Fodor’s came out swinging against 2023 Maui vacations today. This comes as the island was deluged with post-pandemic revenge travel starting last year. At one point, the mayor asked airlines to cut back on Maui flights, which he has no authority to enforce and the airlines have no intention of doing.
The seemingly well-meaning No-List Article sets out to make visitors more aware of some locations suffering the most from excessive tourism. In addition, it broke the issues into three areas, including “Natural attractions that could use a break in order to heal and rejuvenate; cultural hotspots that are plagued with overcrowding and resource depletion; and locations around the world immediately and dramatically impacted by water crises.”
Maui suffers from beach erosion, drought, water rights, and more.
Maui was mentioned as an area impacted by water crises for these problems. Some Maui residents have had conservation orders to avoid non-essential water usage. However, these weren’t implemented uniformly, and some of the most affluent areas of South Maui, for example, had no such limitations.
Accessing freshwater can often be challenging for island residents. In Hawaii, it says, “Tourism… accounts for the biggest usage of water. One particularly striking case is Maui… The disparity in water distribution is leading to conflicts between the hospitality industry and household users. — Fodor’s
Also mentioned was that Native Hawaiians are impacted by the rapidly increasing cost of living, especially housing. Short-term rentals are mentioned as being in part to blame for Maui’s homeless problems.
The article says that visitors should do as they want; “This year’s No List does not serve as a boycott, ban, or cancelation of any sort; but a call to travelers to consider wisely the choices we make.”
Critical Maui beach erosion.
Not mentioned as part of Fodor’s take but worthy of mention is Maui’s critical beach erosion. Last fall, for example, following high tide, trees fell, and a sidewalk collapsed and fell into the ocean at Kaanapali Beach. This area is suffering following 40 years of continuous beach erosion. The State recently found that the erosion’s severity has increased with sea level rise and record high water levels, which will get worse from here.
The impact of climate change has pushed the shoreline to the location of hotels and condos.
Right now is literally the time when it’s most affordable and easiest for us to get engaged in managed retreat. Figuring that out is a problem, but we’re not the only community in the world that has this issue. Literally, every coastal community does.” — Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The state is developing plans to provide more time before yet bigger changes ahead. Recently, the state brought about 75k cubic yards of sand to that area, which is like a band-aid. The state said it will “restore coastal sandy habitat that extends across the terrestrial/marine boundary for immediate short-term remediation.”
Unfortunately, the long-term effects of similar shoreline projects are transitory. Research from California and Australia on beach “nourishment” indicates a negative impact on the invertebrates populations of such areas.
We said previously, “Throughout the State, many beachfront properties have employed seawalls to both hold back the waves and expand the footprint of useable land right up to the waterline. Such stop-gap measures are expensive, detrimental to shorelines, and ultimately ineffective. Natural beaches move and shift with the seasons and weather, with the sand being naturally replenished through wave action bringing sand onto the shore and by natural erosion from the shore itself.”
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My husband and I booked a 20 year anniversary vacation to West Maui in October. Can we reschedule for another time? So far we have not heard back from our resort hotel. Any info will be appreciated.
We were booked to stay within a half mile of Lahaina.
Hi Kathy.
We’ve shared all the current information. It is too soon to know, but in the next couple of weeks, more will be revealed. You can probably make a better informed decision then.
Aloha.
I mean no offense when I say this, but you are the kind of person that gives us “outsiders” a bad name and a reason for locals to complain about us. There is an absolute trajedy happening there right now and look at you…. “me, me, me”. Who cares about your anniversary, lives were lost, not just in death, but many ways, but hey, lets hope you get to go to your anniversary vacation.
Steve, you may be expecting too much out of people….
Let me relate to you my experiences yesterday that may help you make a decision regarding your upcoming visit. Yesterday I joined a team of healthcare workers from Kahului and travelled to to Lahaina to provide medical care to residents of West Maui. There were approximately 12 of us, split up into two groups, doctors, nurses and pharmacists. I was in the Gateway Center, which is in Lahaina, but was not touched by the fire. Just across the street in cordoned off areas I could see the devastation. I could smell it too. It is truly more horrific than anything anyone could imagine just from looking at drone footage on TV. Altogether we saw about 75 patients, the majority of which live in the vicinity of Lahaina and to the north along the western coast. As I treated these patients I listened to their stories. Their situation on the west side is dire. Many of them did not have running water or if they did it was not safe to drink. Most of them were just now getting electricity. Transportation was difficult due to road closures. Many were having to sit in cars for hours as they waited in drive-through lanes to pick up donated essential items. Most, if not all of the hotels are closed to visitors and are being used to house the refugees from the fire. The dead are still being found among the rubble. If you do come please consider volunteering rather than recreating. West Maui is no longer a vacation paradise. It will again be, but not now. Mahalo.
