Now four reopening dates for West Maui travel have been floated. But there are still more questions than answers.
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155 thoughts on “West Maui Travel Reopening In October Updated”
Now four reopening dates for West Maui travel have been floated. But there are still more questions than answers.
My fam flew into Maui on the night of Aug 8th & had to spend a night in Maui Hi school parking lot coz our hotel in Kaanapali was not accessible. We rebooked in the Kihei (so.maui) area & just avoided west Maui during our vacay til Aug14. Maui still has beautiful areas that can be seen & financial infusion will help the islanders. All I ask of the locals are to be understanding of the visitors & for tourists to be respectful to the Hawaiian culture & their grief. I think if anybody has a reservation as long as it is not in the Lahaina area, should be able to go as long as the hotels/accommodations are not used to house the fire victims. Kihei, Makena, Maalaea, Hana, Kapolei & Kahului are on the Haleakala side of the mtn so those should be accessible without problems. Aloha & Mahalo!
Keep everyone except Kama’aina out of Lahaina (and that means anyone except full-time, permanent residents and/or business owners) for the next few months? Absolutely. Bar all travel to west Maui for no good reason? Insane. They will absolutely decimate the economy of the entire county. Of course Lahaina needs to heal and there is no good reason to allow outsiders in there, but you cannot pull the plug on the tourism machine without dire consequences. Who’s running this circus??
So if Governor Green or the mayor of Maui shuts down timeshare resorts in west Maui can I get relief from my maintenance fees for 2023? Really leaning towards calling Marriott to check if I can transfer my ownership to another Marriott island resort, or maybe going to somewhere else other than Hawaii. 🙁 So sad for the loss of life, business and homes, but life does move on no matter what. And tell your Mayor and Governor No more closed door meetings. What are they hiding????
BOH, have the other islands seen an uptick in reservations because of the Maui fire?
Hi Rob.
Not in any substantial way. More data points are coming soon on that.
Aloha.
I think you need a new governor. He seems incapable of making decisions. One day it’s yes and the next it’s no. Maybe we should be listening to the residents who are living through this nightmare.
The potential extension of the re-opening date to West Maui is so frustrating. Of course we want to be respectful of those affected by the horrendous loss on Maui, but we need to know how to plan. We cancelled our trip to Westin Kaanapali Nanea scheduled originally for Oct 10-17 as soon as we heard about the governor’s ban on travel to West Maui. We felt so fortunate to find comparable accommodations available at Westin Kaanapali Ocean View Villas for Oct 19-26, so we grabbed it. These are timeshare units and Marriott has told me that because we do not have travel insurance, our points used for these accommodations will revert to a limited status meaning that they will expire if not used by the end of the year. They will also lose their priority status of being able to book 12 months in advance. The limited status means that we can only book 60 days in advance, and if nothing is available, we pretty much lose the value of our week’s stay in Maui. There are only 3 properties on Maui in our timeshare program. It is not like we can re-book into any available hotel in the unaffected areas.
The holidays are approaching and we want to be at home with our families during the holidays so there are fewer and fewer travel opportunities to Maui if we cannot resume our travel plans in advance of November. Our trip to Maui would be cancelled permanently. I wonder how many other people are in our boat.
This is such a sad challening situation. There are so many factors within this puzzle of life. I am a tourist, used to live on Maui in the 70’s. I read way too many negative posts in 2023 and was on the verge of just cancelling my reservation. Then decided after saving for 5 years for propbably my last trip, to go…then the horrible fires. This devastation hit home hard for me and I just could not bare to take 30 and see any distruction on the by pass. The memorial would make me cry. The over building on the lands, the beach wash outs, the Kaanapali walkway wash outs. And the ever blasting locals on the Maui social site was really discouraging me. Now, there is more come help us and more Aloha. I could come and volunteer, help my renting condo and spending $$, and remember that I did not lose a life or a home. So now, I just go back and forth. I can;t imagine after 50 years to not see Lahaina. But imagine what the residents are feeling? I go back and forth. I also look at the condo rentals and they have gone up at least 300$ from my past scheduled trip. Thats 300$ more that I don’t have or could use to donate. So I just dont know about this trip. I am just going to meditate, and be peaceful for the next couple months to decide what to really do. I hope the government and Mayor are not as iffy as me in getting something done for these suffering people~
Hi guys
There is some precedent to disaster on Kaua’i Island——what we’re the recovery lessons learned on Kaua’i in the wake of Hurricane Iniki?
