Hawaiian legend has it that the Hawaiian goddess of canoe builders, Lea, transformed into a forest bird and would fly over the shores of this amazingly beautiful coast. Eventually, locals named the area Wailea, which means “water of lea.”
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Wailea’s 1,500 acres of land are bordered by majestic mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In ancient times, Hawaiians lived and planted sweet potatoes on the slopes of the mountains, Haleakala mauka. Then they would venture to the Pacific Ocean shores to fish for food. The Great Mahele land redistribution, proposed by King Kamehameha III in the 1830s and enacted in 1848, initiated the development of these slopes as a cattle-raising area which led to the eventual formation of the Ulupalakua Ranch.
During World War II, the shores of Wailea served as a training area for the Marines in the Pacific Theater. After the war, Matson Navigation Company purchased the 1,500-acre of land with a plan to expand their hotel operations in Maui. Before any development happened, Matson was acquired by Alexander & Baldwin. In 1971, Alexander & Baldwin partnered with Northwest Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee to create the Wailea Development Company and began developing the land.
Today, Wailea is a well-known luxurious resort community in Hawaii. It is located in South Maui, around 30 minutes away from Kahului Airport. The area is landscaped by stunning beaches, championship-caliber golf courses, high-class restaurants, and up-class resorts and residences. Wailea’s amenities allow visitors and residents a sense of privacy, serenity, and freedom.
There are six major resort hotels in Wailea, such as the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Aside from premium hotel resorts, the community also offers exquisite homes and condominiums. All of these have an amazing view of the beaches and mountains.
With 1.5 miles of shoreline, Wailea is the home of many stellar beaches, such as Keawakapu Beach and Makena Beach State Park. The area’s signature beaches are Wailea Beach, voted in 1999 as “America’s Best Beach”, and Polo Beach, an excellent swimming and snorkeling spot.
For those in the mood for shopping, The Shops at Wailea is another perfect place to visit. It is the only place in Maui that houses luxury boutiques such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, St. John, Coach, and Baron & Leeds. The Shops at Wailea is also the perfect place to check out island-style fashion, art galleries, jewelry stores, restaurants, and entertainment.
Wailea’s beautiful topography, coupled with the vast number of fun-filled activities it offers, has made it one of the most popular destinations in Hawaii. It is also the prime residential choice for people who want to savor island life in luxury. The premium neighborhoods in Wailea are Wailea Golf Vistas, Wailea Golf Estates, Wailea Highlands, Wailea Pualani, Wailea Beach Villas, and Maluhia at Wailea.
Wailea Golf Vistas
Wailea Golf Vistas is a small gated subdivision surrounded by the Wailea Blue Golf Course. It consists of 34 home sites on a 17-acre development. The lot sizes in the area range from 11,000 to 18,000 square feet. Wailea Golf Vistas homes sell for premium prices due to their excellent location, amazing ocean views, and access to other amenities of the Wailea Resort. This area makes for an excellent home or property investment.
Wailea Golf Estates
Wailea Golf Estates offers residents privacy in a gated neighborhood located on the Wailea Blue Golf Course. It consists of 60 homesites on a 30-acre development. Lots in this area range in size from 12,000 to 20,000 square feet. Located in the heart of Wailea Resort, Wailea Golf Estate homes have easy access to all amenities and an excellent ocean view. Properties in the neighborhood tend to fetch premium prices.
Wailea Highlands
Wailea Highlands is located just below the Hotel Wailea and is bordered by the Wailea Blue Golf course. The 14.5-acre development has 24 lots. It is the smallest gated neighborhood in Wailea but has the biggest land cuts. Lots range in size between 20,000 to 30,000 square feet. The West Maui Mountains and the islands of Molokini and Lanai are all visible from many of the lots. It is also near three of Wailea’s most renowned golf courses and several high-class hotels. It has seen the highest-priced non-oceanfront home sales in the resort.
Wailea Pualani
Wailea Pualani offers some of the most luxurious homesites in Maui. The area has a private 2.5-acre park with an excellent view of the Pacific Ocean. This 32-acre development has more than 90 lots, all within a few minutes' drive to Shops at Wailea, world-class restaurants, and famed resorts and beaches. It is also within a 10-minute drive from Kihei, where schools, businesses, and restaurants are located.
Wailea Beach Villas
Wailea Beach Villas has become the premier property in Maui. It is located in front of the world-famous Wailea beach, next to the Grand Wailea and The Shop at Wailea. The 10-acre development has 99 villas with options between 2 bedroom/2 bathroom and three-bedroom/3.5 bathroom units. Concierge services, valet, a fitness center, conference room, entertainment lounges, gated entry, and on-site security are among the many top amenities of the development.
Maluhia at Wailea
Maluhia at Wailea is the only gated, beach-front, single-family community in the area. There are a total of 14 lots, 5 of which are oceanfront close to an acre each, and nine non-oceanfront parcels close to half an acre each. Each home has a pool. Its stellar location allows easy access to the beach and gives a panoramic ocean view.
Wailea is an amazing place to live with the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean on one side and the refreshing green color of the mountains on the other. If you are looking to buy or sell a property in this community, Maui Property can help you. Our team has a wealth of knowledge in dealing with real estate in Wailea. You can visit our website to see the available listings. Our website allows you to save your searches and subscribe to email alerts as new listings become available. For further assistance or information, call us at 808-269-3500 or message us through our contact form.