Maui has great resorts and an improved airport with the most flights (including widebody) to Hawaii other than Honolulu. But now it has clearly become too much of a good thing. So what happens next?
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306 thoughts on “Maui Visitors and Residents Square Off Starting Here”
Is there no convenient public transportation? I haven’t been to Maui since the 90’s but I’ve been thinking about going to visit my brother and SIL.
I am a resident of Maui, and avoid Paia Town all together these days, due to not being able to park easily. I avoid a large amount of beaches as well, due to the same reason. I am a big fan of charging for visitor parking, and believe this is one solution to the impact visitors have to our island.
You know once someone parks they will stay all day and it will just fill up with no movement for others to use.
Not sure $30 will ease the parking. Better raise it to $100 a day.
Heck, why not raise it to $500/day? 🙄
So if they had a fee for say one beach and pay $30.00 for the day and get up and move in say 2 hours is this fee move with you. Seems a very unfair way to collect some need cash to help look after the place Greed is getting in the way here I think. Metered time if anything would be fair Not a day rate as people move around!!
Missing the whole point here. Not greed, but to lessen impacts to island resources and kama’aina.
Just went to Maui this summer. My prior trips were 20yrs ago. It was tough to find free parking but we managed to by getting up early. One of the lovely things about Mauiis the number of lovely beaches to explore. However a$30/day parking fee ( on top of all the other costs to travel there) makes me sad. It is so lovely that the state makes all beaches accessible to all (unlike private and restricted beaches in other states). But adding $30/day makes me think twice about another Maui trip. Glad I got to show my kids the island at least the one time.
I do sympathize with residents who can’t access the beauty in their backyard. I suspect if I lived there I would absolutely avoid tourist filled beaches where I had to battle for parking
I live on the big island and continuously see locals trash the beaches and parking lots. I’ve never seen a tourist throw garbage out of their car like a local. Aloha ʻĀina is dead.
I’ve seen it too.
Hawaii is the first island I went to that I didn’t feel the Aloha. People were speeding and acting like people on the mainland. Sad to see things change.
I have lived on the Big Island for several years now and have experienced the same thing. So sad to see many locals trashing their beautiful island home. On the other hand, the local friends we have made live quiet, simple lives, keep their yards and homes up and have been so welcoming to us haoles.
Sad days in Maui.. why not put in a parking lot and bus that takes people to the beaches? Gouging the tourists is not the answer.. I’m sure the vacationers bru and city could come up with a better plan since hotel rates and car rental rates are at an all time high..
i agree that the beaches are busy during tourist seasons…i have lived here 20 years and have been coming since 1969..be careful you are not pandering to the locals that abuse the beaches and parks.the pot smoking families that occupy the parks on weekends, the fishermen that park all over the beaches with large vehicles…most locals do not spend that much time on the beaches..locals live here and have other things such as jobs and families and school functions and life in general to fight over parking spaces…just cut down on flights..
This planet is several million years old. Maui does Not belong to one people more than others! Tourism is the Only industry this isolated state has. If you can’t afford to live here you need to migrate to a location you can afford a quality life. Happens all over the world. Kill tourism and you starve, support tourism and the prices escalate! Either way the toothpaste is out of the tube. It will Never be affordable again. That canoe has sailed!!
Hawai’i is trying to change their reliance on tourism due to its detrimental effect on the lives of people who live here. If visitors cannot afford to contribute to maintaining and sustaining the resources that they utilize here, they are welcome to visit other beautiful places in this world.
As a tourist I’m OK with paying tourist fees that help support the island. What I’m not crazy about i sparking fees that are just outrageous. These seem to be vindictive. You want to reduce tourism. Buy out the hotels, and time share owners, tear them down, open up natural areas, and reduce tourism and oh yeah tax revenue too! The tourists didn’t create these issues teh local politicians who made plenty of $$$ letting the reports build. Hawaii. Residents speak of Aloha spirit, well this ain’t that. I understand there are tourists that don’t respect the land, that is everywhere. We always try to respect the land and cultural, We try to learn more and see more of the island and its beauty. The parking fees are punitive.
Hello,
Hourly paid parking does encourage more of a turnover allowing for more open spots. I would not be opposed to locals having free parking for their own beaches. $30? Nah. Wouldn’t come.
Thank you for your insightful information.