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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169 thoughts on “Maui Layoffs Underway Following Tourism Crash”
For anyone who is on the fence about coming to Maui … don’t be. My family and I are here now. We have been met with Grace and Aloha by at least 2 people who have lost everything. They both said – we need people to come so we won’t lose our jobs. We know life has to move on. Everything is open now, including the Hyatt Regency which are still hosting Red Cross, Fema and displaced people. Unfortunately, the Sheraton is not open and most likely will not be until the first of the year.
We are coming to Maui next year. We weren’t sure after the fire. We received an email from the condo we rented. It said please come,we are open. We know it will be different than previous times,but are really wanting to be there.
I’m afraid Maui has lost me as a visitor. Life is too short to put up with the nonsense coming out of the Governor’s office and a few but loud locals who don’t want tourists at all. I don’t understand their attitude since most of the money coming into Maui comes from tourists. Now, most of the money coming in is from the state in the form of welfare.
For the past 60+ years … what’s currently coming out of Hawai’i and local government as a result of the Lahaina tragedy has become the “Hawai’ian Way” … especially when looking at the bureaucratic side of the “Ohana-House” …
The playbook:
Destroy traditional industries. Followed by massive job losses. Charge more for goods and services. Raise taxes. Followed by more business/job losses. Increase welfare. More poverty, crime, congestion. And then wonder “how did this all happen ??”
I’ve lived in what truly was “Paradise” off/on since ‘da ’50s and that’s been my first-hand experience w/ what was once beautiful and what I once loved — and still do love, truth be told. Aue …
Booked to the big island in early October. Luckily we are flexible, unlike most who travel, and are watching closely. We would love to bring our tourism $$$ to Maui, but currently the lodging isn’t affordable. Keeping our fingers crossed that will change and we can hop on an interisland flight and visit an island we love and show some support to Maui.
I have been to Hawaii for about 10 vacations Always loved the Islands, Maui was my favorite, been there 7 times. I was riding to the airport ,going back home .As I sat in the back seat of the cab with the window rolled down we stopped for traffic. Two local men standing next to my cab said to me, “Did you enjoy your trip to Maui?” I said, “Yes” .One man replied sarcastically “Good, now go home”.I believe he meant it, and expressed the views of other locals. That might be the thing I remember most about my last trip to Maui.
Hawaiian people can be so ugly , lived there and it was something you had to deal with on a daily basis. I had a good friend who lived in Maui.
We grew up together in NJ he was a police officer in Maui and he had five boys who went to to local school and once a year they had
Beat up holey day. I thought he was crazy until he told me look it up on YouTube,I did. He was right both girls and boys would beat up none Hawaiians. It may still be on the web .
I was at Waimea Beach in August and the life guards had to stop a big fight of Hawaiians beating up one non-Hawaiian tourist.
So much to unpack here. Been to Maui a dozen times. Loved it there.
But…. The trust and the safety of the tourist has been lost. Just watched a video of locals chasing tourists off the beach, homeless encampments everywhere. State officials not turning sirens on because he thought people would escape into the fire. Not turning water on until he OK’d it with indeginous farmers. Police rerouting tourists back to the inferno. Just went to the Grand Wailea website. Their lowest price room is currently at $901.00 a night. Albeit it’s a 5 star hotel but I wonder if it ever crossed there minds to make it affordable in wake of the tragedy. Sad times.
Before Covid, my wife and I had visited Maui three times and the state for a total of 10 visits. After many reports about the damage caused by overtourism I had decided to stop visiting Maui and possibly any of the Islands; certainly the high expenses of a Hawaii vacation made the decision a little easier.
Upon reading this article and several others, reporting the hardships caused by the reduced visitor numbers, my wife have booked a trip to Maui in October. As before, we will be respectful visitors. It’s still relatively expensive but Hawaii is a special place.
Why does the Hawaiians resent mainlanders so much. They sould thank us for all we have done. Without Boeing, Lockeed no planes could be made to fly there. Without westcoast Longshoremen no goods or products from the westcoast would hit their port. Without
douglas fir trees grown in the pacific northwest and canada could there be any homes or hotels built. Yet for 15 years hawaii has barged all their garbage up the columbia river to be dumped in our landfills in Oregon,Washington, and Idaho. We have always supported hawaii so why are mainlanders not welcome. Last I looked hawaii is still a state and should be considered land of the free right.
