Maui fires-need help getting refund please!

[daviator]

FYI - the resort is not uninhabitable due to fires and pollution. There are no fires in that area, and the air quality is fine.

The Westin Maui is housing displaced residents as well as staff and their families.
The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas are housing displaced staff and their families in Bldg 4.

My friend works at WKORV and she lost her apartment and all her belongings so she is a "refugee at work" and is helping those who lost their homes by providing compassion and donated items at "Kiwi's KORner." She is also coordinating the collection and shipment of all the items left behind in rooms by tourists who had to evacuate and left the island. She is also coordinating donations that are available and coming into the resort.

Times Market is open and has dairy, fruit, and vegetables, and just about everything else.

Air quality is fine in Ka'anapali. No pollution.
There is power.
The bypass is open but they are putting up dust screens around the perimeter of Lahaina.

Lahaina Gateway and Safeway survived, but Safeway may still be closed as they clean up spoiled food due to the power outage.

The only thing missing at WKORV may be the internet. But my info there is about 12 days old. However, internet was restored to the neighborhoods directly up the hill from there so I'm optimistic WKORV got their internet back.

The island needs tourists back to support the economy.

The Governor and Mayor don't want extraneous people poking around Lahaina just to say "I saw it" and causing accidents on the highway when they stop to be looky-loos. Idiots are sneaking in, disturbing the ashes of a city-sized "crematorium."

These establishments are currently open:
Kaanapali Fairway Shops:
Round Table Pizza
Island Press Coffee
Washpros

Times Market Plaza:
Pizza Paradiso
Dole Whip n Ice cream
Java Jazz
L&L BBQ
Happy Nails
Times Market, 9-5pm

AAAAA Retail Center:
AAAAA Rent A Space
Plush
Okazuka Deli
Healing Hands
Miss Arepa
All About Fish

Farmers Market Plaza:
Farmers Market

Kahana:
Dollies
Sands of Kahana Beach Club for food

Kahana Gateway:
Shell Gas Station & Whalers General Store
Smiles Nails
McDonald's
Club Maui Gym
First Hawaiian Bank
Bank of Hawaii

Napili Plaza:
Napili Market, 9-5pm
Coffee Store
Joey's Kitchen
Mail Services Plus
Roxanna's Hair Affair
Maui Tacos

Napili:
Farmers Market
Kitchen 5315
Head To Toe Salon

Kapalua:
Golf Academy/Bay Course Driving Range Opens Aug 28th

Kapalua Bay Course to open Sept. 20th

Kaanapali golf courses and range tentatively opening Sep 17th

Don't cancel. Just wait to see if they cancel on you. If they don't, go and support the people of Maui.

This is fantastic information, I really appreciate it.

Did the shopping centers with Walgreens and Foodland survive? I think they did, but I haven’t heard whether either of those stores is open or not. I guess I’d suspect that Foodland would have a similar problem as Safeway with spoiled food.

 

[sjlola]

This is fantastic information, I really appreciate it.

Did the shopping centers with Walgreens and Foodland survive? I think they did, but I haven’t heard whether either of those stores is open or not. I guess I’d suspect that Foodland would have a similar problem as Safeway with spoiled food.

I'm not certain about the Walgreens as I think most everything south of Kiawe Street was burned, but the Foodland Farms store didn't burn. Yes; probably spoiled food. The Times Market on Lower Honoapi'ilani is only open for limited hours now.

 

[Brightstar85]

I believe you have a case here, actually.

I just received communication from our management company, Soleil Management, manager of Hono Koa, Sands of Kahana, Kahana Villas at Kahana Beach, and Gardens at West Maui. They are saying that they won't open the resorts until 10/17.

