197 thoughts on “Maui Travel Isn’t Recovering; Now What?”
JimT
We have heard that many of the condos in the Kaanapali up through Napili area are currently being discounted. I have no idea how much or for how long..
I am very anxious to return but I Will Not Pay ridiculous and exorbitant destination, resort, or cleaning fees ( or any other label they care to slap on it). Full Stop.
I sent an email to Jerry Gibson, President of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, to express my feelings about the price of accommodations on Maui and explain to him that unless prices are brought down, tourism will not recover in the foreseeable future. I didn’t even get the courtesy of a response. This does not feel like Aloha.
well…. how about getting all the airlines to make more flights available at reasonable pricing; and the gov. to issue decrees, stating they welcome visitors to all parts of the island. Let’s face facts…. the part of Lahainia that burnt is sad and s/b just quadroned off till they can process/ remove the debri. It is truly so very sad. But the rest of the west side of the island is / s/b operating. As to displaced residents who currently take up the rentals….the government should import temporary housing for them to live in free of charge on some of the gov. owned land. Or perhaps the billionaires that own large chunks of land could do so….. and free golf-carts to get around in.
I looked at booking a trip for later in the fall or in early or late spring, but the accommodation pricing was still just off the charts. Even if I were able to find affordable accommodations, the feeling I get thinking of going to Maui just doesn’t feel quite right and actually makes me very sad versus excited and joyful. Hard to be happy in a place I love knowing there is so much devastation and loss. I can’t quite reconcile the conflicting emotions.
There is still a very vocal group telling visitors they’re not welcome. Or, they’re saying welcome to Maui but not the west side. Some visitors are unable to get refunds for canceling. A trip to Maui is not inexpensive when you factor in air, car, accommodations, food & activities. We’ve stayed on the west side for the last 37 yrs. It’s where we want to be. W
here we’ve made so many friends. Where many hotel employees are like family. We plan to visit early next year and share their sorrow with them. Lahaina will never be the same but I hope it will continue be what we considered the heart of Maui. Let the visitors come. We want to help in any way we can help. Many are coming to volunteer and time. Let us lighten your burden.
We had already been planning a trip in February. Debated for a while after the fire, but have been on many sites and feel the tourist dollars are wanted and needed. We are heartbroken for Maui and want to do the right thing. We go every year to two years for the last 15 and, fire or no fire, we’re coming pretty close to being priced out. We fly free with lots of Southwest points. But the accommodations have nearly killed us. We work hard and save hard to be able to continue to do it. We always appreciate your great info, Beat of Hawaii!
First, prayers go out to all residents of Maui. Heart felt empathy to all missing loved ones and those who have lost loved to the fires.
My thoughts are that there might be some confusion on the side of tourists. We have heard do not come, we can’t handle tourists now and that it is disrespectful to be there why so many are suffering. I don’t believe that anyone wants to be disrespectful to a community that has lost so much and has gone through something as horrific as that fire.
At the same time people want to help in anyway they can as long as they know for sure that their help is really reaching the people who need it. We are hearing mixed information on this as well in the Upper 48.
It will take a lot – the early mixed singles killed any chance of a surge.
I think there are two things that could help:
…All the celebrities who have property in Hawaii should put on a well publicized, televised fund raising event.
…Have a local Maui event every week or two. Invite those visiting the other islands to come over for a day or two and showcase some of the events they can attend. As simple as great restaurants, whale watching, a day of golfing. Whatever Maui wants to offer up.
I see several negative factors at work that are going to be difficult to overcome. 1) The mixed messages from the Gov. 2) The lingering feeling that tourists are not wanted (which began before the fire).
3) Misconception that the entire island was burned to the ground. Blame the media for that one.. They did the same thing to the BI when Kilauea erupted a couple years ago. 4) The high cost of a Hawaiian vacation 5) The current state of the US economy. 6) While Maui is beautiful all over, most people who vacation there want to spend time in areas that unfortunately no longer exist. 7) Sadly, incompetent leadership, from Covid to the fires, will make recovery even more difficult.
In my opinion price increases were planned by the governor to weed out the affordability of the middle class. Only ultra wealthy can afford to vacation here where money don’t matter. Remember the article stating he prefers the white collar class from San Francisco. I have a hard time spending thousands of dollars in a place where locals are F bombing haoles and this racial violence. Maui just wants your wallet not you as a tourist. Think again..
Aloha,
I disagree Don. The grabberment is not smart enough to orchestrate price increases by private business directly. Perhaps through taxation, yes. I do recall a post by BOH in 2002, I think, that one of the island mayors (Kauai?) stated they “they” want a better quality tourist, ie fewer people that would spend more money. That is the plan, in my mind. That begs the question, “How are the $69 airfares working out for you?”…(that was humour…).
