It’s a double-edged sword, where nothing visitors do seems right. And therein may lie the answer to why they aren’t returning and businesses are cutting back.
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It’s a double-edged sword, where nothing visitors do seems right. And therein may lie the answer to why they aren’t returning and businesses are cutting back.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
So, we are scheduled for a 10 day stay at Napili Kai from Oct. 14th to the 23rd. Can we still meet that date, if not, will we get our $2,800 deposit back? We don’t want to be disrespectful, and we planned on helping out where ever we can be of help but don’t know if we will be welcome or able to stay where our reservation is, which was made clear back in February. We can’t change our dates because we are self employed and it took some figuring to even take a vacation.
My heart is breaking for all who were affected by the fire and I am still praying for your health and wellbeing! Thank you & God Bless!
Hi, we have a condo in Honokowai, just south of Kahana. I’ve been too distraught to even think of renting it out. All our bookings cancelled and we fully refunded. All I do is think about the horrible situation. Having said that, if I were you, I’d go. It will obviously not bea normal vacation. You can go to the beach, eat at open restaurants, spend money, tip well and volunteer. We’re planning to go at the end of October. Best to you.
Thank you BOH for allowing me to post.
We love Maui and want to do what is best for the residents. We are a bit hamstrung due to travel restrictions and have postponed our October week to November and apparently may not extend further. We’d like to know what to expect, and with respect, how we might help.
No question that we will return for our annual trip the end of November. My daughter lives in Lahaina and has a restaurant there, which survived the fires. Not sure when they will be able to reopen but I hope that people will return to Maui to help the economy. We will try to help in any way that we can while we are visiting.
The cheap flights arent really helpful. I can see airfare going back to normal and lodging going even higher so I don’t see visiting any time soon, Maui accommodations were already overpriced post Covid. I’ve already felt locals distain for visitors that idk if we’ll ever go back. I’d made the choice prefire. I love it there and I’ll miss it.
The Local and State government needs to figure this out.
The displaced people need to be housed for a long time. Rebuilding will take atleast 2 years.
So vacation rentals should be the first option for these people for the duration long term. Government needs to step up with pressure on these owners.
So you want your taxes raised to subsidize placing the displaced in short-term rentals, is what I’m hearing you say, right? The money has to come from somewhere. So, instead of “putting pressure” on short-term rental owners, what you are really saying is that the government should “provide a monetary incentive” to rent to the displaced.
That’s not a bad idea, actually.
Some people think that short-term rental owners are rich, which is far from the truth. In fact, some of the displaced own short-term rentals elsewhere on the island. So you want to “put pressure” on them as well, right?
Please, define “pressure”. As far as I’m aware, there’s no law that can force an owner of a private property to accept tenants under any conditions or expect the owners to accept tenants below the market value.
Calculate the number of displaced, figure out how many vacant rentals are needed and available, secure the funding, then have the vacation rental owners volunteer and see how many are willing to open their vacation homes long term for adequate compensation. Everyone benefits, including the owners who’d secure 100% occupancy over a period of a year or two or longer if needed.
Another option could be portable homes which are inexpensive and fast to build. The only major logistic issue is transporting them to Maui fast enough and in the quantities needed.
If the Hawai’i government doesn’t have sufficient funds for this, have the Federal government step in. Very simple and quick solution.
We have a timeshare week at the Hyatt Residence Club booked for October 28. We will be visiting Kaanapali at that time and we will spend our money there. We will be heartbroken to drive past our beloved Puamana where we spent so many magical times. Heartbroken for othe owners of the properties lost, heartbroken for the people who have lost their jobs there and the loss of the beautiful Plantation house there where our children would do their homework and check out books. We will be heartbroken on Sunday as we won’t be able to worship in Holy Innocents Church or have brunch at the Pioneer Inn, as was our pattern. While on Maui in May we didn’t make it to Pioneer Inn … we said we will do it in October 🙁 We will be heartbroken to drive past Lahaina, but we will continue to say prayers for all the people who perished or lost their jobs and their properties. Now is not the time for us to stay away.
