Maui has great resorts and many of them. It also has a large and much-improved airport, and the Valley Isle succeeded in attracting the most flights (including widebody) to Hawaii of any airport other than Honolulu. But now it has clearly become too much of a good thing. So what happens next and will there ever be a way to make everyone happy?
We’re focusing today on what is happening at some of the iconic Maui beaches, as well as in Lahaina, Wailuku, and soon thereafter, Hana. In the next few months, Maui will implement substantial visitor-only parking fees and limit hours of visitor parking entirely, at a range of popular beaches. The final start date of early 2023 is still being devised together with some further specifics outlined below.
Is it the money or the idea that stings visitors the worst?
We’ve had hundreds of comments about the plans for paid beach parking on Maui, and they have included various ideas.
- Residents say they can no longer park at these locations because the parking is overcrowded with tourists.
- Tourists are incensed that they will need to pay up to $30 for beach day parking.
- Others have mentioned that if you can afford to come to Maui, the $30 means nothing.
- Whether free parking is extended to Hawaii residents other than Maui County is not yet resolved.
- Comments have mentioned that charging a $30 flat rate encourages visitors to park for an extended period. In contrast, paid hourly parking (such as at Honolulu Zoo, for example) encourages those parking to leave sooner and make space available for others.
$30 beach parking for visitors. $0 for Maui residents.
The price range for parking may vary by location, season, and other variables yet to be set forth. The citations for violating the new parking rules also have not been announced.
The county locations included in the initial roll-outs include the following. These were confirmed last week by Maui County Council’s Vice-Chair.
The county said these locations were chosen partly because of the ease of implementing parking kiosks.
- Kamaole Beach Park I
- Kamaole Beach Park II
- Kamaole Beach Park III
- Ulua Beach
Other locations being discussed, likely with hourly rates:
- Paia Town
- Hana Town
- Lahaina Town
- Wailuku Town
The parking website says Maui’s “new parking management program strives to implement forward-thinking solutions for parking at beach parks, in business districts, and on streets throughout our island’s most heavily utilized areas.”
The theory.
“When parking demand clusters in certain areas, parking policies can mitigate congestion and improve access. Strategic investments in technology will streamline parking management and transform parking into a customer-friendly component of the overall transportation system.”
In other words, start charging now in the worst areas; raise prices as demand dictates until the desired reduction in vehicles occurs, then expand the program incrementally as quickly as feasible.
Why now?
Maui has more than 3 million visitors a year. The sheer magnitude and the lack of adequate infrastructure mean residents cannot easily access the island’s parks and beaches. PARKMAUI says, “Lahaina and Paia have become so unpleasant for residents to find parking, many have stopped going, and Wailuku has long suffered from a parking shortage.”
It’s been nearly a decade that the Valley Isle has been looking for ways to better manage congestion, initially in Wailuku and Lahaina. Subsequently, it became clear that the effort should be greatly expanded to include most beaches and parks.
Much like on Maui, beaches on Oahu and Kauai find themselves simply without parking much of the time. Examples are Kailua and Lanikai beaches on Oahu, Tunnels Beach, and Hanalei Beach on Kauai.
Highlights of the new parking program:
Maui County residents who register will have free parking at Maui’s parks and beaches at all times, as well as 1-2 hours of free parking and/or discounted parking in Lahaina and Wailuku.
Non-residents must pay for parking at Maui’s parks and beaches and in those two towns. Parking passes will be available online or via mobile app or pay stations. It sounds like the app may not be available at the program’s roll-out. Thus kiosk-based payments may be visitors only option.
The program hopes to be financially sustainable, reinvesting the revenue into various, unspecified County resources and programs.
State parks and beaches are not included.
Hawaii state beaches, including Makena Beach and Waianapanapa Beach, are subject to state rules and fees and not those from the county. Waianapanapa State Park, for example, charges $5 per person plus $10 per vehicle.
New PARKMAUI program.
What is your take on Maui’s visitor parking plan?
Since your editors are residents of Kauai County, we, like mainland visitors, may be subject to these new fees. We’ll have to give it thought before paying $30 for beach parking at Kam III on the next trip to Maui.
Pilot paid parking at Maui beaches.
Maui’s Ulua beach and Kamaole I, II, and III Beaches will have parking equipment installed. This will be evaluated during the first 90 days of operation, and changes may be made subsequently to enhance the program.
After that, paid visitor parking is planned “throughout South and West Maui beach park locations as timing, funding and permitting allows.”
Pilot paid parking at Lahaina and Wailuku towns.
In Lahaina and Wailuku, visitors compete with employees and residents for limited parking. Additional small-town parking fees will be implemented as soon as possible.
