Kahului in Maui is a practical neighborhood with an airport and commercial facilities, but when looking at the entire island, the luxury neighborhoods are clearly divided. Kahului itself is considered a relatively accessible residential area within Maui, while upscale residences are concentrated in the southern and western coasts, as well as the areas above the mountains.

Wailea is a representative resort-style luxury residential area in Maui. It features golf courses, oceanfront condos, and single-family homes, with the median price of single-family homes often exceeding $2 million. This area is popular among overseas investors and retirees who purchase properties as vacation homes.

Kapalua is a resort community located at the northernmost point of West Maui, where the median home prices are also around $2 million. It is characterized by a gated development style with golf courses and private beaches.

The Upcountry area, including Kula, is a different type of luxury neighborhood compared to the coastal areas. Situated at a high elevation on the slopes of Haleakalā, it features a cooler climate and expansive ranch-style properties, and it has gained attention as some celebrities are known to own private land there. The median home prices range from $900,000 to $1.2 million.

The median home price in Kahului itself is around $700,000, which is already higher than most cities on the mainland U.S., but it shows a nearly threefold gap when compared to Wailea and Kapalua.

This pricing structure is intertwined with Maui's unique tourism and resort economy. Wailea and Kapalua were originally developed by large resort companies, providing excellent infrastructure and views, while Upcountry offers strong privacy away from the noise of tourist areas.

Although there are not many Korean households in Maui, some families that have built wealth through tourism or the restaurant industry have settled in relatively accessible areas like Kahului or Wailuku, and when they have the means, they often look towards Upcountry properties.

In summary, Maui's luxury neighborhoods are distinctly divided into coastal resort types and mountain privacy types, with Kahului positioned as a practical access point in between.