So we invaded Hawaii and treated the native Hawaiians just like we treated the American Indians. We took their land and overthrew their government and we wonder why they don’t like us?
No one alive today had anything to do with that. What is hoped to be accomplished with all the hate? Many ethnic groups, religious groups, islands, etc. were persecuted hundreds of years ago, but most of these groups have moved on and don’t hate innocent people. Is it somehow satisfying to harbor such hate towards those who don’t deserve it? Smh..
“We are booked in Kahana for early October. We read that the road is open. Maui wants visitors. Then you say…that West Maui is closed until at least October 17. Should we rebook for October 17? Is that date guaranteed?” This is Exactly our problem as well, plus yesterday I got an email saying Leilani’s has canceled our dinner rez for 10/12, saying they’re open on the patio from noon to 7:00. Are restaurants and businesses open in West Maui? If there’s nothing open yet, is the October 17 date real? This is the frustration because we want to do the right thing but it’s a lot of money for flights and condo to just wait and see…
Governor Green’s most recent proclamation dated 9/8/23, officially welcomes tourists back to west Maui (with the exception of Lahaina town of course) as of 10/8/23. As you mentioned, many businesses in west Maui are already reopened and are serving residents, visitors, and displaced people, some with limited hours. There is no ban on tourism in west Maui now but “nonessential” travel to west Maui is still officially discouraged until 10/8/23. I and many other business owners in west Maui consider visitors to west Maui as essential to meeting our financial obligations especially when you consider that after housing the displaced Lahaina residents and relief workers, many thousands of rooms and vacation rentals in west Maui remain empty. I believe it is fair to say that virtually everyone is united in respecting the devastating losses from the fire, and I think the vast majority of people recognize that one of the best ways anyone can support recovery is to return to all parts of Maui and support the economy.
The French in Paris hate tourists. Even the waiters are rude. No one cares, and visitors go anyway. We need to get to that point. Ignore the haters.
We are in Maui on holidays now. It is clear talking to locals they are being traumatized yet again. After losing homes and loved ones – they are losing the income to rebuild. Those who are telling tourist to stay away – to let Maui “heal” aren’t “doctors” or “psychiatrists”. They are what is all too prevalent in our society today. Folks with a thoughtless position that is magnified and distributed by social media. As always don’t believe what you read on social media. Use logic. Help Maui. Come for a holiday!
I just tried to book a room at Napili Shores early October. The host said they are respecting the Oct 17 restriction and Napili Shores has asked all owners to do so as well. We’ve never stayed anywhere else. Do you think they may lift the restriction if I wait it out a bit longer?
We are in Wailea today – on holidays. It is beautiful and the locals are begging people to come and visit. We went to Nicks Fish Market tonight for dinner. Our server told us it was the first shift he had had in 15 days
Yes. Governor Green’s most recent proclamation dated 9/8/23, officially welcomes tourists back to west Maui (with the exception of Lahaina town of course) as of 10/8/23.
I canceled my trip to Maui which was to be at the end of January of 2024. I canceled mostly because I think it would be sad and depressing to go to an island I’ve wanted to visit for years (never been before) but now the town I most wanted to see on Maui is gone and a lot of people died there and a lot are now homeless. Plus I don’t understand how such a massive tragedy was allowed to happen by those in charge of public safety to begin with. Maybe the rest of Hawaii is also not so safe. So it’s nothing to do with “messaging” for me by Hawaii authorities that played into my decision not to go.
Ummm… I get this is an important and complicated issue. But… Isn’t the end of August/beginning of September already a time when tourism drops strongly due to school starting?
Are any of the data coming out about visitor numbers declining/layoffs in associated industries, etc taking that into account? Are the numbers being reported being compared to the same time of year in previous years or just the immediately prior months, which is the height of tourism? It would seem that would be important to see the real impact of last month’s event and subsequent messaging.
We are in Maui now as a reply. We like to come before it gets to high season. Yes – this is a time when it dips – both prices and availability. But this is not that! It is not a dip. We have talked to locals and they are begging people to come back. Trust me – this is different. Restaurants that usually you can’t get a reservation unless you book months in advance are now wide open – and only half the staff are being called in. The beaches are empty. The locals are so thankful. This is the time to come!
