Pool or beach? 

It can be a tough call on Maui, which has some of the best beaches in the world. But as tourists from across the globe flock to the island’s sandy coasts, nothing beats relaxing at a luxurious oasis ⁠— in the privacy and comfort of your own property. 

There’s no reason to ever leave your property when you can take a dip in pools like these, exquisite enough to be found in world’s finest five-star resorts. These are a few of our favorite pools in paradise:

9 Bay Drive | $49 million

 

A property like this one only comes around once in a lifetime. Nestled on Hawea Point in Kapalua, Maui, this stunning home was designed to seamlessly blend the indoors with the expansive lanai and pool, all while showcasing the tropical flora

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Island Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to announce that Napua Banks R(S) has become the latest agent to join the prestigious firm’s growing team of real estate professionals.

Napua was born on Maui and spent her early childhood on her family’s ancestral land in Waiehu and South Kihei before moving to Kaua’i, O’ahu, Thailand and then Los Angeles. She moved back to Maui more than 30 years ago and has since become an active member of her island community.

As a proud part of the Island Sotheby’s International Realty ‘ohana, Napua prides herself on navigating complicated transactions and finding solutions for her clients — always with a smile on her face. Whether she’s listing an investment property or helping a family find a home that

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Island Sotheby’s International Realty has helped a late Lahainaluna High School teacher’s dream to support students come true.  

Tom Hansen, a longtime english teacher at Lahainaluna High School, recently passed away and instructed that the proceeds from his home and other financial accounts be used to start a nonprofit foundation — the Tom Hansen Scholarship Foundation. That trust will help support Lahainaluna high school students with demonstrated financial need as they pursue higher education and trade schools.

Island Sotheby’s International Realty agent Rob Shelton was asked to oversee the sale of Hansen’s home, a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home on Kaniau Road in Lahaina. The two-story building boasts ocean views and a 600-square foot ohana.

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This is your opportunity to make one of Maui’s most beloved farms your own.

Island Sotheby’s International Realty agent Wendy Peterson is representing the owners of Surfing Goat Dairy ⁠— one of Maui’s most successful agritourism businesses. The 42-acre property, which attracts some 75,000 visitors annually, is offered for $7.99 million.

For nearly two decades, the Kula farm has been delighting island residents and visitors with dozens of delicious cheeses and a chance to hang out with adorable baby goats. Surfing Goat Dairy means that Maui residents don’t have to travel far to find some of the best goat cheese in the country: The dairy produces more than 50 different cheeses, 18 of which have won national cheese awards.

In addition to

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Outrigger canoeing has been intertwined with Hawai’i and its people for centuries. And even today, it’s considered the Aloha State’s official team sport, boasting some of the largest and most challenging outrigger canoe races in the world. Here are a few races you should be sure to catch:

Queen Lili'uokalani Long Distance Canoe Race

Touted as the world’s largest long-distance canoe race by its organizers, the Queen Lili'uokalani Canoe Race started in 1972 as a way for participants to train for the grueling Na Wahine O Ke Kai and the Molokai Hoe. The race was named to honor the last reigning monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili'uokalani, held for the first time on her birthday — September 2.

Held in Kona on Hawai’i Island, the race now falls on Labor

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We were six paddlers in an outrigger canoe in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Darkness engulfed us. Angry seas churned and spit in the strong, cold, quartering winds; swells careened our vessel up and down twelve-foot walls of water. Aware that the smallest mistake might end in the sea’s swallowing our tiny craft, we paddled on.”

Those are the words of Jamie Woodburn R(S), an Island Sotheby’s International Realty agent who nearly a decade ago, was part of a crew that undertook a six-year, 1,650-mile odyssey through the Hawaiian Archipelago. For nearly 40 years, Woodburn has immersed himself in Maui’s paddling community, helping to spearhead the resurgence of voyaging throughout the islands.

Courtesy of Jamie Woodburn, Hawaiian Outrigger

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Paul MacLaughlin (third from left) and crew after paddling the Moloka'i to O'ahu race. Photo courtesy of Ryan MacLaughlin.

Hawai'i and the ocean are forever linked. And over the last few decades, the rich history of outrigger canoe paddling and its integral role in the Hawaiian people's lives has resurged in the islands.

From high school paddling teams to crews that wayfind through the Hawaiian Archipelago, the outrigger canoe is still a main focus for Maui residents — including members of Island Sotheby's International Realty's team.

Take Island Sotheby's International Realty founder Paul MacLaughlin, for example. He began paddling in the 1950s as a child, and his son, Island Sotheby's International Realty owner, Ryan MacLaughlin R(B), has

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Depending on what type of property you own in Maui County, you could be paying a higher property tax bill.

The Maui News recently reported that the county council approved a property rate rate increase for the next fiscal year (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020), with hotels and resorts seeing the highest hike. Homeowners, however, won’t see a significant increase in their tax rate.

These are the changes:

 

• Hotels and resorts will see a surge from $9.37 per $1,000 of net taxable assessed value to $11.00 per $1,000 of net taxable assessed value, a boost of 17 percent.

• Short-term and vacation rentals will see an increase from $9.28 per $1,000 of net taxable assessed value to $10.75 per $1,000 of net taxable assessed value, a

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The “Cinema Under the Stars” is back again for its 20th annual film extravaganza, a spectacle that draws celebrities and film moguls from across the globe to Maui for five days each June.

Get ready for film premieres, filmmaker panels, special screenings, tributes, award ceremonies, culinary arts celebrations and private soirees at the Maui Film Festival, which kicks off on June 12. Filmmakers, actors and actresses will descend upon the Grand Wailea Resort for the event, celebrated as a premier festival for audiences, not just industry executives.  

2019 Maui Film Festival Trailer from Maui Film Festival on Vimeo.

The festival replaces Hollywood’s traditional red carpets with beachfront film screenings under Maui’s starry night skies.

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In need of a break from the city, traffic and tourists?

Hidden far away from the crowds and hotels, Maui offers several picturesque small towns that are packed with personality and charm - truly the best of country living. From the rolling pasturelands to quiet streets to mom-and-pop shops that have served communities for decades, Maui’s rural communities make you feel like you’re going back in time.

From ranch houses to luxury cottages tucked away from the hustle and bustle, these are a few of our favorite escapes in rural Maui.

39606 Hana Highway | Hana

 

Oceanfront and bordered on both sides by streams and waterfalls, this plantation-style home is the perfect retreat. Offered for $2.249 million, this two-bedroom home is completely

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