July on Maui moves in two speeds: full tilt over the Fourth of July weekend, then a slower, more local rhythm for the rest of the month. Between upcountry rodeo dust, a long-awaited blessing on Front Street, and a steady run of live music in Kihei, there's a reason to get out most nights. Here's what's worth circling on the calendar.

Blessing for Front Street Railing & Walkway Project

Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3–4pm

700 block of Front Street, Lahaina (between Lahainaluna Rd & Dickenson St)

Lahaina marks another milestone in its wildfire recovery with a community blessing for the newly completed Front Street Railing and Walkway Project. The work rebuilt roughly 1,450 feet of sidewalk and 700 feet of stainless-steel, ipe-topped railing along the

There's a shift happening in the way people think about their next home — and it's not about square footage or finishes. It's about time.

Not how long the escrow takes. How long they plan to stay. How well a home will serve them not just this season, but a decade from now, and the decade after that. The luxury buyer of 2026 isn't just acquiring property. They're making a decision about how they want to live — and for how long.

Sotheby's International Realty's 2026 Mid-Year Luxury Outlook, released this month, puts a name to what we've been watching unfold here on Maui: longevity is the new luxury. Wellness infrastructure, health-centered design, and the ability to age gracefully in a place you love are now primary drivers for high-net-worth

The County of Maui adopted new real property tax rates effective July 1, 2026. Whether you own a primary home, an investment property, or a vacation rental, here's what changed from the prior year — and what it means for your bottom line.

The Big Picture

The FY2026–27 rate schedule reflects some meaningful adjustments across several categories, with tier breakpoints shifting alongside the rates in key classifications. The County's direction is consistent: reward long-term housing and owner-occupancy, apply greater pressure on investment properties and short-term rentals at the upper end.

Rate Changes by Category

Rates are per $1,000 of net taxable assessed value. FY2025–26 rates were effective July 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-88);

This year, eight Island Sotheby's International Realty agents were independently recognized in the 2026 RealTrends Verified rankings, one of the real estate industry's most rigorous and respected performance benchmarks. Each ranking is earned through audited MLS transaction data, which means there is no self-nomination, no subjective panel, and no shortcut. You either did the work, or you didn't.

Our agents did the work.

What makes this recognition meaningful goes beyond the numbers. The agents recognized this year serve buyers and sellers across West Maui, Upcountry, and South Maui, working in markets as varied as the island itself, and sharing one thing in common: a genuine commitment to the people and places they serve.

Leading the group

There's a particular kind of magic that happens when you drive up into Upcountry Maui. The air shifts — cooler, cleaner, laced with something green. The light softens. And suddenly you're in a place where things grow that have no business thriving at sea level: lavender, protea, ʻōhiʻa lehua, naupaka, fruit trees heavy with durian and jaboticaba. For those who live here, that relationship with the land is woven into daily life. For those considering a move Upcountry, it's one of the quiet revelations that comes early — this is a place where you can actually grow things.

Here's a guide to the nurseries and gardens that make it all possible, organized roughly from the north shore up to Kula.

NatureWorks Nursery — Haiku

NatureWorks is a