Maui Tourism Levels

[triangulum33]

For those of you that have been to Maui this summer, what have the crowd levels been? Beat of Hawaii has posted several articles lately that mention tourism is below normal.

 

[YYJMSP]

We were there in mid/late Jun

The crowds at dinner time were huge everywhere. I suspect it might be less people based on talk, but not as many places to eat at, so it feels more crowded than normal

Seemed to be somewhat normal crowds everywhere...

 

[daviator]

Since the fire, restaurants have been slammed for dinner because there just aren't nearly as many of them. I would guess that the ratio of restaurant seats to visitors declined significantly. As more tourists return to Maui, it may get even worse. When we were last there a few months ago, we ended up mostly cooking for ourselves rather than fight the crowds. Although we wanted to support the local economy, we also were hungry.

A big advantage of timeshares is that the option to cook exists!

I hope that a few places in Lahaina are able to rebuild and reopen in the next year or so to take some of the pressure off the other restaurants.

 

[Luanne]

Since the fire, restaurants have been slammed for dinner because there just aren't nearly as many of them. I would guess that the ratio of restaurant seats to visitors declined significantly. As more tourists return to Maui, it may get even worse. When we were last there a few months ago, we ended up mostly cooking for ourselves rather than fight the crowds. Although we wanted to support the local economy, we also were hungry.

A big advantage of timeshares is that the option to cook exists!

I hope that a few places in Lahaina are able to rebuild and reopen in the next year or so to take some of the pressure off the other restaurants.

Front Street won't be rebuilding for a long time. Some restaurants that weren't in that area have reopened, and some have relocated, many to Kihei and Wailea.

When we were on Maui in Feb/March of this year staying in Kihei it seemed as busy as ever. That might have been since some folks shifted and stayed in south Maui rather than west Maui.

 

[daviator]

Front Street won't be rebuilding for a long time. Some restaurants that weren't in that area have reopened, and some have relocated, many to Kihei and Wailea.

When we were on Maui in Feb/March of this year staying in Kihei it seemed as busy as ever.

I think you’ll see rebuilding on the mauka (mountain) side of Front Street very soon. In fact, I think there is some construction happening there now. They have recently relaxed the rules to essentially let property owners rebuild what was there before without much red tape. Things are moving forward.

On the makai (water) side, things are more complicated and I expect it will be some time before we see much progress there.

I think we will also see rebuilding starting soon on the historic/landmarked structures that burned, the ones with remaining rock walls etc. Those are going to be rebuilt as they were. It will take a few years to rebuild them all.

 

[Luanne]

I think you’ll see rebuilding on the mauka (mountain) side of Front Street very soon. In fact, I think there is some construction happening there now. They have recently relaxed the rules to essentially let property owners rebuild what was there before without much red tape. Things are moving forward.

On the makai (water) side, things are more complicated and I expect it will be some time before we see much progress there.

I think we will also see rebuilding starting soon on the historic/landmarked structures that burned, the ones with remaining rock walls etc. Those are going to be rebuilt as they were. It will take a few years to rebuild them all.

I would love to see building, but it's not happening yet. If you can find information to the contrary please post it. Maybe residences are being allowed to rebuild but it sounds likes businesses aren't.

Front Street business properties still waiting for rebuilding guidance

While Maui County concentrates on getting Lahaina residents back into their homes, the town’s iconic Front Street business district is still far from ready for construction.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

Another article. Building may be getting closer to being able to get started, but still not there yet.

Rebuilding of Lahaina’s historic Front Street clears major hurdle for property owners

Maui County says there are more than 600 property owners, including 100 businesses waiting to rebuild Mauka of Front Street.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

 

[dioxide45]

I don't really have any real comparison since we didn't visit Hawaii regularly, but the three Westins and the Marriott property seemed pretty busy when we were there in May and June. The pools were so busy at Nanea that we didn't even get in them.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We will be there this Sunday night. Will report back on building and crowds early next week. We have hikes to hike, or I am going to be in the doghouse. I promised Rick I would do a few hikes with him, and I am not in great shape and afraid of getting another broken arm or foot. Of course, my broken arm and foot happened at Maui Tropical Plantation in the parking lot, a hole that caught my foot and I fell on my right arm. Not a fun trip to the plantation. I don't want to hike, but I did promise.