Hi Eldo.
Thank you for all that you are doing and for generously sharing your knowledge here.
Aloha.
I really appreciate this first step in encouraging responsible tourism. I’d love to know more ways to heal and reduce harm to sensitive Hawaiian ecosystems,human and otherwise. Volunteerism is my love language: how can I speak it on my much anticipated first trip to Kauai? Mahalo.
Thank you Good information. We don’t stop to consider the damage we do to other communities when we are on vacation
Then I guess you should blame any Hawaiian resident that is even the slightest over weight for your homeless population…
So sad to hear about tourist problems. Maybe restrict access like Hanauma Bay? Kinda hard to do with a fully accessable beach.
Old. Very old BS I’ve been wintering for over 50 years on keavakapoo Beach (so maui)
Have witnessed 2 big storms and tree damage.
The Hawaiian government was in collusion with big business, allowing Marriott to build two more big timeshare buildings in place of tennis courts,allowing Hyatt to build a big timeshare building, and Westin to build two more timeshare buildings. All of these are part of Kaanapali Beach. Maui was for sale.
Exactly! Supporting big out of town development, while banning short term rentals which local mom and pops could use to build wealth. Shame.
Yeah, and now after the Lahaina fire, that whole part of the island is now in chaos with no power or water, and took a very long time to evacuate the visitors. I think the Hawaiian spirts are sending a message.
Spoken by an entitled tourist!
Spoken by someone living there that apparently has money. Homelessness is the biggest problem plaguing Maui, not tourism. Way to look out for your fellow Hawaiians.
We just came back from Kehei, Maui and the tourist have more then doubled since my last visit.
Would Love to live there instead of visiting.
The best thing you can do is do what You want to do. Be respectful of the land and reefs, but who cares if you are doing tourist things? What these Maui residents complaining don’t realize, is that Many other people in the US live in ‘tourist’ destinations, as well. They need to get over it, there are respectful and disrespectful people visiting everywhere, not just Maui.
As I said in another comment I made here, just don’t be shocked by the staggering amount of homeless you will see. It is very sad, and should be the focus of residents, not tourism.
So, for all you miserable (isn’t Island life supposed to mellow you out? Haha) Maui residents; someone do a study of the amount of revenue to Maui and jobs to the residents would be lost without tourism.
I visited Maui for the first time this past summer with my family as I am from Pennsylvania. Personally, I feel it was nothing ‘special’ so I will not back. The one thing I will never forget is the amount of homeless setup along the beach. You’d think residents would be more concerned about taking care of their own than worrying about tourism. Lets get rid of tourists and increase the already horrific amount of homeless in Maui, great plan!
it appears many do not realize the increase in rental properties is precisely because of tourists who buy up everything and then only end up staying here for 2 months.
You’d think Pennsylvania residents would be more concerned about that, but here we are. Hugs.
Ok, Google suggested this article because I’ve been researching Hawaii for a vacation in 3 weeks. I’m aware that over tourism is a problem, but obviously I’ll want to do tourist things while there. Seems like mostly locals commenting, so how do I be a non AH tourist?
If you know there is a problem, vacation somewhere else.
Well airlines don’t give refunds for a finding out a ethical problem with your destination.
Also, I have to say, I asked this in good faith because I want to respect the situation and the best I got was don’t come here, go to Mexico? No suggestion on how to spot genuine local businesses or local custom I should be sure not to break.
How is just telling me not to come when I’ve already got the ticket on any way helpful.
Mexico. Great place. Lower prices — you will have fun and you’ll be able to afford a week or two of hotel prices and a full buffet of eggs. Go to Mexico. Hugs.
Be respectful, care for the resources, and leave it as good or better as when you arrived. All will be good.
Tourists are ruining the beautiful Hawaiian Islands and there’s nothing the residents can do to save them.
By your logic tourists are ruining ever tourist destination and there’s nothing any locals in those areas can do about it. Have you ever left the islands? It’s like that everywhere, except Hawaiians think they should be exempt from tourismb(80% of your entire economy). At least many other tourist destinations in our country are not almost solely reliant on tourism.
I lived on Maui for 12 years: 1999-2011. It’s not the same place. It’s way over-hyped, over-built, over-congested, over-priced, & the TSA lines are horrendous. I’m very happily back home in a fairly rural area of the Big Island, with peace, quiet, more nature, & less congestion.
