Photo: Karsten Winegeart via Unsplash
Quality of Life in Waihee Waiehu, HI
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
136% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Waihee Waiehu, HI for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $39k | $73k |
| Comfortable | $114k | $167k |
| Luxury | $167k+ | $259k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $196k+ | $304k+ |
75%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
4 within 10 miles
Gas
15 within 10 miles
Hospital
2 within 20 miles
Airport
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Post Office
USPS — Waihee Waiehu, HI
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Waihee Waiehu, a census-designated place on Maui’s north shore, is an affluent, family-oriented community where the cost of living index of 236 (more than double the U.S. average) reflects its desirability and limited housing supply. The area attracts a mix of long-time local families, professionals commuting to Kahului and Wailuku, and remote workers drawn by the balance of suburban quiet and ocean proximity. With a median home value of $778,600 and a median rent of $2,442, Waihee Waiehu sits firmly in Maui’s upper-middle housing tier, appealing to those who prioritize space and a slower pace over urban convenience.
Cost of living, housing, and affordability compared to Kahului and Wailuku
Waihee Waiehu’s cost of living index of 236 is significantly higher than the national baseline, driven almost entirely by housing and imported goods. The median home value of $778,600 is roughly 10-15% below the Maui County median of about $900,000, making it a relative value within the island’s inflated market. Renters face a median monthly cost of $2,442, which is comparable to Kahului’s $2,500 average but notably higher than Wailuku’s $2,200. The average commute of 21.2 minutes is shorter than Maui’s island-wide average of 25-30 minutes, as most residents work in the central Maui corridor (Kahului, Wailuku, or Kihei). For buyers, the trade-off is clear: lower home prices than coastal resort towns like Kaanapali or Wailea, but still requiring a household income well above $150,000 to afford a mortgage comfortably. Property taxes in Maui County are relatively low (around 0.35% of assessed value), which slightly offsets the high purchase price.
What daily life is like for families: schools, amenities, and local rhythm
Daily life in Waihee Waiehu revolves around its quiet residential streets, proximity to Waihee Beach Park, and the convenience of nearby Kahului’s retail and services. The area is served by Waihee Elementary School (rated 7/10 on GreatSchools) and feeds into Maui Waena Intermediate and Baldwin High School in Kahului, both of which have solid academic reputations. Grocery shopping is done at the Foodland in Kahului (about 10 minutes away) or the smaller Waihee Market for basics. The community lacks a major hospital, but Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku is a 15-minute drive. Outdoor amenities include the Waihee Ridge Trail, a popular 4-mile hike with valley and ocean views, and the Waihee Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge for birdwatching. The area’s rhythm is distinctly suburban: mornings see commuters heading south on Highway 340, afternoons are quiet, and weekends bring families to the beach or local farmers’ markets. There are no nightlife venues within Waihee Waiehu itself; residents drive to Kahului or Paia for dining and entertainment.
Waihee Waiehu is best suited for families, remote workers, and professionals who value space, safety, and a slower pace over walkability or urban amenities. The high cost of living and limited rental inventory mean it is not a starter-home market; most residents are established homeowners or long-term renters with stable incomes. Those who thrive here are willing to trade the convenience of a downtown location for larger lots, ocean breezes, and a tight-knit community feel. For singles or young renters on a budget, the more affordable Wailuku or Kahului neighborhoods may be a better fit. However, for anyone seeking a quiet, family-friendly base on Maui with good schools and reasonable commute times, Waihee Waiehu offers a compelling, if expensive, quality of life.
Crime in Waihee Waiehu, HI
Generally safer than 64% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Waihee Waiehu, a census-designated place on Maui’s north shore, presents a mixed safety profile that requires careful examination. The community’s violent crime rate of 200.2 incidents per 100,000 residents sits below the national average of roughly 380 per 100,000, but its property crime rate of 1,586.9 per 100,000 significantly exceeds the national figure of approximately 1,954 per 100,000. These statistics, however, must be weighed against the broader context of Maui County and Hawaii’s state-level criminal justice policies, which have increasingly adopted progressive approaches that can undermine public safety.
Crime in context
When compared to the state of Hawaii, Waihee Waiehu’s violent crime rate is slightly lower than the statewide average of approximately 250 per 100,000, but its property crime rate is notably higher than Hawaii’s average of around 2,900 per 100,000. The community benefits from its semi-rural character and relatively low population density, which naturally reduces certain types of street crime. However, the broader Maui County area has experienced challenges linked to Hawaii’s progressive judicial philosophy. The state’s “justice reinvestment” initiatives and bail reform policies, championed by liberal district attorneys and judges, have prioritized reducing incarceration and diverting offenders from jail. While intended to address systemic inequities, these policies have resulted in higher recidivism rates and more property crimes committed by repeat offenders who cycle through the system without meaningful consequences. Residents of Waihee Waiehu should be aware that the lenient approach to non-violent property crimes in particular has emboldened some offenders, contributing to the elevated theft and burglary numbers.
What residents experience
Daily life in Waihee Waiehu is shaped by a tension between its peaceful natural setting and the reality of opportunistic crime. Vehicle break-ins and package thefts are the most commonly reported property crimes, especially in areas near the Waihee Beach Park and along Kahekili Highway where tourist traffic provides cover for thieves. Residents report that unlocked cars and visible valuables are frequent targets, a pattern exacerbated by the county’s limited police resources and the state’s reluctance to prosecute low-level thefts. Violent crime is rare but not absent; incidents are typically domestic in nature or related to disputes among known individuals rather than random attacks. The community’s strong neighborhood watch presence and tight-knit social networks provide some deterrent effect, but these informal systems cannot fully compensate for a justice system that often fails to hold offenders accountable.
Neighborhood-level variation within Waihee Waiehu is modest but noticeable. The newer subdivisions closer to the Waihee Ridge Trailhead tend to have lower crime rates due to higher home values and more vigilant homeowners. In contrast, the older rental-heavy areas along Waiehu Beach Road and near the Waihee Community Center see more frequent property crime incidents. Proximity to the larger Kahului-Wailuku metro area, which has its own elevated crime rates, also influences local safety—criminals from those areas occasionally target Waihee Waiehu’s more affluent homes. For prospective residents, the key takeaway is that while Waihee Waiehu is safer than many mainland communities of similar size, the progressive criminal justice policies at the state and county level create an environment where property crime is a persistent concern that requires proactive personal security measures.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-24T11:37:06.000Z
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