Mahalo
The airfares from my local airport were never $69 dollars. I don’t live in San Francisco. BOH did the article about one and a half months ago on Maui’s governor prefering white collar individuals from San Francisco. Why San Francisco? I don’t know. If it’s not the governor in on it then what is it? Desperation by hotel owners to be able to pay bills or just greed.
Aloha Don,
I should have been clearer. The $69 sarcasm was directed at the mayor wanting a “better quality tourist” yet predator airlines are offering $69 or $99 airfares, which negates any barriers to entry imposed by price.
Mahalo
To be clear the comment from the Mayor was reaction to SWA flooding the market with cheap seats and bargain tourists trying to get as much out of their Hawaii experience as they could while spending as little as possible. All the while creating some significant congestion. That type of tourism is bad for everyone and not class warfare. Hawaii didn’t have the infrastructure to comfortably digest SWA’s business plan.
1
RodW
Gerry,
“Predator” airlines at 69 and 99, I don’t think so.
I probably don’t quite understand your humor.
Supply and demand is interesting. We came to Waikiki on the 14th and will be here until the 30th.
We fly in from Ontario rather the zoo also known as LAX. But, the airfare on a crappy single aisle plane vs the 2 aisle planes from LAX and Ontario is a lot more money. But, it’s worth avoiding the hassle factor.
Anyway, back to the vacation. Mostly it doesn’t seem as crowded on Lewers St as in other years. As usual, the hospitality workers remember us from last year and virtually all of the 30 previous vacations. We are the same and the staffs are largely the same people and we all catch up on the last year.
RodW
Gerry,
PS, I learned this morning that marijuana is openly grown on Beach Walk. I’m not a user, but I hope to take some photo’s later.
Mary
Hello,
I certainly appreciate your Maui updates. In one of your upcoming articles, perhaps you could mention the air quality. We come to West Maui every year and do visit Lahaina with guests or dinner, but it is not the focus of our trip. I am wondering about the possibility of toxic air for locals and visitors. Do authorities have an estimate when the air quality will return to normal. I would guess that while the remains of the fire are being removed, the air quality is not good.
I have clients that are traveling to Hawaii on Nov 8. They are schedule to travel from HNL to OGG on Nov 12. They left it up to me whether they should change their plans for Maui. I was torn in multiple directions, but ultimately told them to go! I made sure their hotel was accepting guests. I made them aware of the changes. I created a guide as to all the other things there are to do on the island. My feelings are this.. Respect the area, Respect the people, and mourn the horrendous loss, but they must rebuild. Every dollar, every job will be so important for years to come. After Katrina, the length of time spent trying to clean up was so long, there are still major areas of NOLA that have never recovered.
Poor messaging from the government and a “stay away” sentiment in the news from the locals caused us to cancel our trip in October and we made other plans. Now they desperately want us. We aren’t going to change again, but we can come next spring.
The lack of discounting remains concerning” is my qualm. The pricing to come over even after the fire has increased for condos on the West Side. The South side saw the demand at first and joined the bandwagon to increase their rates. I have saved for 5 years, I studied social media all of 2022/23, and the social media locals remarks were horrendous to the point I am/was fearful to be out hiking alone. There was nothing but Kapu on everything. Now it is beggin me to return, and honestly, now, my heart aches for Lahaina and its people. When I do return, will still volunteer, but it will just not be the same driving past Lahaina to go to and from West Side.
Maui/Hawaii is very over priced as compared to other tropical vacations. My wife and I found much better deals going to the Caribbean than to Hawaii. Its sad because we have in the past visited Hawaii a couple times a year. Until hotel pricing gets more competitive, we probably won’t be back!
Eva B: Many people who visit West Maui sometimes don’t even go into Lahaina. Yes there was shopping and Yes there were restaurants, but I can say there have been many time while staying in Kaanapali we never went there because after the Pandemic, the wait was just too long for a restaurant. Sometimes we couldn’t park the car and just gave up. West Maui is so much more than just Lahaina (I’m heartbroken it is gone).
As outlined in your article there’s to much uncertainty with flight issues and soon to be rental car availability to chance spending thousands this fall on a return trip to Maui.
On “your word on the street” there’s still an overwhelming negative narrative view on Maui social media sites about how tourist and haole’s are disrespecting Lahaina.
There’s a photo of a family all over Maui social media sites standing in a burned out lot over looking Lahaina. These people are getting torched on social media’s with 100’s of negative posts, yet no one knows if they are tourist or local or if it was photo shopped.
Who wants to deal with the possibility of an innocent photo being turned to internet out cry? Not Me.
We have heard that many of the condos in the Kaanapali up through Napili area are currently being discounted. I have no idea how much or for how long..
