Staying on Maui is expensive; there’s no doubt about that. Today we are covering costs and a bonus gift if you decide to visit.
Just how expensive is Maui?
In the last month reported, October 2022, the island boasted the highest hotel rates in the state once again. The average daily rate was $528, up more than 56% compared with 2019. And in coveted Wailea (pictured above), the average rate soared to $830, which might seem like a deal since that number hit $1,000+ this past summer. The relative bargain spot is the West Maui area from Lahaina to Kapalua, pegged at $472. In October, Maui vacation rentals averaged $343 per night, +53% compared with 2019.
Is Maui sold out?
Largely so, especially for in-demand acommodations. We spoke with multiple hotel and vacation rental managers this week and heard the same story. “We are largely sold out heading into 2023.” Checking recently on the OTA’s like Booking, we found the same thing. It looks like there is simply no end to the demand for Maui vacations, and 2023 is set to be a banner year for the island.
New promotion from the Maui Visitors Bureau.
The state-funded visitor bureau and Raw Elements have partnered to offer mineral-based sunscreen at no cost at 20 locations. You will find this at the busiest beaches on Maui. While it doesn’t remove the burnout feeling caused by higher prices, it may help to soothe it by doing something good for the environment.
Supporting regenerative tourism, per the bureau, the dispensers are to be found at these beaches:
- Baldwin Beach Park
- Haycraft Beach Park
- Hulopoe Bay, Lanai
- Honolua Farms Food Truck at Honolua Bay
- Hookipa Beach Park
- Kalepolepo Beach Park
- Kamaole 1 Beach Park
- Kamaole 2 Beach Park
- Kamaole 3 Beach Park
- Kanaha Beach Park
- Keawakapu Beach (2 dispensers)
- Launiupoko Beach Park
- Papalaua Wayside Park
- Pohaku Beach Park
- Waianapanapa State Park
- Whalerʻs Village (4 dispensers)
The new Maui sunscreen law started in October.
Sunscreen ends up in the ocean. A new law that went into effect in October bans all non-mineral sunscreens across Maui County, including Lanai and Molokai. Effective December 1, the Big Island enacted a similar law.
It became illegal to use, sell or distribute sunscreens that aren’t mineral-based without a prescription. Sunscreens must be made using zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients to be allowed. Those are the ones the USDA is proposing to be both “safe and effective.” Maui hopes that the law will be one step in protecting coral reefs that comprise a critical aspect of Hawaii’s fragile marine ecosystem.
Controversy about sunscreens.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-based sunscreens are all the talk, especially in Hawaii. These “safe and effective” active ingredients allowed by Maui and Hawaii counties are considered physical barriers that offer greater protection than chemical sunscreens. That is also true according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Some of you have disagreed with that assessment in previous comments. Others believe that sunscreens of all types should be encouraged when skin cancer rates are increasing and more research is still needed about sunscreens. That was corroborated by a report from the National Academy of Sciences, which indicated an ongoing lack of confirming data regarding sunscreens. Others believe that reef-safe sunscreens aren’t necessarily better for marine life.
As the debate continues, look for Hawaii to update its sunscreen laws in conjunction with future findings from the FDA.
It took me a while to get to this article, but I couldn’t; help but notice that your reference to the picture, “And in coveted Wailea (pictured above), looks very much like a photo of Kaanapali beach looking South from Black Rock.
The picture label is incorrect. That’s kaanapali Beach
We just got back from Maui. It was much busier than normal with a good many younger people coming to the island. However, if it’s the beaches you enjoy Maui is difficult to beat.
