Living in Haiku, HI
Maui County
Haiku (formally Haiku-Pauwela) is a real, genuinely rural, agricultural census-designated place on Maui's North Shore, known specifically as the inland/upland community near Peahi -- universally called 'Jaws' -- one of the world's most famous big-wave surf breaks. Haiku's population ran approximately 9,560 per a 2026 estimate, up from 8,595 at the 2020 Census, a real, modest growth trend running counter to Hawaii's statewide population decline, consistent with North Shore Maui's documented draw for remote workers and lifestyle-driven mainland transplants. Haiku's housing runs genuinely expensive -- a median home value of approximately $1,105,400 (Zillow, August 2026), among the higher figures in this dataset even by Hawaii's own extreme statewide standard. Haiku's economy reflects a real, diversified small-farm agricultural base on former pineapple- and sugar-plantation land, distinct from Kahului's commercial core or Maui's resort economies. Maui County's own real, genuinely low 0.16% effective property tax rate (the lowest of Hawaii's four counties) applies here, alongside Hawaii's statewide-high cost of living and 11%-top-rate income tax detailed in hawaii.js.
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Learn moreHousing
Taxes
Not independently sourced at the Maui County level this session. Hawaii's top state income tax rate is 11.00%. See the Hawaii hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Haiku-specific.
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Get local guidanceThe tradeoffs
Pros
A real, distinctive rural North Shore Maui setting near the world-famous Peahi/Jaws surf break; Maui County's own genuinely low 0.16% effective property tax rate; a real, modest population growth trend running counter to Hawaii's statewide decline, reflecting genuine remote-worker and lifestyle-migration appeal.
Cons
Genuinely expensive housing (a median home value above $1.1 million) even by Hawaii's own extreme statewide standard; a real, rural, car-dependent setting with a genuinely limited local job market outside agriculture and remote work; Hawaii's statewide-high cost of living and 11%-top-rate income tax apply as they do everywhere in the state; real flash-flood risk from North Shore stream gulches during heavy rain.
Who this fits
Best for: Best fits remote workers and lifestyle-driven buyers with substantial resources who want a genuinely rural, agricultural North Shore Maui setting near world-class surf, and who can absorb genuinely high home prices even relative to Hawaii's own extreme statewide baseline.
Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for movers on a tight housing budget or those needing a diversified local job market -- Haiku's own home prices run well above even Hawaii's already-extreme statewide figures, and its local economy runs genuinely limited outside agriculture and remote work.
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