Located leeward to Haleakala and originally called Kama’ole (meaning Barren) Kihei is Maui’s “dry” side of the island. Being the dry side of the island means it’s almost always sunny in Kihei. This makes it a popular place for sunbathing. With only about 22 thousand residents Kihei is a quiet place to relax. Plenty of restaurants and bars are within walking distance down by the beach. Nightlife in Kihei is normally filled with live music, dancing, and fun activities. From Kihei, you can sometimes see Molokini.