Even as West Maui prepares to reopen on October 8, there could be significant headwinds ahead, at least in the short term. For now, that was just evidenced with one airline that has decided to pare back its key Maui routes from two major hub gateways.
Maui’s fire recovery timing is uncertain.
Even as the state and businesses are pleading with Maui visitors to return to West Maui effective October 8, and the rest of Maui immediately, that is not yet happening. Following the catastrophic Lahaina fire, visitors were ushered off the island entirely, and ongoing concerns about both timing and being welcome have left many unsure and so far not returning.
Maui visitor count is running about one-half of normal.
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Last year at this time, Maui saw up to 8,000 visitor arrivals daily. As of this past week, that has been running at no more than 3,000 visitors. While that’s an improvement over the virtual stoppage of arrivals following the fire, it isn’t enough to sustain Maui businesses and their employees.
These Delta Maui flights are removed from its schedule.
For the time being, Delta Air Lines has stopped flights from Minneapolis to Maui and from Atlanta to Maui. Passengers will either need to change to interisland flights in Honolulu, or change planes on the mainland. Delta continues to fly to Maui nonstop from both Los Angeles and Seattle. Delta nonstop flights from Salt Lake City to Maui are set to resume from December through March, at least at this time. Those flights are priced as low as $174 each way, for flights in January and after.
Delta Air Lines has Maui deals to help bring back customers.
The airline is offering nonstop Maui flights this fall from Los Angeles for as little as $99 each way including all taxes and fees. Nonstop Maui flights from Seattle are as little as $129 each way, also this fall.
The message is clear that airlines and Maui businesses all want to help bring visitors back to the island following the Lahaina fire. Can Maui count on you to return again soon?
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While I am concerned and sad about the fires in Maui, and their current predicament, I’d like to suggest that those who do not feel comfortable going to Maui in the next few months, give another Hawaiian Island a try! Some owners are adjusting their pricing to help make stays more affordable. We love Kauai, and have a place there, but Big Island and Molokai, are also favorites of ours. While you’re waiting to be comfortable returning to Maui, give another island a try. You may fall in love all over again.
We want to return to our condo on the West side of Maui. However, the vibe that we are feeling from the native Hawaiian’s (via press clippings) is that we are not wanted nor welcome. We are respecting their wishes.
It needs to be repeated over and over. There’e a lot of Aloha going on trying to help Maui. It’s being challenged by the conspiracy folks and special interests…even the people that gave us the space laser theories for wildfires are back, as well as the “I don’t care about Hawaii because “the locals don’t want us”, or “how dare they use taxes to try and manage tourism” or for whatever reason other reason they need to spread anger and false realities. Those people are a small minority. There are a lot of good people on Maui doing a lot of good things and the island is still a beautiful slice of paradise. If you need to vent about your personal bias you are kicking people when they are down. Anybody coming to Maui will most definitely find there is still plenty of Aloha to be found. Adversity brings out the best and the worst in people. Very evident in what’s going on now.
I was married on Maui 40 years ago. I love Maui. Please restore Maui to its original state. Please don’t let developers or other wealthy people come in and ruin this beautiful area. I pray for the preservation of island and its native people
I am perplex that the article does not mention the areas of Maui such as Wailea, Kihei etc that are open. I just got back from Maui , Wailea is open and beautiful, now is the time to enjoy a vacation without so many tourist, no need for reservations , great service etc.
It is very damaging to this areas not to explain that they are fully open.
Looking forward to traveling to Maui in late February. We will be renewing our wedding vows 50 years and counting. Love this place so sad about the loss of life. Excited to help with the rebuilding. Bonnie
We canceled our family trip and anniversary trip to Kona next year because fares are doubled beginning in January 2024 check it out on Hawaiian Airlines app.
I think we learned a high capacity ferry (like Super Ferry) is an essential emergency response asset.
Look at the San Francisco Bay and the NYC areas. Ferries were extremely helpful in emergency response.
