Advice on Haiku (Kahului, Kihei, Pukalani: real estate, sublet, for rent)

[adviceonmymove]

I'm moving to Maui very shortly.

I'm deciding on a sublet rental.

One is in Haiku (750), one in Pukalani (800), and one in Kihei (1200) (obviously most expensive).

I then got a lengthy email from a lady in Kula who rambled on requesting I care for all her property, cats, horses, etc. and pay her 1400 a month or 450 a week for a room rental. She will be living with me! She sounded off. I will be working M-F everyday...I can do all that and pay that much. I've seen homes for rent in upcountry for that price and I wouldn't have to put up with this lady. However, she said she has lived there decades and would never live in Haiku, Makawao, Pukalani, or Kihei. Why? I've been to all these places, and while different I don't understand her logic.

Why?

She won't elaborate.

I'm leaning toward Haiku as it's my own studio. It's not a real modern fixed up place, but for the rate and a landing spot arranged prior to moving it can't be beat. I'm just worried it's not safe? I know I've driven through it on some visit, but not the last one. It looks fine on google maps. The rain isn't an issue if that's the problem.

Ideas?

[TwoByFour]

Could just be old fashioned snobbery. People get that way about their 'hoods. Or it could be well founded opinion. I hear similar sentiment from my sistah who lives in Kula but has lived all over the island at one time or another. She loves Kula because it rarely gets hot up there and the night time temps can be down in the 40's in the winter, 50-60 in the summer. People who like the island sun but not the heat like Kula. It is also pretty rural up there, IMO. More rural than any of the places you mentioned.

Upper Kula is up around 4000' feet of elevation, which is a real grind on your car to trek up/down every day. My friends who live up there all have wood stoves. It also seems to often have its own weather up there because of Haleakala.

[Jungjohann]

Why would anyone want to live in Haiku?

[TwoByFour]

Originally Posted by Jungjohann

Why would anyone want to live in Haiku?

Well, since you asked....

Haiku is lush. We are surrounded by palms, banana, ti, ginger, bamboo, monstera and lots more without needing to water. Most of Haiku is zoned Ag, so the minimum lot size is 2 acres. I barely see or hear our neighbors. Night sky is pitch black and usually cloudless so we see lots of stars. It is about 5 degrees cooler in Haiku than in Kahului, so it is pretty comfortable all the time. We have no A/C in our house and only rarely would have used it if we had it. Yes, it rains a lot (60 inches/year where we are) but it is mostly a morning thing and sun is out in the afternoon. I like the rain so it does not bother me. It is an eclectic community - lots of hippy types, back-to-earth types, locals, farmers, retired people with lots of money, part-timers, world class surfers and windsurfers, and just plain folk.

So, yes, my wife and I love Haiku.

[Jerlene]

I'd go with Pukalani if you're looking to stay Upcountry. It's cooler and closer to everything. Don't listen to that chick. She's off her rocker and is probably just desperate for someone to help her pay her bills and take care of her place.

[MauiPartTimer]

Really tough to answer a question like this because it very much depends on what your priorities are. I'd suggesthinking about things like, recreation, population density, commute, etc. Personally, we love the water and, when on the island, are in the ocean every day (swimming, snorkeling, SUP, surfing). For us, being in Kihei means walking across the street and straight into the water.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by TwoByFour

She loves Kula because it rarely gets hot up there and the night time temps can be down in the 40's in the winter, 50-60 in the summer. People who like the island sun but not the heat like Kula. It is also pretty rural up there, IMO. More rural than any of the places you mentioned.

Upper Kula is up around 4000' feet of elevation, which is a real grind on your car to trek up/down every day. My friends who live up there all have wood stoves.

What? They have wood stoves? For heat? On Maui? In Hawai'i? I'm shocked. Shocked I say.

[Jerlene]

Yeah, Kula is pretty much the only place on Maui that has homes with fire places. It's necessary.

[MitchTempo]

Originally Posted by OpenD

What? They have wood stoves? For heat? On Maui? In Hawai'i? I'm shocked. Shocked I say.