I am very anxious to return but I Will Not Pay ridiculous and exorbitant destination, resort, or cleaning fees ( or any other label they care to slap on it). Full Stop.
I sent an email to Jerry Gibson, President of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, to express my feelings about the price of accommodations on Maui and explain to him that unless prices are brought down, tourism will not recover in the foreseeable future. I didn’t even get the courtesy of a response. This does not feel like Aloha.
well…. how about getting all the airlines to make more flights available at reasonable pricing; and the gov. to issue decrees, stating they welcome visitors to all parts of the island. Let’s face facts…. the part of Lahainia that burnt is sad and s/b just quadroned off till they can process/ remove the debri. It is truly so very sad. But the rest of the west side of the island is / s/b operating. As to displaced residents who currently take up the rentals….the government should import temporary housing for them to live in free of charge on some of the gov. owned land. Or perhaps the billionaires that own large chunks of land could do so….. and free golf-carts to get around in.
Make it cheaper to go there… So far I see sky high prices on condos and flights. Looking for a place that sleeps 8 over Christmas and New Years.
Mary K you do realize that Christmas through New
Year’s is about the most expensive time to visit?
I looked at booking a trip for later in the fall or in early or late spring, but the accommodation pricing was still just off the charts. Even if I were able to find affordable accommodations, the feeling I get thinking of going to Maui just doesn’t feel quite right and actually makes me very sad versus excited and joyful. Hard to be happy in a place I love knowing there is so much devastation and loss. I can’t quite reconcile the conflicting emotions.
We’re open for business here, NShore Kauai.
There is still a very vocal group telling visitors they’re not welcome. Or, they’re saying welcome to Maui but not the west side. Some visitors are unable to get refunds for canceling. A trip to Maui is not inexpensive when you factor in air, car, accommodations, food & activities. We’ve stayed on the west side for the last 37 yrs. It’s where we want to be. W
here we’ve made so many friends. Where many hotel employees are like family. We plan to visit early next year and share their sorrow with them. Lahaina will never be the same but I hope it will continue be what we considered the heart of Maui. Let the visitors come. We want to help in any way we can help. Many are coming to volunteer and time. Let us lighten your burden.
We had already been planning a trip in February. Debated for a while after the fire, but have been on many sites and feel the tourist dollars are wanted and needed. We are heartbroken for Maui and want to do the right thing. We go every year to two years for the last 15 and, fire or no fire, we’re coming pretty close to being priced out. We fly free with lots of Southwest points. But the accommodations have nearly killed us. We work hard and save hard to be able to continue to do it. We always appreciate your great info, Beat of Hawaii!
First, prayers go out to all residents of Maui. Heart felt empathy to all missing loved ones and those who have lost loved to the fires.
My thoughts are that there might be some confusion on the side of tourists. We have heard do not come, we can’t handle tourists now and that it is disrespectful to be there why so many are suffering. I don’t believe that anyone wants to be disrespectful to a community that has lost so much and has gone through something as horrific as that fire.
At the same time people want to help in anyway they can as long as they know for sure that their help is really reaching the people who need it. We are hearing mixed information on this as well in the Upper 48.
It will take a lot – the early mixed singles killed any chance of a surge.
I think there are two things that could help:
…All the celebrities who have property in Hawaii should put on a well publicized, televised fund raising event.
…Have a local Maui event every week or two. Invite those visiting the other islands to come over for a day or two and showcase some of the events they can attend. As simple as great restaurants, whale watching, a day of golfing. Whatever Maui wants to offer up.
I see several negative factors at work that are going to be difficult to overcome. 1) The mixed messages from the Gov. 2) The lingering feeling that tourists are not wanted (which began before the fire).
3) Misconception that the entire island was burned to the ground. Blame the media for that one.. They did the same thing to the BI when Kilauea erupted a couple years ago. 4) The high cost of a Hawaiian vacation 5) The current state of the US economy. 6) While Maui is beautiful all over, most people who vacation there want to spend time in areas that unfortunately no longer exist. 7) Sadly, incompetent leadership, from Covid to the fires, will make recovery even more difficult.
In my opinion price increases were planned by the governor to weed out the affordability of the middle class. Only ultra wealthy can afford to vacation here where money don’t matter. Remember the article stating he prefers the white collar class from San Francisco. I have a hard time spending thousands of dollars in a place where locals are F bombing haoles and this racial violence. Maui just wants your wallet not you as a tourist. Think again..
I have yet to meet anyone from San Francisco …most tourists in Maui are from LA, San Diego, Arizona, Washington, State, Alaska & Canada.
Aloha,
I disagree Don. The grabberment is not smart enough to orchestrate price increases by private business directly. Perhaps through taxation, yes. I do recall a post by BOH in 2002, I think, that one of the island mayors (Kauai?) stated they “they” want a better quality tourist, ie fewer people that would spend more money. That is the plan, in my mind. That begs the question, “How are the $69 airfares working out for you?”…(that was humour…).