Elections Have Consequences. Enjoy reaping what you have sown.
I have a trip planned to Kaanapali in mid October. I also have a backup reservation in Kihei for that same time.
Why have 2 reservations? Because the Kaanapali reservation is a timeshare and I can’t get that back. It is essentially use it or lose it.
Different resorts and hotels have different dates they are starting to take reservations. Businesses, restaurants, golf courses and shops are all opening but nobody can say when travel will actually be welcome!
Those facing job losses, permanent or temporary, can find no true solace in an unemployment check or other assistance. They were employed and earning their keep, the pride and sense of accomplishment being ripped from their being cannot be replaced easily. The businesses that are suffering the loss of income and customers, some may close forever. The commonality between the two groups is that their own elected officials have caused all of this. The Wildfires were contained to an area that didn’t effect them, what the fires didn’t destroy Elected Officials and the Venerable HTA Certainly Have. Who could have foreseen or prepared for this, the Ultimate Betrayal? Only time and the return of Tourism on the rest of Maui will determine who shall survive into the unknown future.
My sister and I have been to Maui many times, mostly on cruises. Maui and Oahu are our favorites. We have stayed on Oahu a number of times after our cruises. We took tours on Maui the first couple of times we were there. After that we just visited Front Street, booked a luau and always had lunch at Bubba Gumps. Only one time were we treated rudely by a Hawaiian. We had been shopping on Front Street and sat down on a public bench to take a break. This guy tells us to move because we were bothering him. We were just sitting there with our packages. Other than that, everyone was always nice to us. Not sure why antitourism has started. It’s almost like biting the hand that feeds you. I hope this antitourism sentiment isn’t getting wide spread in the islands. That would be a shame.
They are not biting the hand that feeds them. The people who overtly tell tourists to go away are not being “fed” by tourism. They have alternate means of getting fed.
Perhaps HI should encourage its own population to tour Maui. On each island, I have encountered numerous locals who claim to have Never seen other islands. How about they hop on a $100 flight and help out their fellow Hawaiians even if only for a long weekend?!?
This suggestion comes after I looked into switching plans from Puerto Rico to Hawaii in January. HI cannot expect people from afar to change vacation dates at its beck and call. Even if I could change dates, I found zero financial incentive to take the risk of a sub-par experience….a HI vacation would still cost double and come with serious plane time (10+ hours) and jet lag (5 hour time difference).
It is because those $100.00 flights are trumped by $500.00 plus hotel rooms.
Gloria G, much like the rest of the country Hawaii hasn’t any clue as to what it really wants or Needs. Many/Most will Agree that Tourism is a necessity for the Survivability of the people, State, and Way of Life. The minority has a plan to thwart that and the Tourism Industry seems to be helping by the Continuing Rising Prices and Costs to have a Hawaiian Vacation. As recently witnessed the Governor, HTA, and other Officials have a Huge Disconnect with the Needs of the people, they were much better being Silent Observers! Natural Disasters will occur, it’s how it is handled from the beginning that typically decides how things will be handled afterwards. Hopefully someone else, possibly Anyone Else with a Viable Plan will step up and get everyone through this. Possibly, with all that has occurred recently and in the past, Hawaiians shall Vote with their Hearts, Heads, and Feet in the future. If not, the Past is still Ruling the Present and Future, sadly.
When you say they vote with their heart or heads after living there during elections the locals vote with their feet. They are told where to vote an line up an always vote for the ruling party no matter how wrong they are , after this horrible catastrophe you will see
people still vote for the same ruling class even though the run their island like hell because
Many have been brainwashed since they are kids. No common sense .
Aloha boys, my heart go out to all affected by the tragic fire, but Mauians have been biting the hand that feeds them for years. We have been treated graciously by many Hawaiins but overall in Maui they openly don’t want tourists, locals tend to be rude to the haoles who invade their island. Tourism pays the islands bills, there’s no more sugar, pineapples, fishing. Maui needs tourists but doesn’t want them.
