Kahului () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It hosts the county’s main airport (Kahului Airport), deep-draft harbor, light industrial areas, and commercial shopping centers. The population was 26,337 at the 2010 census. Kahului is part of the Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina Metropolitan Statistical Area which includes nearby Wailuku and the town and former whaling village of Lahaina.
The retail center for Maui County residents, Kahului has several malls and major stores (including department stores in the Queen Kaahumanu Center); other significant groupings of stores are in Lahaina such as the Lahaina Cannery Mall, the Happy Valley area of Wailuku, Maui Market Place and Maui Mall, which are both also located in Kahului; and The Shops at Wailea in Wailea.
Kahului is not generally considered a tourist destination. It does feature the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum, Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanaha Beach County Park, and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.
Kahului is served by Kahului Airport, located outside the CDP.
thumb|left|250px|Port at Kahului
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. The total area is 7.16% water.
Kahului is directly adjacent to Wailuku located on the west side of town, and to Spreckelsville on the east.
Climate
Kahului has a hot semi-arid climate zone (Köppen classification BSh) with a dry summer season, due to its location on the leeward side of Maui, relative to the trade winds. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from in February to . On average, there are 21 nights annually with a low below and 25 days with a high at or above ; readings of or higher are far rarer, occurring on average once every five years. Temperature records range from on January 20, 1969 up to on August 31, 1994 and August 22, 2015. The record cool daily maximum is on February 28, 1990, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is on October 8 and 17, 1979.
Normal annual rainfall is spread over an average 95 days, but observed annual rainfall has ranged from in 1908 and 1998 to in 1989. The wettest month on record is January 1980 with , while the most rain to occur in a single calendar day is on December 21, 1955. The most recent month without measurable (≥) rain is October 2013 with trace amounts, and the last without any rain is June 1957. The town is also one of the windiest places in the U.S. averaging 13.7 mph per year.
Demographics
As of the 2000 Census, there were 20,146 people, 5,880 households, and 4,421 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,328.7 people per square mile (513.1/km²). There were 6,079 housing units at an average density of 400.9 per square mile (154.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 10.06% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 53.62% Asian, 9.91% Pacific Islander, 1.47% from other races, and 24.42% from two or more races. 8.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,880 households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.3% of households were one person and 11.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.76.
The age distribution was 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median household income was $46,656 and the median family income was $52,610. Males had a median income of $30,659 versus $26,282 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,049. 11.8% of the population and 9.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 11.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Economy
Major employers in Kahului include Walmart, Maui Electric Company, Macy's, Hale Makua Health Services, Aloha Air Cargo, Zippy's, Roberts Hawaii, and University of Hawaii Maui College.
Education
Public schools in Kahului include Maui High School, Maui Waena Intermediate School, Kahului Elementary School, Lihikai Elementary School, and [http://pomaikai.k12.hi.us/ Pomaika'i Elementary School].
Points of interest
Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum in nearby Puʻunene
Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
Tasaka Guri-Guri — known for its "guri-guri" frozen dessert.
King's Cathedral Maui, the central hub for King's Cathedral and Chapels, an international megachurch.