Is it truly fair to blame short term rentals for Maui’s housing crisis, given that they have been all but banned outside of specific resort condos?
banned? 🥲🤭
that’s not reality. banned on “paper,” maybe.
yes it is truly fair to blame the non residents who own short term vacation rentals.
Thanks for opening some eyes on the issue of excess tourism.
This is total propaganda the beaches are not eroding except a bit of a problem on Kihei beaches decades of all the downpours over the past six months. Why this was even published is amazing to me. My credentials are I live in Kihei
You are incorrect. There are multiple spots on Maui facing erosion. The coast in Paia from the community center to Mama’s Fish house is severely eroded. Kaanapali beach, Olowalu, parts of Makena are all facing huge impacts. They even rerouted Hoopiilani highway-I advise you do your homework.
Just came back from Kauai last week. I noticed that there was at least double the number of visitors this year. Very crowded in Lihue, Kapaa, and Hanalei. We were wondering why this was. Now we know! Vacation backlog!
Noone currently in power is looking out for the Fodors, just concerned about the almighty dollar, so goes California, so goes Maui ( total disaster) tourism will be the demise of Maui. So sad.
For those cuious enough to know we have a hospital that does not make a Profit guess where the dollars come from? oh tourism… and our school system guess what keeps them afloat? oh tourism… most everything on this island is supported by tourism so until you find something better quit complaining and be grateful
“be grateful.” Tell me you’re from Wailea without telling me you’re from Wailea.
Sounds like a politician double speak to elongate time in office. Hawaii needs to consider a new revenue stream other than tourism. Aging baby boomers with money and retirement villages comes to mind. Create state wide water conservation similar to California, Arizona. Slot control airports like Regan DC and limit tourism. Create better paying jobs through new industry (retirement creation) and tough regulations, limiting tourism and attract better behaving like minded citizens with wealth to drive economy!
Not sure I understand that last sentence. Are you correlating “better behaving citizens” with those that have wealth?
I agree. That last sentence was obnoxious and offensive. Since when does wealth equate to better behavior? Actually I’ve seen many examples contrary to that. The truth is that bad behavior is not limited to the poor or middle class and it’s ridiculous to infer that.
you said [attract better behaving like minded citizens with wealth to drive economy!]
I must be misinterpreting the way this sentence was phrased. The Hawaiian people do not need foreigners with monetary wealth – please do not come. please stay in Texas and California or wherever you are. What our Hawaiian people need is wealth of spirit and respect for the flora and fauna of our lands. We don’t need more resorts, we don’t need more spiritually bankrupt individuals contorting themselves into pretzels to take instagram photos with our Honu 🐢. Aloha nui loa.
I think they should limit the size of the people that are let on to the islands. If your big you can take up twice as much space and require more food and water than small people. We only allowed small people on each island we could have more of everything
If there are too many tourists, why not restrict the number of flights?
Department of Transportation could do this easily enough.
Can’t do that, we tried. The federal government is in charge of airports and they refuse to help us.
The crisis in housing is not limited to Maui. Long term rentals are almost impossible to find on Kauai as well, and the price of a mere room to rent in someone’s house is so high as to be well beyond the means of most long term residents. Native Hawaiians whose families have lived on the island for more than a thousand years are being forced to move to Honolulu to find affordable housing. In years past, I used to own a vacation rental. I would never do so again. Citizens need a place to live.
A huge problem is the illegal vacation rentals. They should be long term rentals for local people, and Maui is losing a fortune in TA GE and MCTAT taxes. Thanks
Priority one is we need more affordable housing on Maui. We need to remove exception clauses that allow developers to change projects from affordable to standard because they run over budget. This bs has been going on for decades. Businesses need employees on Maui and they need places to live. Rents are insane and people are leaving because they can’t find a place to live. We need to invest in infrastructure. We also need to limit rental cars for tourists. These should be the priorities.
We were there in Dec.(Maui) What we noticed was a great many more younger people there. From what I understand, more younger people are traveling because they are staying home because they can’t afford to buy property. That staying home thing, gives them the money to travel with and they certainly are traveling. There was an article in the Honolulu paper on this issue.
Aloha
“Research from California and Australia on beach ‘nourishment’ indicates a negative impact on the invertebrates populations of such areas.”
OMG.
There in April too many Ill mannered tourist. Out of control Drinking smoking on beach in front of Kannapoli Resort.Rude people everywhere. Ruined it for tourist that come with respect for island and people. Kimos ate there 6 times. Felt like was at Speedway. Loud smoking fast driving and no police. We are not coming this year hopefully things will improve.