Dear Sir or Madam,
The fires on Maui were quite devastating, and the losses tremendous in both loss of life and properties. I lived in Honolulu while attending university in the 70’s, and have visited Maui many times then, and a few times over the years since moving back to the mainland. There has always been a clash between locals and their animosity towards tourists or outsiders. The local people realize that without tourists or the military, things would be very different, however they don’t like either really. I remember local students explaining to me that once they finish university, there would be no jobs for them in their fields, thus they would have to leave their homeland and move to the mainland to land a job. This entails leaving their family and special way of life, some I knew finished university and got a job at Longs Drug Store as a clerk at her then leave all behind, very sad indeed. Today, one sees wealthy Americans moving to the islands and buying land and properties at inflated rates, and ultimately causing prices to rise thus shutting out less fortunate folks who now can’t afford a house or piece of land, and being islands, land is limited and will continue to rise in price. If the Hawaiian Islands had remained a Kingdom, or self governing group of islands, one might have been able limit ownership in some way to allow the local people easier access to ownership over immigrating non locals. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible now.
Correct, many have had to leave their family and special way of life, in all areas of the country. Gentrification and inflation have made it impossible to do otherwise. Should each state become “self-governing”? The lands of all of them were “stolen” originally.
Or is it just the state of Hawaii you’re talking about?
Hi, we were lucky to visit Lahaina in June, had lunch at Fleetwood’s, took pictures under the banyan tree. We didn’t know we were saying “goodbye”.
We generally stay 3 weeks a year in either Kauai or Maui, but since covid the changes have made us feel less wanted, airfares up, condos up 40%, car rentals doubled. In Kauai fewer beaches available to tourists. We live in a resort town in the Sierra’s, so we understand the problems that covid brought, but raising cost is not the answer. We recently compared the cost of 2 weeks in Kauai or 2 weeks on a cruise ship 🚢 in the Caribbean, the cruise ship was cheaper, this is a sad commentary on what Hawaii is becoming.
We understand how Hawaiian locals feel, we don’t like tourists either, they fill our parks, beaches, restaurants, create traffic and leave trash everywhere. Sadly the local government is more interested in the tourist dollars than the well being of the people that make up the city.
We will miss Hawaii and it’s wonderful people, but the almighty dollar is leading the islands in the wrong direction. Aloha
We all want to help. But as the article touched on, don’t expect the Aloha spirit. Why then would I want to visit an island that simply doesn’t want us there?
When I started getting emails with pleas to return, I searched accommodations. Very, very limited availability. No Kaanipali hotels accepting guests. It’s hard to stopper the island with nowhere to stay….
It’s understandable that Ka’anipali hotels have not opened up dates. As the article says the other areas of Maui are open.
I feel this was caused by our Lt Governor and therefore, she needs to go on national TV and apologize and fix this today!!! Otherwise, Maui will
continue to get in deeper trouble. Hawai’i law makers need to see the bigger picture of things before creating stressful situations like this!
We will return, but not until the spring. Regardless of mixed messaging by the Maui government or any other group, my wife and I feel it would be callous to be having fun in a place where so many are in pain. This is mostly our own feeling after discussing what to do with each other. We do love all Maui and will continue to provide our own small contributions to the island.
Thank you
In short many of the people of Maui are saying is…..We want your money and stay home…that about says it all.
There’s hope. Here is an excellent site that has the daily visitor count to the different islands, including Maui.
After tourism went off a cliff in early August, it is show signs of life. Look at the Maui Domestic Visitor Count for the last few days here:
files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/data_reports/special/image007.png
This is sad and inevitable. As I have been saying all along on this message board, there are a handful of people who have been spewing incorrect information to restrict people from coming to Maui. Tourism is the life blood of this island and with that we have a COVID like situation. Businesses are expecting PPP-like loans, but think about it, have those been offered to areas on the main land where such natural disasters occur? Resorts in South Maui are operating below 20% occupancy. How is this sustainable even for 3-4 months? Also surprising is that they haven’t put out any incentives or lowered prices for people to come and visit. This is just bad business behavior.
