Reserved HRC Kaanapali in December

[SteveinHNL]

So with the recent Lahaina disaster, a few 2BRs have popped up on the HRC internal site for HRC Kaanapali. I'm guessing there will be more in the next few days. I was able to book a week in December that otherwise would not have been available. I agree with the sentiment expressed by @Passepartout in a related thread that as soon as they can handle visitors, folks should continue going there. The Maui economy will not stop needing visitors and visitor dollars because Lahaina burned down. In fact, they will need those dollars even more.

 

[pinetree1]

I booked my December trip as well. It should be someone's cancellation.

My thought is that Mauri does need tourist spending to help with rebuilding effort. Lahaina was badly damaged. However, Mauri has lots to offer besides Lahaina old town. After 3 months, most of infrastructure should be back on line.

 

[SteveinHNL]

TBH, the main attractions for us would be relaxing and decompressing, and AVOIDING Lahaina. Lahaina is (was) quaint and awesome in its own way, but at our age, just not the big attraction.

 

[ScoopKona]

TBH, the main attractions for us would be relaxing and decompressing, and AVOIDING Lahaina. Lahaina is (was) quaint and awesome in its own way, but at our age, just not the big attraction.

I think people will very likely have to take the long way to HKB from the airport. That's a VERY long way. The direct route will probably be closed for months if not a couple years.

I could be proven wrong -- but this falls under "the difference between a want and a need." Construction crews, electrical workers and similar need the direct easy access. Everyone else can go around the volcano. (At least there's a lovely bay halfway for snorkeling.)

I don't think they'll be anywhere close to "open for business" by Christmas.

 

[ds53cns]

I think people will very likely have to take the long way to HKB from the airport. That's a VERY long way. The direct route will probably be closed for months if not a couple years.

I could be proven wrong -- but this falls under "the difference between a want and a need." Construction crews, electrical workers and similar need the direct easy access. Everyone else can go around the volcano. (At least there's a lovely bay halfway for snorkeling.)

I don't think they'll be anywhere close to "open for business" by Christmas.

I'm going to go so far as to pretty much guarantee they will have the road open within weeks. There's no way to legitimately send people north and there are still a lot of residents that live up the highway who now need access to services that were once in Lahaina and now will be in town. That being said, I disagree that December is going to be an appropriate time to go. We were scheduled for Thanksgiving and there wasn't even a question about cancelling. It will be many months before basic services are restored. In the near term, no one will be prioritizing servicing kaanapali/kapalua tourism at the expense of local rebuilding.

 

[ScoopKona]

I'm going to go so far as to pretty much guarantee they will have the road open within weeks.

I agree the road will be open within weeks. Days is more likely.

But this is going to go straight to the Army Corps of Engineers and similar "big project" entities. I see trucks and heavy equipment plying that road like a swarm of angry bees. There is no place for tourist lookie-lou traffic in Lahaina or through Lahaina. And pleas of "our timeshare is just 10 miles north of the devastation" will be met with a reply of (think R. Lee Ermey) "tough [excrement]."

 

[lynne]

And then there is:

Access to Lahaina restricted again after people entered restricted areas

Maui County officials say they have decided to close off access into West Maui because they say people are not following the rules.

www.kitv.com

 

[sponger76]

And then there is:

Access to Lahaina restricted again after people entered restricted areas

Maui County officials say they have decided to close off access into West Maui because they say people are not following the rules.

www.kitv.com

And that's why we can't have nice things.

 

[ScoopKona]

And that's why we can't have nice things.

I'm surprised this lasted a whole four hours. The average dingbat is drawn to scenes like this like a bug to a zapper. The worst of the lot will want to take selfies like this is Pompeii. And then they'll have the unmitigated gall to ask, "Why don't the locals like having us here? We support their economy!"

 

[sponger76]

I'm surprised this lasted a whole four hours. The average dingbat is drawn to scenes like this like a bug to a zapper. The worst of the lot will want to take selfies like this is Pompeii. And then they'll have the unmitigated gall to ask, "Why don't the locals like having us here? We support their economy!"

From the reports I've heard, a lot of the problems came from locals who live in the area.

 

[ScoopKona]

From the reports I've heard, a lot of the problems came from locals who live in the area.

I'm hearing different reports -- people clustered together in one of the buildings still standing, not allowed to leave. (Or more accurately, if they leave, they can't return.) And Maui police being entirely tone-deaf to the needs of the living.

 

[sponger76]

I'm hearing different reports -- people clustered together in one of the buildings still standing, not allowed to leave. (Or more accurately, if they leave, they can't return.) And Maui police being entirely tone-deaf to the needs of the living.

A number of local people were going into areas that they were specifically told not to go into that were cordoned off for safety reasons. And when told to leave they got emotional and started physically battling the police. Even the news reports are stating that it was local residents, not visitors.

 

[ScoopKona]

A number of local people were going into areas that they were specifically told not to go into that were cordoned off for safety reasons. And when told to leave they got emotional and started physically battling the police. Even the news reports are stating that it was local residents, not visitors.

Both things can be true -- people being ill treated by the police and people disobeying lawful orders.

This is why I think the long way is going to be the only way for quite some time. This is going to take the same kind of effort as a mid-air collision to identify the dead. And having people sifting through rubble isn't going to help.

