ABOUT WAILEA

Nestled comfortably at the base of Haleakala along Maui’s southern coast, Wailea is a resort community consisting of luxury hotels, private homes and condominiums. Its name translates to "Water of Lea." (Lea is the goddess of Hawaiian canoe makers.)

For the privileged few, this 1,500-acre master-planned community offers a respite from the real world. The census reveals less than 5,700 people live in Wailea and neighboring Makena). Wailea has almost everything a visitor or resident could want.

Wailea is home to five crescent-shaped beaches. In 1999, Wailea Beach was named "America’s Best Beach" by Doctor Stephen P. Leatherman (a.k.a. "Dr. Beach"). Wailea aficionados think it deserves the top spot every year, but according to Dr. Beach, once a beach wins a "Best Beach" title, it is excluded from subsequent surveys and rankings. The survey’s 50-point criteria include sand quality, water quality, water temperature and litter.

If life’s a beach, then life at Wailea is very, very good.