I knew that comment was coming. I lol'd.

[Maui Moving Source]

I lived in Napili for many years. Then lived in Kula for many years. And recently moved to Haiku. Keep in mind that the annual rainfall in Haiku can vary *greatly* in a distance of only one mile. The areas lower in elevation and to the west are much drier than the areas of Haiku that are higher in elevation and further east (towards Hana). The difference can be 45" annual rainfall to 127" +. Thus part of Haiku have weather very similar to Kapalua, which is one of the most expensive/ desirable neighborhoods in the entire world. Other parts of Haiku are a genuine rainforest. Thus where you live in Haiku has a great influence on the weather your experience. Much of Haiku, while more rainy than Kula, is still sunnier than Kula as Kula is clouded over by 2 pm on 80% of the days.

Haiku is a mix of working class homes (working class still equals $500K) to multimillion dollar estates. Only the area called "Rice Camp" near Haiku town center is somewhat sketchy. Not dangerous by any means, just old tiny plantation homes that are being gentrified a little at a time. The lady in Kula is, frankly, full of it. It's absurd that you pay $1400 in rent and do anything to care for her property unless you are getting some sort of outrageous deal on a house. She is clearly attempting to take advantage of you.

Haiku is a very eclectic community. Pukalani is at a nice elevation and is dry, it's also less interesting.

I once wrote the following about the north shore and Haiku:

"An eclectic region relatively far away from the resorts and a pleasant place to live. You’ll find everything from hippies living in a van to multimillionaires dressed like hippies living in a van. CEO’s in $10 million estates to an old plantation shack with a dude smoking a fatty who’s certain he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, complete with long time devotees for housework and a pig named Krishna (true story). In between saving souls, Jesus found the time to sell me a used car.

Within a few miles the climate varies from that of Kihei, to Kapalua, to Hana, to a Brazilian rain forest. There are approximately 3 1/2 miles of white sand beaches stretching from behind the airport, to Sprecklesville, Baldwin Beach in Paia, and on out to Kuau. These north shore beaches have rougher water and are less frequented by tourists and instead popular with fishermen and surfers. At any given time, Maui’s homeless can found along the shore in this area and while not dangerous, may ****-a-roach your stuff when you’re not looking. The beaches cease past Ho’okipa, which while world class for windsurfing, is not a great beach.

Haiku: Often termed upcountry, a rural area along the north shore that was once home to a thriving pineapple cannery and is now an eclectic mix of haole, local, rich, and not so rich. Headquarters to Maui’s alternative green, yoga etc community. Haiku is a desirable location that offers the ability for a rural tropical experience yet still be close to town and windward beaches. Popular with surfers as world class windsurfing (Ho’okipa) and big wave surfing (Jaws) are minutes away. Isolated from the resorts with limited employment without a long commute which in general creates better real estate and rent values. Photo above is from along the road to Hana.

Is Haiku too rainy? Depends. The climate is windward with cooling energetic trade winds and showers. Elevation varies from sea level to 1600’ with temperatures a few degrees cooler at the top. Rainfall can vary dramatically depending on elevation and distance from Paia (see Climate Maps). Winters are wet, summers are dry, the reverse of most worldwide tropical locations. In the inhabited area running approximately 8 miles wide along the coast and 5 miles up the mountain, annual rainfall can vary from 45” to 128”, or more. A distance of only a mile can make a noticeable difference. Most will find the climate in “low” and “early” parts of Haiku to be very comfortable and similar to Kapalua. Parts further out or up, while more isolated and peaceful, and certainly beautiful, are essentially a rainforest. In my opinion, a max of 50” of rain per year is ideal, with 60” being tolerable. The idea of “rainforest” is less romantic as the jungle begins to consume your house. You’’ll have to decide for yourself as many love the tropical rainforest experience. Homes with post and pier foundations are less moldy because the dwelling is elevated, allowing airflow underneath. Many Haiku homes rely upon catchment systems for their water.

In a peculiar twist, even though Haiku rainfall is substantially higher than Kula, Haiku is equally, perhaps even slightly sunnier depending on elevation."