Kahului is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County, on the island of Maui, in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The largest community on the island, it lies on the north shore of central Maui. Kahului hosts Maui's main airport, deep-draft harbor, light industrial areas, and commercial shopping centers. The population was 20,146 at the 2000 census. Kahului is the retail center for Maui residents and there are several malls and major stores (including department stores in the Queen Kaahumanu Center); other significant groupings of stores are in Lāhainā 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 of Wailea in Kihei. Retailing changed greatly with the arrival of big-box retailers from the U.S. Mainland, including Wal-Mart and Home Depot. Kahului is not generally considered a tourist destination, but does feature the Alexander and 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 of the CDP.