in the road onto Iao Valley Road.By Bus
Maui Bus 20 runs from Lahaina to Kahului through Wailuku.Get around
The four main streets in Wailuku are:
- Main Street (highway 32), which runs east to west from Kaahumanu Avenue into Iao Valley.
- Market Street (highway 330), which runs roughly north-south and intersects Main Street in the center of Wailuku town. The north part passes through the neighborhood of Happy Valley.
- Lower Main Street, which begins at the Main Street overpass and runs roughly southwest to northeast to Waiehu Beach Road and then connects to Kahului Beach Road to Kaahumanu Avenue. This is often a good alternate route if Kaahumanu Avenue is congested.
- High Street (highway 30), which begins at the state office building on Main Street and runs south toward Lahaina, turning into Honoapiilani Highway.
See
Iao Valley State ParkKnown for the natural rock formation known as Iao Needle, the state park is also the site of several historic battles and the burial place of important chiefs. No hiking allowed in the park except on paved paths. Free.
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phone: +1 808 244-3326address: 2375-A Main StBuilt in 1833 on the royal compound of high chief Kahekili, and the site of a female seminary and the home of artist Edward Bailey until 1888, the Bailey House now serves as a museum showcasing Hawaiian artifacts, period furnishings, and the paintings of Edward Bailey.
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phone: +1 808 242-6969address: 68 N Market StLive community theater in a historic building.
Eat
Alas, Ooka Super Market, once the main supermarket in Wailuku, is no more. At one point, the only full-service supermarket in Wailuku was Sack N Save, at 790 Eha Street (corner of Eha St and Waiehu Beach Road), but branches of Safeway (58 Maui Lani Parkway, across Baldwin High School) and Foodland (370 Kehalani Village Drive) have since opened. You can find a smaller selection at Takamiya Market on Market Street; they also serve a wide selection of ready-to-eat food. Whole Foods Market is about 10 minutes away in Kahului.
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Tasty Crust
phone: +1 808 244-0845address: 1770 Mill StDon't let the surroundings or the decor deter you (it's in the middle of an old-style industrial park, and the decor is old-style Americana). This restaurant is very popular among local Mauians. The big draw at this restaurant is breakfast; their tagline is "World Famous Pancakes."
Sleep
Banana BungalowNot the cleanest, but a fun party hostel in Wailuku. Good place to meet people. Not the best area at night. $45-120.
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phone: +1 808 986-8095address: 2080 W Vineyard StMale and female dormitory spaces in air-conditionded rooms, as well as quiet private rooms. Private rooms have either one double bed (full) or one double bed + one single bed (twin).