True, neither of those cities experienced devistation of the sole ferry dock (as Lahaina suffered.). You also need more than one ferry dock.
Unlike covid when everything was shutdown many of us have taken our canceled Maui vacation funds and spent them in vacation spots that actually want tourist.
Their message is come and have a great time, not come to Maui to save us from poor decision making by our politicians.
As much as we would have loved to have come back sooner to support tourism in Maui, many tourists like us are bound by constraints like work projects, the school year, and the complicated schedules of our adult children. Finding a time that works for everyone is difficult, and hard to re-schedule on short notice. Take heart though, our next trip will be to no other destination but Maui. We will not use our airline credits for anywhere else. See you in August 2024!
I think the cost and other difficulties of getting there have become more of a factor for the Hawaiian slow down than the fire.
Absolutely agree that Maui residents and politicians discourage tourism by extorting exorbitant taxes, levies and service fees on the tourism industry, 20% resort fees, 30% room taxes and $60.00 day parking charges at $500.00++ day resorts. Parking charges at previous free public beaches and parking charges on dangerous road shoulders at scenic mile markers. Price gouging at all restaurants on fish thats caught in the harbor. Complaints by the locals about tourist attitudes, driving, polluting and overcrowding their island. These are are serious issues that need to be addressed if Maui is serious about inviting tourists to return. There are many other idyllic islands to visit that are alot cheaper and certainly more accommodating to tourists
I so agree. It seems like to many folks on Maui just want tourist money but hate the tourists. Uhhh no thanks. I agree with the price gouging too. Simply ridiculous prices and taxes and fees. This is definitely not a middle class destination. Gas, parking, hidden fees, etc…I will pass. I went to kona in January 2023 and paid $7.00 for a loaf of bread and almost $20.00 for eggs. Crazy!! How do the locals afford this?
If everyone was not out to make a buck at Maui’s expense, it would be nice. I’d live to go but all I see are sky high prices…
United, please resume nonstops from ORD to Maui. I’ll book immediately!!!
Hi,
Just got back from 10 days on the Big Island. We had enough points to fly free on SWA.
I’ve flown SWA many times on the mainland but it would not be my first choice to fly to Hawaii. However, as the saying goes, the price was right.
The overall experience turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Your previous review of SWA to Hawaii was spot on.
Some thoughts :
* Max 8 is a nice plane. Very impressed with the legroom.
* Mixed emotions about open seating. Paid for the early bird seating. Still was far back in the A’s going and up front in the B’s coming back. Despite repeated whining to my wife about our line position, finding acceptable seats was not a problem. However, would hate to be in the dreaded C’s.
* I’ve heard complaints about the food or lack of. I can go a few hours without a full meal (especially a lukewarm airline version of one)and found the snack package fine. There were also several times beverages were offered.
*The crews were excellent. Far superior to the rather hostile and seemingly burned out Delta crews I encountered when paying to fly first class to Hawaii just before Covid.
* Obviously the two free checked bags beats the hell out of the rip-off luggage policies on the other liners.
* You need your own device for inflight entertainment.
Bottom line : I would not hesitate to fly SWA again to Hawaii.
Thanks for the great service you guys provide. I always find your work informative and very helpful.
Hi Martin.
Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed SW to Hawaii.
Aloha.
FWIW there is the perception that supporting Hawaii businesses is supporting Hawaii during this difficult period. Hawaiian Air is the only airline that the revenue from a ticket actually goes back to Hawaii rather then leave the state. A ticket bought on HA is support for the buy local movement that is meant to help the recovery process…
If I fly from Maui to The Big Island, is it better to fly into Hilo or Kona, likewise which airlines? Also, what is suggested when flying from Hawaii to Chicago? We have been using SWA. We don’t mind having a layover. It gives us a chance to move around.
The real problem for us was that the seats were like sitting on a park bench. Much too uncomfortable for a six hour flight.
If the hotels will get with the program we would come back but not at the current prices.