As bad as that is, I'm always going to default to "the needs of the living" -- shelter, water, medical treatment and food.

 

[sponger76]

Both things can be true -- people being ill treated by the police and people disobeying lawful orders.

This is why I think the long way is going to be the only way for quite some time. This is going to take the same kind of effort as a mid-air collision to identify the dead. And having people sifting through rubble isn't going to help.

As bad as that is, I'm always going to default to "the needs of the living" -- shelter, water, medical treatment and food.

I don't disagree. But people trying to go into areas they shouldn't have been had nothing to do with obtaining shelter, water, medical treatment and food.

 

[SteveinHNL]

Well we made it, and the resort is awesome as advertised. Such a gorgeous setting, the 2BR is amazing, and maui is, as usual, perfect.

 

[ncaahockeyfan]

Well we made it, and the resort is awesome as advertised. Such a gorgeous setting, the 2BR is amazing, and maui is, as usual, perfect.

Are all the amenities open?

Thought I had read something about pool renovations???

 

[SteveinHNL]

Are all the amenities open?

Thought I had read something about pool renovations???

There are signs saying that all amenities are open, but as far as I have been able to tell every amenity is open. As for the pool renovations, they were supposedly scheduled for August, but since the August owners got displaced by the wildfires, my understanding is they are rescheduling it for March or April so as not to affect those owners 2years in a row I can find out more details, if anyone is interested

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

There are signs saying that all amenities are open, but as far as I have been able to tell every amenity is open. As for the pool renovations, they were supposedly scheduled for August, but since the August owners got displaced by the wildfires, my understanding is they are rescheduling it for March or April so as not to affect those owners 2years in a row I can find out more details, if anyone is interested

Yes pool renovations are end of April to end of June, possibly into the 1st week of July

 

[flyingsideshow]

I was there a few weeks ago in November, and a couple of the pools were closed. Specifically I wanted to hang out at the swim-up bar, but that was closed. Otherwise everything else seemed open and I had a great stay. Hopefully I can come back at some point in the future. I had more or less sworn off Hawaii a couple of years ago, but when I found a 2BR open earlier this year I jumped on it. Then the fires happened a month later and I was unsure if I would even go. The deciding factor for me was a $225 RT flight. Can't even go to my favorite place in Mexico for less than $400 airfare these days. Sitting on the lanai and watching the ocean was one of my favorite activities. While I was looking forward to visiting Lahaina, we all found plenty of other things to do.

 

[SteveinHNL]

All the pools are open this week

 

[Kal]

All the pools are open this week

What specific route did you take to get to HKB from the airport?

 

[flyingsideshow]

What specific route did you take to get to HKB from the airport?

We went from OGG south on 380, then around on 30. At some point you're routed onto 3000 which is a bypass that I don't really remember from my last time there in 2017. You'll pass some of the burned areas, but most of the town itself isn't really visible from this road, and plenty of signs telling you not to stop. North of town the route takes a hard left and then you turn right to get back on the main road by the Safeway and proceed up 30 from there.

Prior to check-in we were warned to stop in OGG to grab any supplies like bottled water, etc, as the Safeway nearby doesn't always have everything in stock. We actually went to Costco, grabbed a large pack, some wine and beer and a guava cheesecake that weighed as much as a bowling ball!

We had planned on going the rest of the way around the north side of the island, but after doing the entire road to hana in reverse (the tour I think they called it) we opted for R&R by the pool and polished off the cheesecake!

 

[SteveinHNL]

Good morning Kal. Flying sideshow described the route pretty well. I have attached a couple of Google map images that show the route and bypass area. As for groceries, the Times Supermarket in Honokawai just a couple of mins north and Lahaina Safeway are just fine. So nice to have amazing Hawaiian papayas again.

As mentioned, you will pass some burned neighborhood areas mauka of the highway between Safeway and the resort and there are a lot of food trucks around. Not sure if these predated the catastrophe or if they came after.

 

[Kal]

Good morning Kal. Flying sideshow described the route pretty well. I have attached a couple of Google map images that show the route and bypass area. As for groceries, the Times Supermarket in Honokawai just a couple of mins north and Lahaina Safeway are just fine. So nice to have amazing Hawaiian papayas again.

As mentioned, you will pass some burned neighborhood areas mauka of the highway between Safeway and the resort and there are a lot of food trucks around. Not sure if these predated the catastrophe or if they came after.

Thank you for the route information. That route looks like the way we normally take to HKB and to West Maui. In the past we normally go to Lahaina only one time. That event is to have breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe (local's hangout). We might also go to the harbor for a boat activity, Star Noodles and to the Mala Wharf. Shopping in Lahaina doesn't happen. But even then it was fun to "people watch".

 

[SteveinHNL]

Thank you for the route information. That route looks like the way we normally take to HKB and to West Maui. In the past we normally go to Lahaina only one time. That event is to have breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe (local's hangout). We might also go to the harbor for a boat activity, Star Noodles and to the Mala Wharf. Shopping in Lahaina doesn't happen. But even then it was fun to "people watch".

Yes it’s the usual route except for the bypass unless that was already in place before the fire. This was our first time here I see now why HKB gets so much love.