155 thoughts on “West Maui Travel Reopening In October Updated”
Nancy A
When we visit Maui, it’s at the Kahana Sunset. We’re pretty much self-contained there and do not utilize most “tourist type services.” While the unit may open soon, we cannot visit without a grocery nearby that’s open. We also don’t want to get in the way. Finally, the accommodations we use would be great temporary accommodations for displaced local residents.
Should we delay our annual visit to sometime next year?
If you’re not going to contribute to the economy then, yes, leave the room for others. Coming, but not spending money except at big corporate owned businesses, you’re not contributing to recovery. You’re taking up space. You’re just taking, taking, taking. “Tourist type services” are how we make money. Just coming here to eat in your room and use the beach isn’t helping.
We have our timeshare condo reservation at the Westin Kaanapali Villas scheduled for November 4, 2023 thru November 11, 2023. We have not canceled the reservation yet. We don’t know what to do. Please advise if we should cancel.
It is a personal choice so long as where you are staying is open. Also, it isn’t even clear yet what final date recommendations the state will offer. We’ll provide whatever we learn.
West Maui is not shut down folks. Businesses and restaurants are open. Only thing shut down is Lahaina, which is obvious with barricades, law enforcement, and a fence you can’t see through. Help these businesses survive to make a stronger Maui.
So, there are thousands of displaced people. Where are they going to live? The only choice are hotels. Rebuilding Lahaina will take years. The Federal Government could do a lot more than handing out $700.
So how much should the govt give? When/where does it end, yes they need help but the Gov’t can’t just keep handing out $$$. Money is not the answer to everything.
I have dealt with grief and often going back to normal gives more comfort then sitting around. Sitting around leads to depression. Adding no income or what the government will give is going to make it worse.
I am scheduled for a weekend trip to east Maui at the beginning of Oct and we have several restraunts we want to visit on the westside. If it’s closed well then we will stay in Hana the whole time.
Aloha BOH – Mahalo for continuing to monitor the situation in West Maui. If the State or feds aren’t prepared to keep businesses afloat (specifically those from Kaanapali to Kapalua), it is an open question if the local market is sufficient to stay in business. IMHO, lack of tourism in that area for an extended period will extend the economic ruin far beyond Lahaina proper. It also is irresponsible for the governor (and others) to vacillate on when West Maui will reopen. They have to know that jobs are at stake, and reservations won’t be made if the timing is uncertain.
I e-mailed the governor and suggest others might want to do this with their own opinions on the governor’s interference into private business owners’ and homeowners’/hotels’ plans and needs. I suggested that the governor answer: How did he decide October 17 was the date to open? Hawaii residents have received and will receive federal taxpayer dollars (That’s why he should answer questions from American tourists who support Maui residents with their tax dollars.) Yes, we are tourists with reservations in Kaanapali starting October 6. But our itinerary is one week on Maui followed by one week on the Big Island. If our Kaanapali reservation is cancelled, my husband does not want to go to Hawaii and will cancel the Big Island. So now, the governor is damaging not only Maui’s economy, but the Big Island as well. Businesses and restaurants are open in West Maui, but they need tourists as customers. These businesses might be forced to shut down, if the governor shuts down accommodations in West Maui. Is he going to pay them (and the condo owners who rent to tourists) for all of their lost sales? Is he going to reimburse tourists for their lost deposits, etc.? Most people want to do what’s right, but that’s not necessarily what their government dictates especially in times of emergency. Many tourist posts have emphatically stated that they plan to volunteer and donate financially when they visit. I’ll post again if the governor has the courage to respond to my e-mail.
Heard back from the governor’s office with an “answer” to my question on how/why he chose October 17: “…we will consider your comments along with all other public input as we strive to improve government in Hawaii.”
If they want to improve, they should consider starting with having the leadership resign and have the voters choose candidates who understand the question and have clear reasons to provide an answer. The governor did neither and unfortunately Hawaiians and all American taxpayers may pay the price for the incompetence.
West Maui has a number of timeshare resorts. These are real property resorts owned by individuals. I do not see how Josh Green can stop me from visiting the property I own during the time I am allotted after October 1. The only way that happens is if he strong arms the management companies to keep the resorts closed.
