Wailea, Coastal resort community in Maui County, United States.
Wailea is a coastal resort community on Maui featuring several beaches including Polo, Ulua, Mokapu, and Keawakapu along the Pacific shore. The area contains hotels, championship golf courses, tennis facilities, and shopping centers supported by underground utilities.
Development began in 1971 through a partnership that transformed the former fishing settlement into a residential resort area. This shift marked the transition from a traditional fishing community to a modern planned destination.
The name comes from Hawaiian words relating to water and the land's historical use for farming and fishing. Visitors today experience this connection by walking along the coastline and enjoying the beaches where these traditional practices once shaped daily life.
The area is easy to navigate with clear roads and parking near the beaches and facilities. Spring and fall offer the most pleasant conditions with moderate temperatures and fewer crowds along the shores.
The area sits along a migration route used by whales, and visitors can spot these marine mammals from viewing points along the coast. This typically occurs between January and March when the animals travel between Arctic waters and Hawaiian breeding grounds.
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