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Wailea-Makena, HI
Wailea-Makena real estate offers barefoot luxury and vibrant island living on the second largest island in Hawaii. While known as a first-class travel destination with gold sand beaches and captivating sunsets, the area is also a wonderful place to set down roots. This area is home to seasonal and permanent residents who enjoy the vacation lifestyle year-round.
Properties
Wailea-Makena, HI
MAKENA’S MYSTIQUE
Located in the southern part of Maui, Makena is a special place, even in Paradise, making it one of the most sought-after locations in the world. It feels remote and rural, but it’s also not. And that’s what people love about Makena. It is just a little bit off the beaten path. It also has a mystical quality that is unmatched in Maui — many buyers talk about having a spiritual connection to the place.
The community's crown jewels are the Makena Golf and Beach Resort and Makena Beach State Park. Tee off in Makena Golf and Beach Resort, a 18-hole, private championship course featuring great elevation changes, challenging fairways, and spectacular views overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Makena Beach State Park is an iconic beach in Maui, Hawaii. Covering around 165 acres, the park is home to two beaches (Big Beach and Little Beach) and a plethora of exciting outdoor activities.
With all the amenities that the area has to offer, many would love to make Makena their permanent or second home. Makena's real estate selection includes sprawling waterfront properties, well-designed luxury estates, and custom homes. Whether it's along the water or on the hills, you can expect large-sized lots and upscale amenities with each Makena property
Discover Makena with Maui real estate expert, Tom Tezak. Let Tom and his Lifestyle Maui Team show you the oceanfront and luxury estates in Maui's Makena community in Hawaii. Visit our website today at: https://tomtezak.com/
WHAT WAILEA-MAKENA IS KNOWN FOR
Its pleasant weather and natural bounty make Wailea-Makena a year-round tropical getaway. Peak season typically spans from June to August for summer vacationers as well as the winter months from mid-December to mid-April for snowbirds. Condé Nast Traveler readers consistently rank its resorts and beaches among the best in Hawaii.
Wailea-Makena is also known for luxury travel. In addition to upscale resorts, Wailea offers high-end retail and fine dining. Visitors can look forward to one-of-a-kind experiences that range from having mai tai by a glistening pool to horseback riding and dolphin sightings at La Perouse Bay.
Makena Wailea real estate is particularly known for stately mansions and sleek condos with water, hillside, or golf course views. Some of the finest homes in the area have graced the pages of magazines for exceptional design. There are also several celebrity-owned properties in the area.
The neighboring communities of Wailea and Makena are located along the South Shore of Maui. Surrounded by gorgeous beaches, palm trees, and deep blue waters of the Pacific, Wailea-Makena is a tropical paradise in every sense of the word. In addition to natural beauty and breathtaking scenery, Wailea has plenty of high-end resorts, designer golf courses, restaurants, and shops while Makena offers some of the most expensive and desirable oceanfront real estate.
• Wailea. is an upscale resort community spanning 1,500 acres. As one of the most coveted addresses on the island, it provides ready access to crescent-shaped beaches and golf amenities. Residents enjoy privacy and water views amidst flowering monkeypod and kukui nut trees.
• Makena. is a golf community encompassing about 1,800 acres between La Perouse Bay and the Makena Beach & Golf Resort. Sunny skies, golden shores, and multi-million dollar homes make it one of the most desirable places to live on the southwestern side of Maui.
The towns are located about 14 miles from Kahului Airport, which accommodates direct flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, and many other major cities.
WAILEA-MAKENA, HI
An Overview of the Wailea-Makena Real Estate Market
Local agents sold 381 single-family homes in the first half of 2023 with the average property spending 84 days on the market, according to data from Hawaii Life. The median sale price for Maui single-family homes was $1,150,000, down 2% compared to the first half of 2022.
515 condos were sold during the same time period, with the average condo unit spending 70 days on the market. The median sale price for Maui condos was $840,000, up 11% from the same period in the previous year. South Maui real estate experts recorded 273 condo sales as well as 81 residential home sales and two vacant land sales.
Notable Sales
This Contemporary-style home in Wailea features quality construction and cutting-edge design. Perfect for entertaining, it has an open layout and seamless indoor-to-outdoor living with glass walls, stone waterfall, and pool and ocean views on the main level. The garage serves as a recreational room with ping-pong, football, and various arcade games.
Located just steps from the Wailea Beach Walk, this home features an open floor plan, cherry hardwood floors, high-end appliances, and ocean views from every room. With tropical landscaping and outdoor pool, it is ideal for entertaining. It also has photovoltaic power and a backup generator.
Property Types
Makena Wailea real estate offers single-family homes, condos, golf course properties, and vacant land for sale. Buyers can explore their real estate options in gated communities and close to the resorts depending on their needs. Some of the gated communities in the area include Makena Place, Palauea Bay, Wailea Kai, Wailea Golf Estates, and Wailea Fairway Estates.