For business reasons, I was on Kaua’i arriving about a month after Iniki had struck the island. I was there to observe the recovery and rebuilding of the blown-out remains of the former Westin Hotel then under big time restoration to become the Kaua’i Marriott.
However, during that one-week post-Iniki stay, I observed very saddening devastation all over the island. I still remember what seemed like a countless number of telephone/electric utility service poles that were struck down like toothpicks. Even today. when driving around, I cannot help but notice that on any line of wooden utility poles, some seem almost new with typical dark brown creosote weather coating because they were new after Iniki, while the rest look older and weather-beaten.
Lola and I wish God’s mercy, love and provisions for all who suffered loss of loved ones and loss of their homes and livelihood.
Sincerely, Jim E
Hello,
We have had a reservation for a villa up in Kapalua for check-in October 5th. The first thing I did was message with the local property management and agency if we should reschedule or try and change our stay to a different area of Maui. My family and I want to be respectful and do right by the local community. We were told that they still recommended we stay in Kapalua and not change our reservation. They confirmed business in that area us open and there is no damage up there and they recommended we stay up there and be respectful.
So we are keeping the reservation. We are looking forward to staying on that part of the island and just spending time relaxing.
Hoping that stays the same and we are welcomed in Kapalua.
I was planning a trip for early October when I heard that Kaanapali would be open. When they moved the date back, I still considered South Maui, but I have decided I will wait. I’m now planning for January or March. I hope it isn’t too late, but I fear the government is making a mess they can’t recover from.
Wow, what’s wrong putting the cruise ship out front of Lahaina and Solve the whole housing problem, shuttle the people in and out each day off the boat so they can go to work come home eat on the boat, all three meals if needed and sleep there, promise you it will be a lot less for the federal government to pay, then trying to find housing on the island that’s step number one, or why they haven’t taken 40 acres of land and put in trailers 12 x 40 with a paved road and electricity and put all the holes in there something like that could be built in months two months max, it’s really not that hard to figure these things out please governor think about the people there, we all mourn different, stop trying to second-guess their feelings, yes, it’s a horrible tragedy that happened, provide the housing, provide the jobs, and let’s get things moving far is Lahaina go slow
Hi Guys,
Love your emails.
I feel bad for the residence of West Maui and I don’t understand why the governor’s office isn’t working faster to provide temporary FEMA housing outside of Lahina. Clear some space and bring in trailers like they do in the southern states after hurricanes. The Governor’s office should apply for aid to help survivors and business with financial aid like during Covid. They seem to collect enough tax money so how about spending it where it will do some good. Then start to fast track rebuilding of Lahina and the affected areas. The city should create a department to generate building plans of existing structures pre fire and allow people to start rebuilding. I’m more than happy to donate my time and work with the city of Lahina or the county to help with this process. This should be a community effort to replace what was there and keep people in their homes.
Thanks,
David, Architect from California
Let the visitors stay in trailers. We need those air b& bs to drop their prices for local families. It is outrageous the amount of families have to cram inside small dwellings because of the high rent and the overtaken of vacation rentals.
It takes Time to build housing. What kind? Who pays for it? Do he people who owned homes (and hopefully had insurance!) pay rent when they get built? Just saying ‘build housing’ isn’t that simple. And FEMA can’t just ‘product’ trailers, like after Katrina. They aren’t in HI, so the have to be rounded up and Shipped to HI. There is no easy and quick answer to the problem of person who no longer have a roof over their heads!
David, Your suggestion of fast tracking the rebuilding of what was there is exactly what my friend (a former Fortune 100 CEO) and I were discussing. Get architects and builders in there to work with the homeowners to recreate their home plans.
Homeowners can opt out of the process if they want but I would think many would appreciate the opportunity. Govt can also work through the insurance claims for the owners who had insurance. It can be done with everyone working toward the common goal of getting these families back in their homes.