John C: The problem with the Timeshares is that if the Gov. says not to re-open, I don’t think they can or will. My upcoming week is at the Hyatt Residence Club October 28. The cars are rented, the Airfare bought for 6 people. Thousands of dollars have been donated by our family as is the case with so very many people. We are planning on helping while on Maui. I am not insensitive to the pain that is real for lovers of Maui and for those who have lost love ones and Everything.
Gloria, same boat with me. The timeshare resorts *can* reopen but thus far they are “abiding by the Governor’s” request. Since every week they are closed, 1 owner for each unit loses that access, I expect they will try to open sooner rather than later.
Gloria G.
I agree with you. I believe the timeshares won’t open until the Governor amends his proclamation and “opens” west Maui to visitors. It would be a public relations nightmare for them.
Well, this appears to be “How to Destroy Maui’s Citizen’s Fiscal Lives 2.0” courtesy of Josh Green! He really did a number back in the days of the scamdemic advising Little Iggy so now as Guv’nur he gets to complete the task after the fires! Maybe there is something to what some of the people posting about how developers are going to have a free for all in what was the “Old Lahaina” has some real legs after all and that will be way beyond sad and tragic for everyone that lost everything.
We have a history in Hawaii since 1975 and U of H Hilo. So many visits, long stays, even a wedding in Uluwalo back in 2014! My Dad as a Navy pilot in WWII in Kaneohe! We love it but we see these problems, including crazy no water/no warnings during the recent fire. We can think of only two words that sum up our feelings. Vote differently!! Hawaii needs change now. We are a Fire Dept family and Lahaina and lack of strategy was beyond comprehension. We are praying for Maui and all of the islands. Tech money that has bought so much of the islands could sure help now…
I’m not sure there is anything much worse you could do to West Maui’s economy than announcing a date & then changing it. 🙁 People have learned from Covid, if you change it once it’s likely you’ll change it again & again & again! So sad & frustrating.
Very confusing for folks to figure out what to do. Cancelled my 30yr wedding Anniversary in Ka’anapali. Rescheduled my trip, now going to New England to see fall colors. I was bringing and paying for 10 people, Flights (2 First Class) 3 cars, Hotel rooms, golf, restaraunts, bars, scuba, food trucks, tours etc. etc. Better get some Leadership quickly or there no return.
Happy Anniversary! We are in the same boat with our 30 year anniversary in mid October. We have a timershare reservation in West Maui that have not been cancelled yet. Our backup reservation is in Kihei but we are seeing businesses and restaurants opening in September and now I read this. smh.
We are scheduled to arrive in Maui on Saturday afternoon, October 14, to celebrate our 30th anniversary and spousal birthday. Our reservation at a West Maui timeshare is from October 15-22. I have made hotel reservations in Kihei for October 14-17 based on the Governor’s previous “open to visitors” date of October 17. I have not heard yet from the timeshare property in Kahana regarding if they would be able to still welcome us October 15-22, or even October 17-22. Sliding this “welcome to visitors” date to later than October 17 could be problematic for us, but we want to remain respectful of those who have suffered from this terrible tragedy. We really want to spend our money in West Maui if at all possible to help those in need.
Happy 30th Anniversary to you too! We are also booked into a timeshare in West Maui on October 10 for our 30th anniversary. A trip I planned 2 years ago. We have a backup reservation in Kihei but really hope to stay in Kaanapali.
Keeping west Maui closed will not only allow locals more time to grieve, it will give them a lot more to grieve about. Locals will not only have lost loved ones, homes and businesses, they will also get to lose their jobs and savings. If we don’t get people back to work asap, there will be an exodus as people flee to the 9th island for work. Lahaina is off limits for the forseeable future. There is no justification for wiping out Kaanapali, Napili and Kapalua economically.
I have to admit I’m baffled. Definitely keep people out from burned areas. But there’s no reason to keep people out from areas that weren’t affected.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, the federal government managed to move modular temporary housing in and my understanding is they purchased a ton of those. Why aren’t they mobilizing the container ships to send to Hawaii? It’s been a whole month! Why haven’t they sent the fleet over? Doesn’t Pearl Harbor have enhanced Department of Defense identification laboratories? Start identifying the deceased and give people some closure.