Tragically, Maui people suffer even more.
The government has been too willing to depend solely on money that falls from the sky (some of it does make a safe landing).
It will take a very different kind of leader, and frankly a different level of populace engagement to deliver it.
Diversifying the economy beyond tourism giveaways and supporting locals opening saimin and shave ice shops needs to be a priority. What else is the Hawaii Economic Development organization doing?
Diversifying into what, exactly? Hawaii land use regulations are incredibly onerous and outrageously expensive. Hawaii state taxes are among the highest in the nation, arguably number two behind leader Oregon. Hawaii electricity rates, at a whopping 41.74 ¢/kWh in 2023, are also the highest in the nation, and by a lot. And shipping rates to/from Hawaii? Once again, off-the-charts expensive.
Other than tourism, no one is starting a competitive business or industry on Hawaii. No one, because neither the economics nor economies of scale work. At all.
Great information! Solid data on (some of) what the government needs to do to diversify the economy.
Giveaway Real Estate taxes encourage non-resident owners. Who would choose to pay ridiculous Hawaii income tax?
Big changes are needed!
We were going to book our trip, September 14-21, on Maui. However, the hotels were $600+ per night. Sadly, we had to change our plans and book on the Big Island where prices were in the $400-$450 range for comparable hotels.
No. We go normally visit 2x/year for two weeks each. Feel we will be disrespected and unwelcomed. The Maui residents need to process and get past this tragic loss, and have a clear understanding of what the plan is – what’s next for a bright future. Instead we are sending donations.
Set up grief counseling as a program on all Maui radio and tv stations – it can be done. Doesn’t need to be one-on-one. Get your best presenters speakers on this. Heal Maui!
Thank you for your articles.
As a tourist to Maui it has become like a second home to us over 15yrs and the articles you provide keep me in touch with what’s happening throughout the year.
The recent article on visiting or staying away is a great article as it nailed the confusion I am feeling about returning to the island.
I have a 3 week return stay scheduled for Nov / Dec.
It is so difficult to decide what to do or to find someone to talk to.
Do I come back or stay away?
Went to Maui for 12 years. For the last five the locals have made it clear they don’t want visitors from the mainland. I’ve been taking vacations elsewhere and my money. They can keep Hawaii local. That was what they said. Now they have a crisis not sure the aloha is real. I am sorry for what happened. It’s a real tragedy. Many senseless deaths. Now they are afraid we will steal their land again tired of this nonsense. Most are not true Hawaiians just like Americans they are mixed with other countries of Asian descent. Most don’t have Polynesian roots. Either you want to be Americans or you don’t. It can not be only when it suits your needs.
Makes sense to me. You know if US didn’t make it a territory Japan would’ve wiped clean all the Hawaiian history back in the day.
We are booked in Kaanapali the end of October. I have been in constant contact with the management company and they assure us we are able to keep our reservation, so we are coming. We hope to do some volunteer work there, if we are needed. Our hearts go out to all of Maui. Mahalo.
Yesterday I watched on TV at the Hawaii University they were praying for the people of
Lahaina on the 50 yard line by Hawaiian priests
Along with the Governor
who was busy working his phone, It did not show respect for the poor people who lost everything
Your tourism industry may be helped if you would delete all the old messages of ‘don’t come’ that are out there. I am still coming the beginning of October for 6 weeks – my condo owner wrote to me that everything was still as planned which was a big relief to hear from him and much appreciated with all the conflicting messages everywhere.
We didn’t have plans for a fall trip but felt called to go when we started reading the pleas from locals. The airfare sale last week sealed the deal. I have friends in Kihei now who are being repeatedly thanked for coming. I also messaged a few condo owners prior to booking and they each asked us to please come. We booked Kapalua for the 2nd week of October. I have read of many of our favorite local spots reopening and we plan to support them as well as be prepared to spend most of our time away from West Maui, depending on the climate there. It is a delicate balance for sure but they clearly need tourist’s support.
