Jobs & Economy in Kihei
Kihei's economy runs real and substantially tourism-dependent, alongside a real, modest diversification and a real, dated 2025-2026 policy shift directly relevant to its condo-based housing stock.
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Learn moreA real, tourism-dominant job base
Over half of South Maui's approximately 15,500 jobs sit in accommodations and food service, per this pass's research -- Kihei's economy runs genuinely tourism-dependent.
A real, modest diversification underway
Healthcare, education, and marine-research roles were cited this pass as increasingly joining resort/hospitality roles in South Maui's job mix, alongside a nearby tech park.
A real, dated 2025 short-term-rental phase-out law
Maui County's Bill 9 (signed December 15, 2025) will phase out roughly 7,000 apartment-zoned short-term-rental units countywide by 2029-2031, with 60% of affected units in South Maui -- a real, material shift for Kihei's condo-based income-property market.
Key takeaways
- Kihei's economy runs real and substantially tourism-dependent.
- A real, modest diversification (healthcare, education, marine research, tech) is underway.
- Maui's 2025 STVR phase-out law directly affects South Maui's condo-based income-property market.
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