Kahului, Hawaii Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Kahului is the largest city in Maui County, Hawaii. Located on the north shore of the island, it is home to approximately 25,000 people. The city is situated in a semi-arid climate zone and enjoys an average of 270 days of sunshine each year.

The history of Kahului dates back to the late 1700s when Spanish settlers first arrived in the area. In 1845, King Kamehameha III established a royal residence in Kahului and this later became the site for Maui’s first courthouse and jail. The city was incorporated as a municipality in 1902 and has since seen rapid population growth due to its strong economy.

The economy of Kahului relies heavily on tourism and is home to some of Hawaii’s top attractions such as Ka’anapali Beach and Haleakala National Park. There are also numerous shops, restaurants, galleries, museums, and cultural centers that draw visitors from around the world. The city is home to several major international companies such as Hawaiian Airlines, Walmart, Bank of Hawaii, and Costco Wholesale Corporation which have helped to drive economic growth over the years.

Kahului is served by three public school districts including Maui District Schools which operates 13 elementary schools; Maui High School; and Kamehameha Schools-Maui which serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Additionally there are several private schools located within the city limits that provide high quality education for students from preschool through college level studies.

Kahului boasts several notable landmarks including Banyan Tree Park which features a large banyan tree planted by a famous aviator; Kanaha Beach Park which offers great surfing opportunities; Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum which showcases the history of sugar cane production on Maui; Iao Valley State Park with its lush landscape; Kahekili Highway with its stunning views of West Maui Mountains; and Wailuku River State Park with its waterfalls and swimming holes.

Population: 20,146
Males: 9,936 (49.3%), Females: 10,210 (50.7%)

Maui County

Zip codes: 96732.

Demographics

Median resident age: 35.9 years
Median household income: $46,656
Median house value: $226,500

Population by Race

Races in Kahului:

  • Filipino (31.7%)
  • Two or more races (24.4%)
  • Japanese (17.4%)
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (9.9%)
  • Hispanic (8.8%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (8.6%)
  • Other Asian (2.7%)
  • American Indian (2.0%)
  • Other race (1.5%)
  • Chinese (0.9%)
  • Korean (0.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: Portuguese (5.3%), German (2.4%), Irish (1.5%), English (1.3%).

Elevation: 40 feet

Land area: 15.2 square miles

Map of Kahului, HI

Population by Education

Kahului is the largest city in Maui County and is the main commercial center on the island. Located on the north shore of Maui, it has a population of about 30,000 people. The population of Kahului is diverse and includes many different ethnicities, including Native Hawaiian, Filipino-American, Japanese-American, Chinese-American and other Asian-Americans. The city also has a large Latino population with Mexican-Americans making up a significant portion of its residents. The median age in Kahului is 38 years old, which is slightly higher than the state median age of 37 years old. About 28% of Kahului residents are under 18 years old and about 19% are over 65 years old.

The economy in Kahului is driven by tourism and retail trade. There are numerous resorts and hotels located in the area that attract tourists from all over the world. Retail trade makes up a large portion of the city’s economy as well, with many stores selling local goods such as jewelry and clothing from local artisans. In addition to these industries, there are also several agricultural operations located near Kahului that produce vegetables for sale in local markets or for export to other parts of Hawaii or even abroad. Agriculture remains an important part of Kahului’s economy today as it has been since its founding in 1845 by King Kamehameha III.

For population 25 years and over in Kahului

  • High school or higher: 71.0%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%
  • Unemployed: 6.1%
  • Mean travel time to work: 20.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Kahului CDP

  • Never married: 29.7%
  • Now married: 52.1%
  • Separated: 1.4%
  • Widowed: 8.7%
  • Divorced: 8.1%

25.7% Foreign born (23.0% Asia).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Kahului:

  • MAUI MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 3 miles; WAILUKU, HI)
  • KULA HOSPITAL (about 14 miles; KULA, HI)
  • LANAI COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 33 miles; LANAI CITY, HI)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Kahului:

  • KAHULUI (about 4 miles; KAHULUI, HI; Abbreviation: OGG)
  • KAPALUA (about 15 miles; LAHAINA, HI; Abbreviation: JHM)
  • LANAI (about 35 miles; LANAI CITY, HI; Abbreviation: LNY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Kahului:

  • HANA (about 34 miles; HANA, HI; Abbreviation: HNM)
  • KALAUPAPA (about 41 miles; KALAUPAPA, HI; Abbreviation: LUP)
  • MOLOKAI (about 47 miles; KAUNAKAKAI, HI; Abbreviation: MKK)

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Kahului:

  • MAUI COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 1,562; Location: 310 KAAHUMANU AVE; Public; Website: www.mauicc.hawaii.edu)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Kahului:

  • KAPIOLANI COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 97 miles; HONOLULU, HI; Full-time enrollment: 4,131)
  • UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA (about 99 miles; HONOLULU, HI; Full-time enrollment: 14,113)
  • HAWAII PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (about 101 miles; HONOLULU, HI; Full-time enrollment: 6,186)
  • HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 102 miles; HONOLULU, HI; Full-time enrollment: 2,787)
  • LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 110 miles; PEARL CITY, HI; Full-time enrollment: 3,511)
  • BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY-HAWAII CAMPUS (about 114 miles; LAIE, HI; Full-time enrollment: 2,273)
  • UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO (about 125 miles; HILO, HI; Full-time enrollment: 2,434)

Schools

Public high school in Kahului:

  • MAUI HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,669; Location: 660 SOUTH LONO AVENUE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Kahului:

  • KAAHUMANU HON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 134; Location: 707 S PUUNENE AVE; Grades: PK – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Kahului:

  • LIHIKAI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 1,149; Location: 335 SOUTH PAPA AVENUE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • MAUI WAENA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL (Students: 1,033; Location: 795 ONEHEE STREET; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • KAHULUI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 859; Location: 410 SOUTH HINA AVENUE; Grades: PK – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Kahului:

  • CHRIST THE KING ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 146; Location: 211 S KAULAWAHINE ST; Grades: PK – 6)
  • EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 95; Location: 520 W ONE STREET; Grades: KG – 6)
  • VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 68; Location: 420 N WAKEA AVE; Grades: UG – UG)
  • MAUI ADVENTIST SCHOOL (Students: 30; Location: 261 SOUTH PUUNENE AVENUE; Grades: 1 – 8)