​

Dear Owners, The past month has been a challenging journey for all of us and we appreciate your patience and flexibility through this difficult time as we prioritize our team members and the community as a result of the Maui Wildfire. We still ask that Owners and guests continue to strongly consider the directive from Hawaii State Governor, Josh Green, to reschedule non-essential travel to West Maui through October 17. With services and amenities slowly returning to our West Maui resorts (Sands of Kahana, Kahana Beach, Kahana Villa, Hono Koa, and The Gardens at West Maui), we are gradually welcoming back Owners reservations starting October 17 per the Governor's instruction. Arrivals and reservations into South Maui (Maui Beach and Maui Banyan) are not impacted by the Governor's directive. To plan your upcoming reservation or to receive more information about availability, please contact our Soleil Management owners services team at (800) 775-8463 or for reservations online at www.soleilmanagement.com. We are experiencing an influx of calls during this time, so to avoid wait times, you can email us at reservations@soleilmanagement.com, and we will return your call as soon as possible to assist with rescheduling your vacation. No fees will be charged for reservation adjustments or cancellations for Owners or direct bookings, and we've communicated to our Exchange Company and Retail partners that we recommend them to do the same. Travel to West Maui continues to be discouraged following the deadly wildfire that decimated Lahaina's historic Front Street. The Hawai'i Tourism Authority urges visitors to refrain from going to West Maui - including Lahaina, Nāpili, Kāʻanapali, and Kapalua - out of respect to the people and places that have been lost in Lahaina during this devastating tragedy. The impacted area of Lahaina remains off limits to the public as the search and recovery efforts continue. We hope that with time, West Maui will be fully ready to welcome you with open arms. Your visit not only contributes to the reinvigoration of our local economy but also helps sustain the rich tapestry of our community. We genuinely understand the anticipation and excitement of your upcoming Maui vacation and are grateful for your patience, understanding, and unwavering support during these challenging times. Being a guest at a Soleil Management vacation destination, you are a part of our 'ohana, and we are fully committed to providing a safe and exceptional experience for you, despite the adversity posed by the fire. Click the link below for our latest updates.​

MORE INFO​

Sincerely, Soleil Management Hawaii​

thank you for the information

 

[Brightstar85]

In order to file a claim against travel insurance, you have to experience a loss. You have not had a coverable loss unless and until have been refused check-in at the resort, or if the airline is not flying to your destination. If you are going by an 'advisory', and the resort is open, I can't see that you have a claim. Your reservation is not for another 6- or so weeks. Rather than trying to get refunded, why not make the best of it? There are snorkeling tours out of Kihei and Maui has beautiful beaches that are NOT in Lahaina.

The people of Maui will be helped far more by your visit and help than if you choose to stay home.

Jim

thank you

 

[Brightstar85]

I thought Vistana eased up on that. Not sure what Vistana is saying about travel up to 10/17.

thank you

 

[Cody Penn-Dent]

Spoke over the weekend to a local (born on Maui) who manages one of the hotels in west Maui (not a Vistana / Marriott property).

Basics are:

1) hotels on the public water system have to deal with water quality issues. they may reopen with "don't drink the tap water" caveats.
2) hotels on private water systems are fine. Nanea is on a private water system. The other Vistana properties are not.
3) there is a low level war going on between the Mayor of Maui County (the mayor of the island) and the Governor. The Governor is seen as trying to maximize political power and standing in his party by maximizing the disaster. Maui residents and businesses are livid and are tired of the activists, many who came over from the mainland to organize opposition to tourism.
4) resorts are planning to open on the 16th regardless of the Governor's "warning" and other proclamations. Maui is fed up with him.
5) the unstable infrastructure is a) potable water from the public water system (most newer resorts are on private water) b) internet and c) cell phone coverage goes up and down
6) there is no staff shortage problem except that some staff, with no income, have flown to the ninth island (Las Vegas) where they can stay with family and work in hotels there. The longer the Governor does his grandstanding in hopes of getting on the national political stage (he was the politician who closed Hawaii to cruise ships in early COVID, which won him the Governorship) the more likely those who went to Las Vegas will stay there.

7) Net: West Maui resorts will be reopened the week of September 16th unless the Governor deploys the National Guard to prevent it.

 

[SandyPGravel]

This is fantastic information, I really appreciate it.

Did the shopping centers with Walgreens and Foodland survive? I think they did, but I haven’t heard whether either of those stores is open or not. I guess I’d suspect that Foodland would have a similar problem as Safeway with spoiled food.

I work for WAG. Building survived. Last communication we received from corporate is that the location has not reopened yet, but the team members were working with other locations on Maui to provide medications to the west Maui area.