The announcement of the final plans is forthcoming.
Next week the Maui County Council’s Infrastructure and Transportation Committee plans to meet to finalize the terms of the measure. We just learned that residents might initially be able to insert driver’s licenses into the kiosks as proof of residency. Later, the app will be rolled out and will offer pre-registration for parking. The app is said to advise on parking conditions so that users can know in advance whether or not parking is likely to be available.
A new “parking ambassador” rule is being designed for those who will be handling parking enforcement.
What’s your take on Maui’s parking plans?
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Robert T says
I agree with Mary. We’ve been visiting Maui since the early 90’s, and I was looking at some earlier pictures of some snorkeling places we used to go to compared to now, and yes, they are terribly overrun now by tourists. There are snorkeling boats everywhere, and many more people. It could be the Baby Boomers retiring, but unfortunately the population stays at the same level after the big rise in Baby Boomers, i.e. Millenials, Gen X, etc.
Mary E says
How very thankful am I that my years of traveling to HI (particularly Kauai) are over. So love the Islands that to see them overrun with tourists is heartbreaking. Aloha to all. p.s. to you BOH guys thanks for the N/L to keep me in touch.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Mary.
We’re sorry you won’t be returning. Our best to you!
Aloha.
PatG says
It isn’t “overrun with tourists” – that perception is overblown. It’s still beautiful and peaceful in many places.
Gulcin G says
Where do we apply for resident parking fee waivers?
Mike E says
If all users are charged the same fee regardless of residency it is a feasible plan since parking management reduces congestion and demand. Island residents shouldn’t be entitled to special treatment as they are able to visit an attraction anytime, for many visitors it is a once in a lifetime experience.
Patty says
Completely agree, Mike! I happen to be a homeowner who spends half of the year in Hawaii, pay property taxes and still have to pay parking fees as I am a resident of another state. It’s ridiculous. Local residents should not have parking privileges. That is discrimination in my opinion. A better system would be to charge a more reasonable fee to everyone.
don p says
They just seem to want tourists to pay everything for them now
Bruce P says
It sounds like locals disliking of tourists has hit the boiling point. As a visitor from Lake Tahoe for over 6 dozen visits, our next week flight to Kauai will be the our last.We can relate by the 10’s of thousands of cars and people causing havoc in Lake Tahoe basin.There’s a true mess here too with mostly Californian’s from the Bay area.
Steve j says
This has been brewing for years. County continues to promise locals they will improve infrastructure but don’t. Now it’s bubbled over. We thought it’d be better to lockdown here rather than anchorage. What a mistake that was. We were mistreated, you know the word I want to use. The locals had their cake and ate it too. Tourists gone and paid to sit at home or on the beach. Now tourists are back give aways are disappearing and they’re just plain mad and it shows everywhere
There’s lots of beach parking misuse by locals who park there while working. We’ve see it all the time. We pay taxes condo fees drinks and eating out we support the economy but are tired of dealing with being mistreated.
Fran says
Why not provide public transportation in the form of electric buses to relieve congestion and charge a daily fee?
Mo’ better, yah?
Betsy L says
We visit Maui every year for 3 weeks. I have no problem paying an hourly rate for parking. In every major city on the mainland we pay for parking, why should it be any different for Maui? An even better answer is a better more reliable transit system. I would love not to have to rent a car to get around, but buses are unreliable and filthy. The residents if Maui deserve to enjoy their parks. Weekends and hana are very important to their culture. They have to put up with tourists all day, they should have to give up their free time too!! If you stop coming to Maui because of a parking fee, so be it, your loss.
Diana B says
$30/day feels outrageous, expecially if you go to more than one beach in a day and have to pay the $30 again. That is the same rate we will pay at our Kaanapli resort, and then I pay again to leave the resort? It adds up quickly and starts making other vacation destinations look more desireable. Since many people are on the island for 1-2 weeks why are they not discussing some sort of tourist weekly parking pass for both state and county beaches? They can even be separate fees. The last time we drove up Waimea Canyon I was blindsided by the over $30 it cost to park at the main overlook for a car with 4 people.
PatG says
Don’t you understand? They are trying to reduce tourism.
JohnW says
Pretty evident here by all the comments that Maui has been pulverized by the “SWA effect”…. it’s not the Maui of old, it got swamped by tourists and all the fees and changes are a result….
patrick says
How long has SWA been flying to Maui? Since 2019 (and the other Islands for that matter)
And before that it was all paradise and roses with nary a problem? The Maui of old? 2018? I think not…
JohnW says
Patrick, I guess you didn’t see the other BOH article about how some tourists are bringing a dramatic change in attitudes of late with some really rude and entitled behavior that has been cropping up in the post Covid travel era….same time as SWA blessed us with their “SWA effect”
patrick says
JohnW – I’ve seen the article and for the most part I agree with it but the “attitude people” didn’t just all of a sudden start showing up when SWA started flying to HI. “Those people” were around way before SWA came into the picture.