Good for you. Don’t come at all
Hey Maui. You folks need to start using water reduction measures like we have done in Santa Barbara since early 1990s. Our Maui adventure in 2021 we were appalled there areNo water reducing fixtures on faucets, toilets and outside irrigation. You folks are over 30 years behind us on mainland. You can have a lot of visitors just turn down the water hose and fixtures.
James
The fake state of Hawaii, make the residents restrict water usage not the mainland owned resorts.
I visited every year and every year I feel more guilty about coming to Maui. I talk to the locals a lot and hear about how bad the housing situation is – the cost as opposed to income. It’s a catch 22…I feel like visiting helps the economy but I’m not sure whose. Certainly not workers. I’m going again this year but it will probably be my last. I’m on a vacation that I’ve definitely earned I don’t think the guilt feeling is worth it.
Comments such as yours do not ring true. Reservations are difficult to book The fees are highly inflated. We have vacationed in Hawaii also every for the past 30 years. We traveled to Maui during COVID It as easy but hardly fun most of are favorite places were either closed or out of business. If it is so bad why are prices at hotels so outrageously expensive and are completely booked
The prices for everything that is used by the hospitality industry has gone up. The workers have to be paid more. So the cost is maybe $300/ night. Then add the tax and fees which are the same at any vacation destination. Yes it is awful expensive, but that’s why.
Thank you for keeping us updated on what’s going on our beautiful islands and people.
Mahalo
I visited Maui recently and the traffic was horrible. I think if they let only tourists drive during certain hours and then the locals could drive in the night times . There would be less traffic jam ups!?!
Tony, please tell me you are joking about that solution?
You cannot be serious!! Have locals drive at night!? As if we don’t have to bank, or see doctors, or work during the day? How about we don’t allow rental cars on our roads for tourists, you can take buses! That way we would have no traffic. Covid proved that.
Tony, I’m not sure where you actually live, but your comment makes no sense. Maui is indeed a beautiful vacation spot but more importantly, it’s also a place where people live, work and raise their children. I doubt that you’d want to implement your suggested plan in the place that you call home.
I completely disagree that short term rentals are (partly) to blame for Maui’s homeless problem. Maui has really clamped down on STVR’s across the island and the reality is that local Hawaiians are not buying in the same price point as mainlanders. Mainlanders aren’t driving up the prices either. If a short term rental suddenly became a long term rental, its value isn’t going to just drop and then be priced at a point locals are going to buy it. Also someone who’s homeless isn’t a short – or long term renter or homeowner anyway. This problem isn’t unique to Maui or Hawaii but the lack of affordable housing is a national issue.
Just face it , it’s over tourism. Way to many people at one time in such a small space.not rocket science. Coming soon to an area near you( Waikiki in Maui)
We need to be more concerned about the locals As without them the big resorts and restaurants cannot surviveWe need to help the local have affordable housing! Maui is a beautiful & magical place , please let it shine !!
Affordable housing is a myth. That ship sailed when middle class America became extinct. Anywhere that is desirable to live is not and will not or ever be affordable. that’s reality. Unfortunately that does mean that certain individuals may be displaced. However as a resident of the Big Island, I have to say that there are lots of places that are affordable to live but Lahaina, Waikiki, and Honolulu aint one of them
I live and Work on Maui. I find it extremely discouraging that, despite the well-known drought and water shortages, there’s a huge amount of water being wasted. The primary culprits are the resorts that irrigate acres and acres of lawns and gardens rather than to accept
the natural native plants that don’t require so much water. And for the record, golf course irrigation should be made outright illegal.
I recently complained to my homeowners association for continuing to irrigate all of the lawns, even during days when it’s raining. There’s absolutely no excuse for this type of waste. Very sad times.
FWIW, many golf courses (Prince in Ewa Beach for instance) uses reclaimed non potable water for irrigation. Also, some golf courses have argiculture zoning as it aides with flood mitigation. Sometimes, there is a bigger picture.
Sorry, but “many” and “some” doesn’t cut it. It needs to be “all.” Wasting any water on golf courses when the population is rationing water to drink and cook is simply obscene.
Also, lots of vog in Kona lately.
We have free flights to head to Maui or other island. We have no desire to visit and that’s exactly what the locals want. Shame.
High surf=erosion. Gotta wonder how long that reporter has lived in Hawaii? Oh. Let me guess, lived here for 12-15 years? That’s not “Local”
Why do Hawaiians use so many vowels
Hi John.
Welcome. Thanks for your first comment! It means a lot. And feel better.
Aloha.
It’s the flow of the language, the “breath”….literally, the “ha”. Not stacatto-sounding and grammatically precise like many European/haole languages. Art imitating life? Or, rather, language doing so.