This village certainly counts as Maui's fastest-developing tourist resort, with a population not far behind that of Kahului and Wailuku. Looked at critically it is a prime example of tourism development gone wrong. Totally uncontrolled building work was carried out on either side of Kihei Road, which runs through the whole village, owing to a
lack of central planning. Today, Kihei has far too many buildings such as condominiums and holiday flats - occupied by their owners for only part of each year and rented at other times as time-share projects.
That apart, Kihei has an almost-continuous 6 miles/10km-long beach, the island's most settled weather and offers beautiful, clear views of Lanai, Kahoolawe and Molokini. Kihei's hotels are cheaper than elsewhere on Maui, comparable with prices in Kaanapali and Kapalua, but less luxurious.
During the Second World War, Kihei protected itself from a possible Japanese invasion by tank traps and bunkers but no invasion took place. Today pieces of overgrown concrete blocks can be seen which bear witness to that period.
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