Celebs Next Door: VIPs that Call Maui Home
If you spend enough time on Maui, you’re bound to run into one of the rich and famous. First-timers may do a double-take, the more experienced will play it cool. After all, the allure of Maui is universal, proving once and for all that, celebs, they’re just like us. We here at Dive Maui have rounded up some of our favorite Maui lovers, and, because we are a dive shop, we’ve added a few of our most favorite famous divers as well.
Celebrities That Live on Maui
Maui has never had a problem drawing the famous and non-famous alike. Even famous fictional families such as the Seavers, from the beloved 1980s sitcom Growing Pains, have been famously swept away by Maui. Below are a few of our favorite neighbors here in Maui County that you might recognize.
Oprah Winfrey
It doesn’t get much bigger than Oprah, known worldwide by her name and face alone. Oprah has long had a love for Maui and even owns the Kula-Maui Thompson Ranch where she cultivates some organic products for sale.
Owen Wilson
While not a full-time resident, everyone’s favorite Wilson brother (Owen, not Luke, obviously) bought a home in a Maui eco-village development in 2008. He has even been noted to meet up with a fellow Texan a Maui fanatic, Willie Nelson.
Kris Kristofferson
After decades of adoring country audiences the world over, Kristofferson has spent much of his retirement living in East Maui, which is probably the only way to go if your day job used to be singing with Dolly Parton.
Destin Daniel Cretton
While you may not recognize the name, you’ve likely seen the work, as Maui native Cretton directed 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the ninth-highest grossing movie of the year with a worldwide box office of $432,233,010. One fun local connection is that the director actually edited the film in his grandparent’s home in Pukalani.
Woody Harrelson
The Zombieland actor is a well-known Maui aficionado who has long kept a home on the outskirts of Hana. And while it might sound like a bad joke to say that “Weird” Al Yankovic lives nearby, but it’s true, he does!
Famous SCUBA Fans
Everyone knows that James Cameron took to SCUBA like a fish to water, but other lesser-known, luminaires that also have a soft spot for diving may surprise you.
Salma Hayek
Famed for her acting abilities, few know that Hayek has been an avid diver since she was a preteen! She tells a pretty funny story about a deep dive she took in a recent interview with James Corden.
Tiger Woods
While we know that Tiger Woods often has golfed on Maui, we don’t know if he’s gotten a chance to dive here yet. However, we do know that he has taken up the sport in recent years and loves to SCUBA whenever he gets a chance.
Tom Hanks
America’s Dad can thank the 1980s classic Splash for being the reason why he originally received his SCUBA certification. In the years since Hanks has been noted to have kept up with the sport.
William Shatner
Many people know that Captain Kirk recently went to space for the first time, receiving lesser coverage was Shatner swimming with the sharks! But the actor’s love of diving has long been known, as he has been an avid open water diver for years.
Mathew McConaughey
If you think that McConaughey had become SCUBA certified for his role in the Kate Hudson rom-com Fool’s Gold, you’re wrong, the actor had long been a diver. In fact, one of his favorite dive sites was a visiting WWII wreckage off of Papua, New Guinea. If you’re interested in wreck diving, we offer a chance to explore one of Maui’s best in our Carthaginian wreck trip.
We’re Always Here to Help!
In conclusion, you’re just as likely to see a Hemsworth walking the streets of Lahaina in Maui as you are in a Marvel movie. After all, A-listers and average joes alike can see the appeal of SCUBA. So, if you’ve been stirred to visit Maui yourself, we do hope you’ll consider us here at Dive Maui for all of your diving, whale watching, and snorkeling needs.