When it comes to condos, some of the most sought-after developments in the area include:
- Grand Champions
- Palms at Wailea
- Polo Beach
- Wailea Elua
- Wailea Ekolu
- Wailea Point
- Hoolei
- Makena Surf
Weighing the pros and cons of long-term and short-term rental condos? Watch top Realtor Tom Tezak’s video here: https://youtu.be/mpGQZ_69i7s?si=JT2LcN20MmERzM1j
The median listing home price was a staggering $4 million as of June 2023, up 51.6% year-over-year according to data from Realtor. The average home sold for approximately the asking price.
The market is also ripe for real estate investment. Luxury hotels, timeshares, and vacation rentals are big business in Wailea-Makena. As a year-round destination, the rental market gets a steady flow of short-term and long-term tenants.
Common Property Features
Wailea-Makena offers an array of Contemporary, Craftsman, and Plantation-style homes to suit each taste. Some of the most desirable properties on the island have been designed with seamless indoor to outdoor to complement the natural environment.
WAILEA-MAKENA, HI
Activities and Attractions
• Wailea Beach and Wailea Beach Path. As one of the most popular and busiest beach destinations in Maui, Wailea Beach features a wide stretch of sand, gorgeous landscaping, and gentle waters that are great for swimming and paddle boarding. The Wailea Beach Path is a 1.6-mile path for walking, jogging, and sight-seeing. It is also an excellent spot for whale watching in the winter months. Visitors enjoy quick access to resorts, shops, and restaurants.
• Keawakapu Beach. Located at the northernmost point of Wailea, Keawakapu Beach features soft golden sand, calm waters, and dark lava rocks. With sweeping views of Kaho’olawe, Lana’i, and Molokini, the beach stretches for over seven miles and is good for sunbathing, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, boogie boarding, and whale watching in the winter.
• Polo Beach. This sandy crescent features cabanas, picnic tables, and BBQ grills for group outings. Guests can enjoy snorkeling and boogie boarding depending on the season and water conditions. It is home to the Fairmont Kea Lani and Polo Beach Club, which feature lavish suites, villas, private courtyards, and plunge pools.
• Makena State Park and Big Beach. Home to a picturesque cove and a splendid white sand beach with clear waters and sea turtles, Makena State Park is a top attraction. It also features the 360-foot Pu’u Ola’i Cinder Cone, a hiking spot with tephra-covered trails and panoramic views at the summit.
• Palauea Beach (White Rock Beach). This relatively quiet and uncrowded beach is a great spot for strolling and sunbathing with Keawe trees offering shade from the sun. It is also great for snorkeling. The jutting rocks to the south of the beach are home to turtles and other marine life that swim in the calm and clear waters.
• Oneuli Beach (Black Sand Beach). As the only dark sand beach in Maui, Oneuli Beach features tephra, or coarse black cinders that make for a unique beach-going experience. It is a famed snorkeling spot with lava formations and reefs teeming with colorful fish, eels, turtles, and sharks.
• Ulua Beach. Known for dramatic lava outcroppings, Ulua Beach is located in front of the Wailea Elua Village and has a small parking lot. The north end of the beach serves as a vital habitat for reef fish and is a fantastic spot for shore diving and snorkeling.
• Makena’s Turtle Town. This snorkeling spot lets visitors observe Hawaiian green sea turtles swimming, eating algae, or resting in their natural habitat. Located at the point where craggy cliffs meet the ocean, Turtle Town is accessible through a boat ramp at Makena Landing Beach Park. Maluaka Beach is known as one of several spots that make up Turtle Town. This beach is usually less crowded and offers snorkeling opportunities on the north and south end.
• Ahihi-Kīna‘u Natural Area Reserve. This protected area features a stunning volcanic landscape and a snorkeling area with shallow caves and coral formations that are home to turtles and other sea creatures. In addition to scenic La Perouse Bay, the reserve has several archaeological sites and hiking trails that meander along the coast.
• Makena Beach & Golf Resort. This members-only community features a championship golf course that was designed by famed architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and redesigned by Dennis Wise. It also has a pool, spa, and farm-to-table dining service.
• The Shops at Wailea. This lifestyle destination offers more than 70 luxury brands and retailers, including Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and more. It also features an array of coffee shops and casual dining restaurants serving classic steakhouse fare, fresh seafood, artisanal ice cream, and baked goods.
The Shops at Wailea hosts special activities and events, such as coconut frond weaving, wood carving, ukulele lessons, and Polynesian shows for the authentic Hawaiian experience.
• Wailea Gateway Center. This commercial center offers an array of shopping, dining, and health and wellness options. Its specialty stores sell Hawaiian chocolates, CBD products, and jewelry, there are also restaurants that specialize in vegan fare and Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine.
WAILEA-MAKENA TODAY
Get access to the finest listings in the market when you work with Tom Tezak and The Lifestyle Maui Team. You can reach us at 808.746.3347 or send an email here to get started. Our team specializes in oceanfront properties and the luxury resort and second home market.
As a Second Home Specialist, Certified Negotiation Expert, and one of Hawaii's Top 100 Realtors, Tom has handled more than $500 million in real estate transactions. With over 30 years of experience, he has assisted more than 750 clients over the course of his career. Contact us today for more information on the housing market.