Aloha,
“Can Maui count on you to return again soon?” Answer, No. You have a governance problem. The Lahaina fire tragedy and requirement to house people notwithstanding, including the inherent disorganization a disaster brings, as a potential visitor I have zero confidence that your government has the situation under control. Let’s recap: Get out. Maui is closed. Ah, wait, maybe not. OK, West Maui is closed. Stay away. Ah, wait, maybe not, um, maybe October 17, ya October 17. Wait, maybe October 8. Ya, that’s it. Meanwhile, the BOH August 25 post stated that the Kaanapali Shores was under contract with the Red Cross until October 31, then Sept 30, and that Aston West Maui has closed bookings until Nov 1st, etc. While this is wonderful, the message conveys that there are no firm reopening dates. We used to visit West Maui once or twice a year for a couple of weeks but have not been since late 2019 due to a desire to avoid the covid abuse, pricing abuse and an undeniable message from some Maui residents that “you need to go somewhere else “. We had 2 weeks booked in West Maui for this coming December but cancelled on the “October 17” proclamation because we didn’t believe it.
Mahalo
Hi Gerry.
Thanks for dozens of comments. We understand the frustration with the state, which is something residents and visitors may not feel that differently about. For better or worse, it was the best they could do under the circumstances.
Aloha.
Aloha looking forward to going to Paradise mahalo!!
All I’m hearing is hate from people in Hawaii how the white oppressor Annexed their Island not a very welcoming message
I as an Oahu resident I wouldn’t trust them saying October 8, and it won’t be a normal vacation because not everyone will be welcoming when visitors return because half of us feel it’s too soon
I’m curious, Erika, when do you think it will not be “too soon”? In 3 months? A year? If I may venture a guess, judging by your post, I would guess the answer for you is “never”.
And therein lies the problem.
The hotels are not discounted. When will that happen? Once that does it will be affordable and you will find more people there.
Hi Belinda.
There are already discounts on some accommodations this fall in West Maui and you’ll see more announced this week. It takes some time to put those out.
Aloha.
I’ll be there on the 20th. Taking Hawaiian out of LAX in the morning, then back on American on the afternoon of the 23rd. Booked in large part to help backfill those sweet sweet tourism dollars, thanks to catching news about super cheap flights via this blog.
Hi Ian.
Thanks. Glad to hear you were able to get done well-priced airfare and can return to Maui.
Aloha.
Read an article which said there are 18,000 rental cars parked
near the airport. The rental car companies have arranged for car barges to come and pick up some of the cars and move them somewhere else.
Our hearts go out to those impacted.
Maybe some of those unused rental cars can be sold on Maui? There were a number of cars burned in the tragedy.
We have been to Maui twice. Last time was last December. At that time it was clear we were not a welcome as we were the first time a few years earlier. Businesses always want your money but others were less friendly. Government actions clearly were to discourage us.
So while we find the Lahaina fire very disheartening and regrettable, the situation Maui now finds itself in has been worsened by its own actions.
We decided the Caribbean will be our new destination of choice. Maybe in the future Maui will be more aware and appreciative of the many benefits tourists bring. I do not mean to imply the inappropriate actions of a few should be condoned or accepted just that restrictions and fees not so encouraged as they were.
We kept our reservations at Westin Ka’anapali Villas for three weeks in January. We’ve already booked two whale watching excursion just last week, so it looks like it was the correct decision. We’ve lost some of our favorite happy hour places, however, Honu’s is hopeful of reopening at some point. Can’t wait to return to our favorite place on earth.
We’re excited that West Maui is reopening. We have plans for an adult only family vacation mid November, and will treat all we meet with great respect and we’ll tip real well too!
That’s about what it feels like now – a little less than half the amount of visitors. The ones here seem to be having a blissful time, though. Smart folks who saw the silver lining and made their way over.
Hi Pat.
Thanks. We appreciate your more than 300 comments! Let’s see how the numbers change in the next weeks.
Aloha.