To all tourists, be kind, be respectful, the islands are a treasure, live Aloha
Jim, with respect, your comment is inaccurate. I’ve visited Maui more than 50 times as it is my second home and I own property and am part of the hospitality business. Overall I encounter a lot more rude behavior on the mainland than I have on Maui, and my in person interactions with Maui locals have overwhelmingly been very aloha. I think part of the reason for that is that I pay attention to things like where I park, how I speak to people, how I dispose of trash, not using the horn in my vehicle, etc. The only time I have encountered an unwelcome attitude is when trolls hiding behind keyboards post unkind comments online. In any group of people, even groups that are overwhelmingly kind, you can find a vocal group of misguided, unsophisticated, selfish people but to pretend that these people are anything but a small minority on Maui is simply untrue.
I love Hawaii and miss the simpler life in Hawaii when people seemed to be more aware of its geographical isolation and lived,visited accordingly.
I don’t want a return to the past but an a cute awareness/plan of how Hawaii uses and manages its resources
Domestic visitor arrivals up over 3K today! Normal is about 6-7K, but 50% is good! Looks like we are finally in the first stages of a recovery.
Please come now, and relax in Maui before the crowds get back to normal.
Here is where you can check the daily visitor counts:
files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/data_reports/special/domestic/Domestic-Aug23.pdf
I just got this note from a friend of mine who checked out of a Wailea condo yesterday:
“Everything was perfect. I had the best experience and really changed my Veiw in a very positive way. And thank you again for helping me to decide to come and not cancel my plans because of the fire and I felt appreciated to come and support the business everywhere I go.”
Nothing like on-the-ground, up-to-date experience. I think there is much aloha here right now – might as well take advantage of it!
My family and I love Maui and wanted to support tourism, but the over priced hotels and vocation rentals are driving us away.
I’ve been in the Territory/State since the ’50s in an ongoing on/off love/hate relationship w/ “Paradise”– starting when Hawai’i was truly “life in the slow lane” and a wonderful place to live or vacation … so what the heck has happened??
First the sugar cane industry gets killed off for a variety of reasons with the resultant huge jobs and revenue lost … then follows much of the fishing industry … then the once dominant pineapple industry … and now what’s left?
After basically pricing itself out of any reasonable tourist market and piling on with choking political and bureaucratic policies that seldom contributed anything positive for over 6 decades … Hawai’i is finally moving toward “killing” its last Golden Goose … tourism.
Auwe kakou. So sad and IMO so unnecessary. I still own property in what truly was “Paradise” … and I still love Hawai’i. But I miss the old-timey “Paradise” and promise of Hawai’i big time.
Messaging has been a problem for a while. When Kilauea had its last big eruption the message was that the whole island was a mass of white hot lava. I was there then, and it wasn’t, only one corner, but many tourists stayed away. Now the fires on Maui. The message, the whole island burned down. Again only a corner, but the tourists are staying away. Throw in the mixed massaging of we want/love visitors, we don’t want/hate visitors and what is a person to do?
Dickie_D, your fond memories that you share are wonderful, Thank You. Today, the question to the Politicians should be “can the Sugar Cane Industry be Revived?” It sounds a bit crazy, but what if it could be? Jobs, Paychecks, putting an additional Industry in Hawaii that isn’t Tourism Related. Hawaii Needs forward thinking and considerations from the past to help. Great Memories!
Sorry Dickie
It will never happen!
175 years ago Lahaina was a lush tropical paradise with lots of water,
The sugar cane industry diverted most of the water away from Lahaina destroying the local ecology and setting the stage
for this disaster!
have been blessed to visit maui many times over the last 40 years. love the island and the people. completely understand the locals’ love/hate attitude about tourists and the wealth they spread over the island, and would have the same attitude if i lived there and saw my paradise being trampled daily by visitors. i think the time has come for the maui government and the tourist industry to get together to develop limits on a daily maximum of visitors that can be allowed on the island. this would probably increase some costs for the tourists and affect some businesses, but in the long run would be a nice compromise between those who live and work on the island, and those who fly in for a magical visit to a special place. we’ll be in kihei come november for a 50th anniversary stay, and hope that life for those on the island has reached some return to a new normal by then.
Hawaii either wants tourism or it doesn’t everything there has been overpriced for quit a long time and the anti visitor sentiment is not something new. The Maui fires terrible and sad but let’s be realistic wild fires, floods,earthquakes,hurricanes or tornadoes are terrible and sad anywhere. If Hawaii wants tourism they need to start acting like it.
We canceled our trip to Maui for December. The message we heard (and continue to hear on social media) is that tourists are not welcome anywhere on the island.