The latest US Census Bureau estimate for the population of Maui County, Hawaii, is 165,386.
Maui, known as the Valley Isle, is second largest island in Hawaii by area but only its third largest by population, after Oahu (population 953,207) and Hawaii island itself (population: 185,079).
The city of Wailuku (population 15,313) is the Maui county seat, and Kahului (population 26,337) is the largest city in Maui.
Maui County population by island
The latest (2016) census bureau data is for the entire Maui County which includes the islands of Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi. The most recent data that breaks down how many people live in Maui County by island is only available from the 2010 census. At that time, the population of each island was:
| Island | Population (2010) |
|---|---|
| Maui | 144,444 |
| Molokai’i | 7,345 |
| Lānaʻi | 3,135 |
| Kahoʻolawe | 0 |
Largest cities in Maui
The largest cities and towns in Maui are (all data from 2010 census):
| City | Population (2010) |
|---|---|
| Kahului | 26,337 |
| Kihei | 20,881 |
| Wailuku | 15,313 |
| Lahaina | 11,704 |
| Waihee-Waiehu | 8,841 |
| Haiku-Pauwela | 8,118 |
| Pukalani | 7,574 |
| Napili-Honokowai | 7,261 |
| Makawao | 7,184 |
| Kula | 6,452 |
Maui population growth
Maui’s population is growing more quickly than the population of Hawaii and the rest of the United States. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of people living in Maui increased by 6.8%, compared to an increase of 5.0% across Hawaii, and 4.7% across the United States as a whole.
Maui’s population suffered a decline during the 1940s and 1950s, in part because of the impact of the Second World War. Once growth resumed in the 1970s, though, it was explosive. Between 1970 and 1990, the number of Maui residents more than doubled – from just under 46,000 people in 1970 to just over 100,000 people in 1990. Growth since then has slowed to a more manageable rate, although it is still very healthy.
The table below lists the population of Maui County at the point of each census since 1900:
| Census Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 26,743 | n/a |
| 1910 | 29,762 | 11.3% |
| 1920 | 37,385 | 25.6% |
| 1930 | 55,541 | 48.6% |
| 1940 | 55,534 | 0% |
| 1950 | 48,179 | -13.2% |
| 1960 | 42,576 | -11.6% |
| 1970 | 45,984 | 8.0% |
| 1980 | 70,847 | 54.1% |
| 1990 | 100,374 | 41.7% |
| 2000 | 128,094 | 27.6% |
| 2010 | 154,834 | 20.9% |
Maui area and population density
Maui is the second most densely populated island in Hawaii, after Oahu.
Maui (the island) covers an area of 727.2 square miles (1,883.4 square kilometers). Based on the 2010 population, this means that the population density in Maui is 198.63 people per square mile, or 76.69 people per square kilometer.
Maui race and ethnicity
The largest singe group in Maui County is White (not Hispanic or Latino) (35.8%). This is followed closely by Asian (28.7%), two or more races (23.3%), Hispanic or Latino (11.2%) and then by Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (10.7%).
Other, smaller, groups are: Black or African American (1.0%) and American Indian and Alaska Native (0.6%).
The table below lists this data, and compares it to data across Hawaii and the rest of the USA.
| Statistic | Maui | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (not Hispanic or Latino) | 31.1% | 22.9% | 61.6% |
| Asian | 28.7% | 37.3% | 5.6% |
| Two or more races | 23.3% | 23.0% | 2.6% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 10.7% | 9.9% | 0.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.4% | 10.4% | 17.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 1.0% | 2.6% | 13.3% |
| American Indian / Alaska native | 0.6% | 0.5% | 1.2% |
All data is from 2015.
Maui demographics – age and households
The age breakdown in Maui is broadly similar to the rest of Hawaii, and the rest of the USA.
In total, 22.3% of people in Maui are aged under 18, and 33% of households have children under the age of 18. The average family size in Maui county is 3.41 people.
Education in Maui
The vast majority of people in Maui have graduated high school – latest data shows that 91.5% of people aged over 25 have a high school diploma, compared to 86.7% of people across America.
People in Maui are less likely to have attended university and gained a bachelor’s degree, however. Just over a quarter (26.1%) of people had a degree, compared with a national average of 29.8%.
Maui tourist population
Maui is a popular vacation destination. In 2016, Maui welcomed 2.6 million visitors, an increase of 3.9% on 2015. That’s more than a quarter of the 8.9 million people who visited all of the Hawaiian Islands during the year. In total, visitors to Maui spent $7.3 billion, providing a major boost to the local economy.
Further reading and sources
Data in this article comes from the US Census Bureau or Hawaii.gov, unless otherwise stated.