The exact date of the airport's construction is unknown, but was presumably built to transport workers to develop Kaanapali into a resort by Amfac, Inc. around 1961.

"[3] The airport was one of the most challenging locations to fly because of its short 2,700-foot (820 m) runway, which began just beyond Kaanapali Beach and cut a narrow swath through high green sugarcane fields.

[4] Around 1983, Royal Hawaiian acquired two STOL capable de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprop aircraft, which flew nearly exclusively on the Honolulu to Kaanapali route.

It was named the Kapalua-West Maui Airport in recognition of the Kapalua Resort owned by the same parent company.

[5] On March 1, 1987, Hawaiian Airlines initiated service West Maui at the new airport with 50-seat, STOL capable de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 turboprop aircraft.