A lot of comments from locals admonishing anyone who came to Maui was a real turn off. I have a Hawai’Ian friend local who lives there and said most don’t feel that way. She said ” Tourist didn’t start the fires but some are aiming their anger towards them” That’s how I feel. I won’t go back for a while.
I bought into the Westin Nanea a year ago and now I’m really reconsidering returning or going outside the “network” to vacation elsewhere for a few years. For my trip this mid September I chose to switch to Oahu because it’s way too early to be in Maui, (obviously west Maui is off limits) but I don’t feel it’s respectful or appropriate to be on the island at all. Social media posts from locals are also confusing because they’re saying Haoles stay away. The last thing I want is to be in an area where I’m not wanted. It’s very uncomfortable. I’ll see what happens in the next 12 months but the entire situation is very sad and tragic. I also feel guilty even discussing vacation issues when there are still so many people unaccounted for.
Thanks
I have a trip planned for October 6 to stay at the Grand Wailea. At this point we are still coming and hope Kaanapali will be open by then. I just want to make sure we will be welcomed.
Thank you,
Kim N
Everyone wants to blame someone.
It’s very sad, but our society/government is not structured
to handle disasters this big. Maui will take years to recover.
My husband and i just gotbac from a vacation in Kihei/Wailea and it was wonderful! We were in a condo but went to resorts in wailea to use amenities. We were treated the best by all local people- the aloha spirit is still alive! We are going bac at christmas- we are frequent visitors and were very saddened by the Lahaina Fire but please do not cancel Any plans to Maui- they need us and we can still enjoy the beauty and ohana of beautiful Maui!
We are going to Kihei for 2 weeks beginning October 31st. We will be looking to spend some of our time with a volunteer organization helping in any way that we can during our time in Maui.
My extended family had a trip planned for one of the Kannapoli timeshares for the week of September 2. Following a letter we received from the Hotel chain, we cancelled our trip and went to Honolulu instead. The Hotel chain letter said there would be no housekeeping, no food, pools would be closed and possible power outages. The hotel provided financial incentive for us to cancel our trip.
I have since heard FEMA is housing families of employees and others who have lost their homes. This is a good use for the empty timeshares but will further limit vacationers return. I see no light in the end of the tunnel in regards to vacationers. It may take over a year to resettle residents. In the mean time, we unfortunately have had to take our business elsewhere.
Even prior to the fire, there were numerous anti-tourist messages from Maui including things like restricted beach hours at some beaches for tourists (often wrecking best snorkeling times), usurious parking rates for off islanders ($30 even if you were going to stay an hour) and lots of trash talk about visitors in general. Many of us have visited Maui regularly for years, spending 10s of thousands of dollars each visit, and not contributing to any of the “bad visitor” behaviour often mentioned in posts by locals. Prior to the fires we had decided not to spend a month in S. Maui this fall, as we have done for a couple decades prior, given the “bad vibes”. We would have considered coming now, to help out, but the recent horrible and frequently contradictory communications from state and local government, have dissuaded us.
Aloha…..people and friends let’s return to Maui. They need our help desperately. Let’s not leave Maui in the hands who want to take over and control every aspect of civilization!
This is one of the best responses I have seen so far. I live and work in Honokowai and in talking with my friends and coworkers, if people do not come here to visit, residents will have to leave. They will have little choice but to sell their land or homes to capitalists who will, no doubt, erase the indigenous culture for more profitable ventures. There are many condo complexes on the West side. If the hotels are not booking, stay in a condo. There is not a ton of stuff to do now that Lahaina is gone, but it is still beautiful. I am in favor of respectful tourism, which is not trying to access Lahaina and use the devastation for likes and shares on your social media, but the rest of the island needs you now more than ever.
We will not be returning to Maui- ever. Our last visit was met with rudeness. We used to enjoy visiting twice a year, always respectful of the land and people. I will not return to an island that does not want us. They say too many tourists, well, you drive them away….now you say, oh please come…..um….no. We will spend our dollars somewhere else.