Mahalo
Aloha,
oops, typo. make that 2022.
The airfares from my local airport were never $69 dollars. I don’t live in San Francisco. BOH did the article about one and a half months ago on Maui’s governor prefering white collar individuals from San Francisco. Why San Francisco? I don’t know. If it’s not the governor in on it then what is it? Desperation by hotel owners to be able to pay bills or just greed.
Aloha Don,
I should have been clearer. The $69 sarcasm was directed at the mayor wanting a “better quality tourist” yet predator airlines are offering $69 or $99 airfares, which negates any barriers to entry imposed by price.
Mahalo
To be clear the comment from the Mayor was reaction to SWA flooding the market with cheap seats and bargain tourists trying to get as much out of their Hawaii experience as they could while spending as little as possible. All the while creating some significant congestion. That type of tourism is bad for everyone and not class warfare. Hawaii didn’t have the infrastructure to comfortably digest SWA’s business plan.
Gerry,
“Predator” airlines at 69 and 99, I don’t think so.
I probably don’t quite understand your humor.
Supply and demand is interesting. We came to Waikiki on the 14th and will be here until the 30th.
We fly in from Ontario rather the zoo also known as LAX. But, the airfare on a crappy single aisle plane vs the 2 aisle planes from LAX and Ontario is a lot more money. But, it’s worth avoiding the hassle factor.
Anyway, back to the vacation. Mostly it doesn’t seem as crowded on Lewers St as in other years. As usual, the hospitality workers remember us from last year and virtually all of the 30 previous vacations. We are the same and the staffs are largely the same people and we all catch up on the last year.
Gerry,
PS, I learned this morning that marijuana is openly grown on Beach Walk. I’m not a user, but I hope to take some photo’s later.
Hello,
I certainly appreciate your Maui updates. In one of your upcoming articles, perhaps you could mention the air quality. We come to West Maui every year and do visit Lahaina with guests or dinner, but it is not the focus of our trip. I am wondering about the possibility of toxic air for locals and visitors. Do authorities have an estimate when the air quality will return to normal. I would guess that while the remains of the fire are being removed, the air quality is not good.
Thank you for keeping us informed!
MS
I have clients that are traveling to Hawaii on Nov 8. They are schedule to travel from HNL to OGG on Nov 12. They left it up to me whether they should change their plans for Maui. I was torn in multiple directions, but ultimately told them to go! I made sure their hotel was accepting guests. I made them aware of the changes. I created a guide as to all the other things there are to do on the island. My feelings are this.. Respect the area, Respect the people, and mourn the horrendous loss, but they must rebuild. Every dollar, every job will be so important for years to come. After Katrina, the length of time spent trying to clean up was so long, there are still major areas of NOLA that have never recovered.
Poor messaging from the government and a “stay away” sentiment in the news from the locals caused us to cancel our trip in October and we made other plans. Now they desperately want us. We aren’t going to change again, but we can come next spring.
The lack of discounting remains concerning” is my qualm. The pricing to come over even after the fire has increased for condos on the West Side. The South side saw the demand at first and joined the bandwagon to increase their rates. I have saved for 5 years, I studied social media all of 2022/23, and the social media locals remarks were horrendous to the point I am/was fearful to be out hiking alone. There was nothing but Kapu on everything. Now it is beggin me to return, and honestly, now, my heart aches for Lahaina and its people. When I do return, will still volunteer, but it will just not be the same driving past Lahaina to go to and from West Side.
Maui/Hawaii is very over priced as compared to other tropical vacations. My wife and I found much better deals going to the Caribbean than to Hawaii. Its sad because we have in the past visited Hawaii a couple times a year. Until hotel pricing gets more competitive, we probably won’t be back!
Eva B: Many people who visit West Maui sometimes don’t even go into Lahaina. Yes there was shopping and Yes there were restaurants, but I can say there have been many time while staying in Kaanapali we never went there because after the Pandemic, the wait was just too long for a restaurant. Sometimes we couldn’t park the car and just gave up. West Maui is so much more than just Lahaina (I’m heartbroken it is gone).
As outlined in your article there’s to much uncertainty with flight issues and soon to be rental car availability to chance spending thousands this fall on a return trip to Maui.
On “your word on the street” there’s still an overwhelming negative narrative view on Maui social media sites about how tourist and haole’s are disrespecting Lahaina.
There’s a photo of a family all over Maui social media sites standing in a burned out lot over looking Lahaina. These people are getting torched on social media’s with 100’s of negative posts, yet no one knows if they are tourist or local or if it was photo shopped.
Who wants to deal with the possibility of an innocent photo being turned to internet out cry? Not Me.