And it goes without saying that SWA is just one of several carries bring people to the Islands. Is it just SWA bringing those people in or is it all of the airlines?
JohnW says
Good point Patrick. Of course some of those flew on all the airlines that fly here. It’s not just SWA pax’s as could be inferred from my post. It’s their business model, flood a market with cheap fares, everybody matches and SWA tries to last longer than others and then raises fares as others cut back. SWA treated Hawaii like they did LAS or MCO. It has hurt Hawaii.
JohnW says
…but it was the new Covid revenge traveller that SWA capitalized on that really accelerated the change here. When they enter a market at money losing fares they create many false expectations for the Hawaii traveller and yes a sense of entitlement about Hawaii.
don p says
So do many of the outspoken residents and their attitude
Aloha spirit is effectively dead
JohnW says
There could be another issue with the SWA effect. They flooded the market while foreign tourism was shut down (they brag about being opportunistic and predatory). As Japan tourism starts up in the spring, where will they go? You think Maui is crowded now? The beauty of the Hawaii tourism industry has always been about about the diversity it brought and is core to Aloha. SWA cares about SWA, not Hawaii. Too bad the State can’t limited their greed.
Gary C says
We have spent about 4 weeks/year in Maui in 1-2 trips yearly, spending easily $15-20K/visit including air, accommodations, restaurants/food, car rental and art purchases. Sometimes bring friends with similar tabs. We like snorkeling in the early AM before doing other stuff over the day. Adding 28 days of $30 parking is $840-nowhere else we have ever vacationed has charged anything like that for beach access. Additionally, the whole tone of this stream is a lot of “us vs them” in a way beyond what we have heard in Maui previously. We are skipping HI and booked a much less expensive but high end Mexico vacation this fall and will next consider going back to the Carribean. We will miss Hawaii a lot but its likely time to look elsewhere.
Marianne H says
We just returned from Maui —-first trip back in 3 years and have already booked elsewhere for next years “sun vacation”. The prospect of paying high beach parking fees was the last straw. The bumper sticker we saw said it all—“Welcome to Hawaii, now go home.” You got your wish—we’ll spend our money elsewhere.
patrick says
I used to see that same bumper sticker in CA MANY years ago. Pretty popular at a lot of tourist destinations.
MattyM says
Nowadays that same bumper sticker should read “Welcome To California- Now Go Homeless!”
Kathy D says
The bumper sticker was pretty telling of that persons thoughts . I love Hawaii and have visited more times than I can count. In my opinion Maui is totally overrated and my least favorite island. I haven’t been back to that island in over two decades and have no desire to ever go back. It was overcrowded even back then. I can only imagine the crowds and traffic and trying to find a parking place. I ‘m sure you can find a much nicer destination for your vaca. that does not include “Go Home” signs and$30 parking fees.
Mary K says
I think the $30.00 price tag is a bit much. I agree that residents of Maui should not be burden with any beach parking fees. But as a frequent visitor to Maui I would not want to spend $30.00 a day for beach parking, it is a little too much, almost like punishing the tourists.
Kevin C says
Hit the mail on the head. Make tourists go somewhere else. Short-sighted, unimaginative plan.
At a minimum, it will just force visitors to flock to any beach that charges less than $30 and businesses that make money near those beaches will see a reduction in their traffic and inflow of tourist dollars.
If there is no space to expand parking, make it fair to everyone and just implement hourly parking for everyone at a reasonable rate. Two tiers (free and paid) for the same “service” seems like it would invite the courts to intervene.
Garfield R says
When all these parking fees for towns and beaches come in to effect we will in the future be looking elsewhere for our holiday destinations.So far we have flown to Hawaii 25 times Garfield R.
Glen says
So Maui doesn’t want visitors by implementing an unrealistic parking rate. Hourly provides turnover. What do businesses in Lahaina that depend on tourists, i.e. whale watches, restaurants do? Who wants to add $30 to a restaurant tab or a walk around the town shops finding that great souveneir? Not I, nor my party. This week will be our last visit to Maui. I would assume small shop owners are besides themselves.
Andrea J says
Many of us island hop having business or family on neighbor islands so it would be nice if parking fees were waived for residents of the State regardless of the county one lives in.