The government talks a good game and then does nothing. There’s so much they could have done and they did none of it. How about renting out the Pride of America for temporary housing? Then at least the hotel rooms would have been opened back up.
Honestly, I would start ignoring whatever the government said and just do what you need to do. Just like East Palestine, Maui is now yesterday’s disaster. There’s no help coming.
And just to add in with Katrina they asked people if they had someone they could go stay with and then paid for transportation to that place. People who didn’t have any family or friends they actually relocated all over the United States and paid for housing just like we do for international refugees. Why hasn’t this been done for Maui?
I will say it ended up being a double edged sword though for New Orleans. Very, very few of those people who were relocated ended up going back.
An additional concern would be short term rentals housing displaced individuals, families, etc. That would lose the county/state the revenue generated by visitors. Displaced folks still will not have the means to spend those needed amounts. There is a very fine balance in play here
BOH: If this is the case, then why give the Travel Industry $2,000,000+ to advertise Hawaii? Your Governor is Hopeless. This is the same person who wanted to charge everyone $50 to enter Hawaii for a “Green Fee” and now he can’t make up his mind to save what is left of the businesses in the area! This is just beyond sad.
I received an email yesterday from a hotel in Napili saying that they are now open and accepting guests. Unless I’m miss something, there is nothing stopping a resort from opening up now if they want to, and visitors from staying there. Of course, everyone has to make their own decision about whether they’re comfortable going or not, weighing respect for the victims while wanting to help the economy. BOH – thanks for all of your information it’s invaluable. I’m’ curious if you agree with my take on the situation for the West Maui resorts.
I called Napili today to find out if we should book or not Oct 9. He said some vacation rentals are accepting reservations but the pools and bbqs are closed until the governor says open so I’m not sure what to do. It’s mostly employees staying there. Might be wise to stay south.
When we visit Maui, it’s at the Kahana Sunset. We’re pretty much self-contained there and do not utilize most “tourist type services.” While the unit may open soon, we cannot visit without a grocery nearby that’s open. We also don’t want to get in the way. Finally, the accommodations we use would be great temporary accommodations for displaced local residents.
Should we delay our annual visit to sometime next year?
Nancy A
Hi Nancy.
There is no clear answer unfortunately. It is a personal decision. Some will please plead with you to come while others will plead with you not to.
Aloha.
If you’re not going to contribute to the economy then, yes, leave the room for others. Coming, but not spending money except at big corporate owned businesses, you’re not contributing to recovery. You’re taking up space. You’re just taking, taking, taking. “Tourist type services” are how we make money. Just coming here to eat in your room and use the beach isn’t helping.
We have our timeshare condo reservation at the Westin Kaanapali Villas scheduled for November 4, 2023 thru November 11, 2023. We have not canceled the reservation yet. We don’t know what to do. Please advise if we should cancel.
Hi Patricia.
It is a personal choice so long as where you are staying is open. Also, it isn’t even clear yet what final date recommendations the state will offer. We’ll provide whatever we learn.
Aloha.
West Maui is not shut down folks. Businesses and restaurants are open. Only thing shut down is Lahaina, which is obvious with barricades, law enforcement, and a fence you can’t see through. Help these businesses survive to make a stronger Maui.
So, there are thousands of displaced people. Where are they going to live? The only choice are hotels. Rebuilding Lahaina will take years. The Federal Government could do a lot more than handing out $700.
Gerhard, these people need to live in condos. They can’t live in hotels without kitchens.
So how much should the govt give? When/where does it end, yes they need help but the Gov’t can’t just keep handing out $$$. Money is not the answer to everything.
Please advise if it will be ok to go to Kihei on October 10 th otherwise I need to cancel my reservations.
Many Thanks
Hi Ellie.
Yes absolutely. That will be fine. Enjoy your time there in South Maui!
Aloha.
Yes, Kihei is open and ready to serve. But, please, eat out and do tourist activities and shop local.
I have dealt with grief and often going back to normal gives more comfort then sitting around. Sitting around leads to depression. Adding no income or what the government will give is going to make it worse.
I am scheduled for a weekend trip to east Maui at the beginning of Oct and we have several restraunts we want to visit on the westside. If it’s closed well then we will stay in Hana the whole time.
