Lokelani Condos

Jaw-Dropping Oceanfront Views at these 1-2 Bedroom West Maui Condos

Honokowai

The mellow west side town of Honokowai sits just past Kaanapali’s strip of high-rise mega-resorts. Set back from the busy Honoapiilani Highway, the atmosphere in this community is laid back. Honokowai is known for its quaint, budget-friendly accommodations, mom-and-pop shops, public beach parks, and delicious local eateries like Honokowai Okazuya and Java Jazz. In the center of town sits Honokowai Beach Park— a seaside hangout with glorious views of Molokai, sunset vistas, and a sandy, keiki-friendly tide pool. For outstanding snorkeling and beaches, make the short, ten-minute pilgrimage north to the Napili-Kapalua area. Alternatively, more beaches, activities, and nightlife can be found just a few miles south in Kaanapali and Lahaina.

Honokowai in Hawaiian means “bay drawing fresh water.” It’s said that freshwater springs were once found at the water’s edge at Honokowai Beach Park, and the park may have been a canoe landing. In ancient times, the village’s population hub was deep in Honokowai Valley in the West Maui Mountains. This prosperous Hawaiian hamlet was home to over 600 families until about a hundred years ago. The residents of this valley grew taro, sweet potato, and squash in intricately built rock terraces. The village thrived until sugarcane interests began diverting stream water from the valley to irrigate the fields. Honokowai Valley soon became a ghost town, and it wasn’t until the ’60s and ’70s that modern Honokowai started forming.