Interesting Article BOH! Please keep up the Great Work. The Sunscreen issue is one that is still evolving and if eliminating certain types will benefit the Coral Reefs, thus marine life, we shouldn’t gripe. I believe if this fails that wearing Mud won’t leave a Happy Tan. Prices are Beyond Crazy and will have it’s “discounted slow season” rates too, the only reasonable option is not to go if it’s unaffordable. Let’s see how high prices will effect those that visit, will anger and ignorance increase? Hopefully Not! Excellent idea dispensing Free lotion at the named Beaches, how much is the Local/State paying to Subsidize that? Either Way it’s a Plus/Plus for doing this. Sounds like Everyone including Marine Life should be Happy moving forwa
Yes it’s more expensive and people continue to come, but as I stated in a previous topic the economy in California is taking a dump.
Big Tech is laying off, housing sales have completely stopped and just announced by the State of California, because of their huge 25 billion dollar budget deficit and poor cash flow state workers will soon be furloughed one day a month without pay.
I’m in the car business just starting to see the leading edge of individuals trying to off load their $1,000 plus a month car loans, plus Carvana the big online car dealer is heading into bankruptcy.
Yes Maui is doing big business today, but sometime late summer or early fall I believe it will be a different story.
Big Budget California is often a leading indicator anymore as to how the balance of the Country will look 12 to 18 months from now. Certain areas may not be effected quite as severely, however, don’t keep throwing your loose change in the parking lots. California, and a few other States, are in trouble due to Overspending and Mismanagement, Over Regulating and Providing Services for Practically Anyone that Wants Them surely is hurting. Now is the time to begin tightening up for what’s coming, if you already haven’t. Having Foresight, being prepared, is better than Hindsight while trying to dig yourself out of a hole that keeps getting refilled! I’m hoping that it won’t be California Bad.
A lot of dis-information in this reply.
The cost of rooms, car rentals are out of control. You worry about sun screen. You got to be kidding. Where does Maui dump there sewer waist? What do they treat it with? I would assume all pollutants from garbage, lawn fertilizer, leach into the storm systems that somehow enters( dumps) in the ocean. The asphalt streets have oils but worry about sun screen. On Oahu you have the Navy ships , some spilling oils for years. I understand the concerns about the reefs, but sunscreen is not the issue.
I been visiting the islands since 1981. 40 years of sunscreen , how bad are the reefs?
Apparently not expensive enough 😂
Record numbers continue. Can’t blame people for making money if the market allows for it.
My husband and I are here now on West Maui for 10 days. We typically come 2 to 3 times a year. Yes, things have gotten pricey, but they have everywhere. We typically stop at Costco and local Times Supermarket to get enough supplies to cover most breakfasts, some lunches, and at least half of our dinners. We always have great vacations enjoying activities that don’t necessarily cost a lot of money: hikes, walks, snorkeling, and enjoying drives to different parts of the island. We will keep coming back.
As a Maui resident, I say “Good for Maui, and good for the fish in the coral!”
And I also say, “Dear tourists, please behave yourselves,”and to the locals, I say, “please be patient and grateful.”
Accommodations not as much, but the crazy airfare prices during holidays when kids are out of school caused us to pull the plugbon our Hawaian plans next April.
So much for inflation, I have a marriot card with a ton of points that are worthless as no hotel wants to take them
I also have a “ton of Marriott Bonvoy credit card points” and I searched on Maui on a random date in April 2023 … I found multiple Maui Marriott-branded properties taking reservations using Bonvoy points or US dollars for rooms … perhaps your choice of dates and/or locations are more in demand than the date I chose, so the properties are only taking dollars on those dates. I wish you good hunting.
“Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-based sunscreens are all the talk, especially in Hawaii. These “safe and effective” active ingredients allowed by Maui and Hawaii counties are considered physical barriers that offer greater protection than chemical sunscreens”
So, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are not “chemicals”?
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are two naturally occurring minerals that sit on top of your skin to create a barrier and reflect the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.
You have to figure, it sits and reflects sun beams away from your skin, and when it washes off in the ocean it rests on the coral and reflects sun light away from the coral. I think the explanations for polyp die off was lack of sunlight.
Is there any basis in science for mineral vs other sunscreen ? It sounds like another scam made up to help people who use it to feel better about themselves.