Aloha BOH – Mahalo for continuing to monitor the situation in West Maui. If the State or feds aren’t prepared to keep businesses afloat (specifically those from Kaanapali to Kapalua), it is an open question if the local market is sufficient to stay in business. IMHO, lack of tourism in that area for an extended period will extend the economic ruin far beyond Lahaina proper. It also is irresponsible for the governor (and others) to vacillate on when West Maui will reopen. They have to know that jobs are at stake, and reservations won’t be made if the timing is uncertain.
I e-mailed the governor and suggest others might want to do this with their own opinions on the governor’s interference into private business owners’ and homeowners’/hotels’ plans and needs. I suggested that the governor answer: How did he decide October 17 was the date to open? Hawaii residents have received and will receive federal taxpayer dollars (That’s why he should answer questions from American tourists who support Maui residents with their tax dollars.) Yes, we are tourists with reservations in Kaanapali starting October 6. But our itinerary is one week on Maui followed by one week on the Big Island. If our Kaanapali reservation is cancelled, my husband does not want to go to Hawaii and will cancel the Big Island. So now, the governor is damaging not only Maui’s economy, but the Big Island as well. Businesses and restaurants are open in West Maui, but they need tourists as customers. These businesses might be forced to shut down, if the governor shuts down accommodations in West Maui. Is he going to pay them (and the condo owners who rent to tourists) for all of their lost sales? Is he going to reimburse tourists for their lost deposits, etc.? Most people want to do what’s right, but that’s not necessarily what their government dictates especially in times of emergency. Many tourist posts have emphatically stated that they plan to volunteer and donate financially when they visit. I’ll post again if the governor has the courage to respond to my e-mail.
Heard back from the governor’s office with an “answer” to my question on how/why he chose October 17: “…we will consider your comments along with all other public input as we strive to improve government in Hawaii.”
If they want to improve, they should consider starting with having the leadership resign and have the voters choose candidates who understand the question and have clear reasons to provide an answer. The governor did neither and unfortunately Hawaiians and all American taxpayers may pay the price for the incompetence.
West Maui has a number of timeshare resorts. These are real property resorts owned by individuals. I do not see how Josh Green can stop me from visiting the property I own during the time I am allotted after October 1. The only way that happens is if he strong arms the management companies to keep the resorts closed.
John C: The problem with the Timeshares is that if the Gov. says not to re-open, I don’t think they can or will. My upcoming week is at the Hyatt Residence Club October 28. The cars are rented, the Airfare bought for 6 people. Thousands of dollars have been donated by our family as is the case with so very many people. We are planning on helping while on Maui. I am not insensitive to the pain that is real for lovers of Maui and for those who have lost love ones and Everything.
Gloria, same boat with me. The timeshare resorts *can* reopen but thus far they are “abiding by the Governor’s” request. Since every week they are closed, 1 owner for each unit loses that access, I expect they will try to open sooner rather than later.
Gloria G.
I agree with you. I believe the timeshares won’t open until the Governor amends his proclamation and “opens” west Maui to visitors. It would be a public relations nightmare for them.
Well, this appears to be “How to Destroy Maui’s Citizen’s Fiscal Lives 2.0” courtesy of Josh Green! He really did a number back in the days of the scamdemic advising Little Iggy so now as Guv’nur he gets to complete the task after the fires! Maybe there is something to what some of the people posting about how developers are going to have a free for all in what was the “Old Lahaina” has some real legs after all and that will be way beyond sad and tragic for everyone that lost everything.
We have a history in Hawaii since 1975 and U of H Hilo. So many visits, long stays, even a wedding in Uluwalo back in 2014! My Dad as a Navy pilot in WWII in Kaneohe! We love it but we see these problems, including crazy no water/no warnings during the recent fire. We can think of only two words that sum up our feelings. Vote differently!! Hawaii needs change now. We are a Fire Dept family and Lahaina and lack of strategy was beyond comprehension. We are praying for Maui and all of the islands. Tech money that has bought so much of the islands could sure help now…
I’m not sure there is anything much worse you could do to West Maui’s economy than announcing a date & then changing it. 🙁 People have learned from Covid, if you change it once it’s likely you’ll change it again & again & again! So sad & frustrating.