We always came to West Maui for the beautiful beaches and the “Charm” of the town of Lahaina. We went to Lahaina several times each time we visited Kaanapali. Over the last 30 years we watched the erosion of the beach and land at the Hyatt Regency. Now with Lahaina gone, it is just too sad for us to come there. We wish West Maui well but don’t think we will ever be able to return for vacation. It’s just to sad 😢
We had reservations in Kā’anapali starting 26 Sept, but due to the confusing information, and our own needs to have settled plans, we are going to a different island this time. It was not an easy decision for us. Kā’anapali has been special to us for many years, and we will miss the ohana we have built there over time. But we will be there as soon as we can with much aloha and malama in our hearts for all.
Were scheduled for november 23 to 28 at kahana falls is it still open then
I thought the governor might move the reopening of west Maui to Oct. 1st, trying to help locals who need to get back to work. Then I read this article and I’m shocked. If there are legitimate reasons for delying reopening, they should be made public.
I thought the idea of a “soft opening” at the beginning of Oct. made a lot of sense. But that sounds unrealistic at this point. More and more people like me are going to start canceling their October reservations and not come back for awhile. **Insert heavy sigh here**
I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what opening the non damaged areas of West Maui has to do with pre eating those effected from grieving? There are natural disasters all over the country every year and those effected for the most part suck it up and start dealing with the tasks to rebuild. I assume FEMA is there just like any other disaster, and will take however long they take to help, just like everywhere else. I also assume they will provide trailers just like hurricane damaged areas? When Southern Florida suffered unimaginable hurricane damage a decade or two ago, there werent timeshares to house the people. What did they do? This disaster should be the same. I agree there should be a way to keep tourists from rubber necking in the damaged areas, perhaps big fines if caught where they do not belong, the the rest of this just to me smacks of big government getting involved where they don’t belong. I can’t imagine what locals there are dealing with, land and homes that have been in families for generations. Lahaina was a slice of heaven that we loved, and are so sad to see gone, but all this government involvement to me is way over the top. The state/local government needs to figure out how to avoid this from ever happening again, and do more than provide sound bytes to materially help those in need.
Steve, very well said. We are all tiptoeing around as to not sound insensitive.
Well, I am not a professional in this field. But, this is an island in the pacific and trailers, yes could come in on ships. But trailers in a very windy atmosphere, may not be the safest thing to do, especially with the winter winds approaching. I agree, FEMA is not doing enough, but this small island, was just not ready for this disaster and everyone is trying to learn how to navigate the best they can. Its a fine line for grief, working, and rebuilding in a resort area. I would not want this job.
We are traveling to Maui and even though West Maui is “discouraged” to visit I will still shop and dine at the local restaurants and shops that welcome tourist in Kaanapali, Kapalua, Kahana and Napili. If I need to take the long way around on highway 30 I will. If you are open and you want the business I will come! This is not to challenge the Governor or to disrespect the Lahaina community. This is about helping the community keep their jobs and avoid another economical let down.
The native Hawaiian homesteaders will not like and it will have negative relations and possibly alot of anger towards more visitors using the”long way” through native homestead lands.
I apologize Sophie. I hate to sound like the ignorant or insensitive tourist. I was just trying to make the point we can still patron the West Maui shops and restaurants. They should not be closed off in my opinion. Believe me! I would rather not take “the long way” around. 😉
I have reservations in Kaanapali starting October 7th. I have been told by the resort that they are still holding the reservations after September 15th. I have been looking for some guidance and clarity regarding the status of services in West Maui. I am familiar with the Kaanapali and Kapalua and know that the businesses there must need to open or they will fail. I am strongly considering keeping my reservation at the resort and as I usually do traveling to other parts of the island and supporting the island economy.
Happy 30th anniversary to you too, John C! I have attempted to make online restaurant reservations at two of our favorite restaurants in West Maui the week of October 16 to no avail. They are not taking online reservations right now. I will call to see if I can get them that way. However, I was able to make an online reservation at Duke’s in West Maui for October 19.