Lisa you are correct,
I lived on the island and owned a restaurant in Kihei. After 5 years living
On Maui I can not tell you how many times I ran into problems from
locals , things like we hate you people you took our islands, Go back to LA where you belong , I found that funny since I came from the east coast. They have a big chip on there shoulders something they are directing at the wrong people basically from my experience it’s
there locals who run the government. This is why I will never return ,life is to short to waste time with a minority of local’s making it bad for the majority of good locals.
I would try an reason with them when they would say we stole there
Islands , I would say what history books do you read and many of the younger kids never new that in 1960 that the Hawaiian people voted to become a state, I kid you not. The schools aren’t doing the jobs to educate youngsters about history so maybe we can see why they have the values they have.
Aloha guys! I was planning a trip early next year, but most likely won’t visit Maui as planned. Seems there is a lot of division on the Island, and the lodging seems to be resistant to enticing tourists. They alone will get tourists to the level that the residents want to see at the expense of everyone employed in the industry. I believe it will be a long recovery if they don’t get them on board. The governor is doing right by making it easier to rebuild by cutting through ted tape, but the preservation people need to realize it’s 2023 and things will be different since there is nothing left to preserve. Five year waits for permits will find people’s lives a shamble, and result in decades to rebuild, if ever. I wish the affected people well as no one deserves what has changed so many lives forever. Thank you for allowing me to use your forum. Aloha.
The mixed messaging is economically devastating to the island economy. Supporting Maui at this point is not disrespectful it’s a necessity that may avoid a total economic meltdown of the island.
This article very accurately conveys how messaging from both the Hawaiian government and social media has completely confused the typical Maui vacation consumer. This mixed in with the “anti-tourist agenda” that has a Very loud voice and social media presence (but in reality is a Very small population) has resulted in almost a complete pull-out of tourists and their associated on-island spending. The long-term economic impact could be devastating and will certainly outlast any modest government handouts that are likely to phase out by the end of this year. I own a condo in Kaanapali and was at nearly 95% rental occupancy pre- Gov Green’s edict to not travel to west Maui until after 17OCT. Of course, all renters canceled through that time period and we capitalized on that vacancy to have a family that lost their home in Lahaina stay there until they figure out long-term housing. But now we have cancelations coming in daily for bookings all the way through July 2024! This isn’t going to end anytime soon and is an absolute insult to those from Lahaina who lost everything and just happened to have jobs that were reliant upon the tourism industry…they long for the “normalcy” and long-term economic stability that their old jobs provided and now daily just wait for the “axe” to fall. So so sad.
As regular readers know, there was already an exodus of visitors happening before the fires, because of the unwelcoming vibe coming from a group of irresponsible residents. No visitor wants to attempt a “perfect vacation” under those conditions. I personally have read hundreds of posts, right here on this forum, vowing to vacation elsewhere, long before the fire.
Therefore, although “mixed messaging” is responsible in part for visitors wanting to stay away, there is a larger systemic problem here. Maui may not recover unless some of the local attitudes and messaging change, especially on social media.
Those of us, on island and off, who understand the severe economic consequences at stake should band together and start publicly chastising and shaming the irresponsible minority who are directly causing the demise of their fellow islanders.
I am a Mauian on the mainland visiitng family this week. I am systematically asking folks what their thoughts are about this situation. Although everyone I meet is sympathetic over the fire, a lot of folks are done with Maui over the anti-tourism rhetoric. What I am hearing is , “hey if I am going to drop $10K on a vacation, I am not going where I am not welcome”. The anti-tourists have done serious damage to our brand. This is going to take a concerted effort to undo.
No, not coming at all. I was sincerely thinking of perhaps coming next spring, even to help any way I can. However, cost and anti-visitor sentiment has tempered my plans. I get it, and I do not want to be a nuisance or burden. I pray for Maui as I have always loved and respected her. Please heal safely, respectfully and with much aloha.