Very confusing for folks to figure out what to do. Cancelled my 30yr wedding Anniversary in Ka’anapali. Rescheduled my trip, now going to New England to see fall colors. I was bringing and paying for 10 people, Flights (2 First Class) 3 cars, Hotel rooms, golf, restaraunts, bars, scuba, food trucks, tours etc. etc. Better get some Leadership quickly or there no return.
Happy Anniversary! We are in the same boat with our 30 year anniversary in mid October. We have a timershare reservation in West Maui that have not been cancelled yet. Our backup reservation is in Kihei but we are seeing businesses and restaurants opening in September and now I read this. smh.
Totally predictable. Our society/government is not structured to handle disasters this big.
We are scheduled to arrive in Maui on Saturday afternoon, October 14, to celebrate our 30th anniversary and spousal birthday. Our reservation at a West Maui timeshare is from October 15-22. I have made hotel reservations in Kihei for October 14-17 based on the Governor’s previous “open to visitors” date of October 17. I have not heard yet from the timeshare property in Kahana regarding if they would be able to still welcome us October 15-22, or even October 17-22. Sliding this “welcome to visitors” date to later than October 17 could be problematic for us, but we want to remain respectful of those who have suffered from this terrible tragedy. We really want to spend our money in West Maui if at all possible to help those in need.
Happy 30th Anniversary to you too! We are also booked into a timeshare in West Maui on October 10 for our 30th anniversary. A trip I planned 2 years ago. We have a backup reservation in Kihei but really hope to stay in Kaanapali.
Keeping west Maui closed will not only allow locals more time to grieve, it will give them a lot more to grieve about. Locals will not only have lost loved ones, homes and businesses, they will also get to lose their jobs and savings. If we don’t get people back to work asap, there will be an exodus as people flee to the 9th island for work. Lahaina is off limits for the forseeable future. There is no justification for wiping out Kaanapali, Napili and Kapalua economically.
I have to admit I’m baffled. Definitely keep people out from burned areas. But there’s no reason to keep people out from areas that weren’t affected.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, the federal government managed to move modular temporary housing in and my understanding is they purchased a ton of those. Why aren’t they mobilizing the container ships to send to Hawaii? It’s been a whole month! Why haven’t they sent the fleet over? Doesn’t Pearl Harbor have enhanced Department of Defense identification laboratories? Start identifying the deceased and give people some closure.
The government talks a good game and then does nothing. There’s so much they could have done and they did none of it. How about renting out the Pride of America for temporary housing? Then at least the hotel rooms would have been opened back up.
Honestly, I would start ignoring whatever the government said and just do what you need to do. Just like East Palestine, Maui is now yesterday’s disaster. There’s no help coming.
And just to add in with Katrina they asked people if they had someone they could go stay with and then paid for transportation to that place. People who didn’t have any family or friends they actually relocated all over the United States and paid for housing just like we do for international refugees. Why hasn’t this been done for Maui?
I will say it ended up being a double edged sword though for New Orleans. Very, very few of those people who were relocated ended up going back.
An additional concern would be short term rentals housing displaced individuals, families, etc. That would lose the county/state the revenue generated by visitors. Displaced folks still will not have the means to spend those needed amounts. There is a very fine balance in play here
BOH: If this is the case, then why give the Travel Industry $2,000,000+ to advertise Hawaii? Your Governor is Hopeless. This is the same person who wanted to charge everyone $50 to enter Hawaii for a “Green Fee” and now he can’t make up his mind to save what is left of the businesses in the area! This is just beyond sad.
I received an email yesterday from a hotel in Napili saying that they are now open and accepting guests. Unless I’m miss something, there is nothing stopping a resort from opening up now if they want to, and visitors from staying there. Of course, everyone has to make their own decision about whether they’re comfortable going or not, weighing respect for the victims while wanting to help the economy. BOH – thanks for all of your information it’s invaluable. I’m’ curious if you agree with my take on the situation for the West Maui resorts.
Hi David.
Thanks for that. You are correct. It is a personal decision. The state has not said you cannot visit West Maui, and the road is open.
Aloha.
I called Napili today to find out if we should book or not Oct 9. He said some vacation rentals are accepting reservations but the pools and bbqs are closed until the governor says open so I’m not sure what to do. It’s mostly employees staying there. Might be wise to stay south.