The future of West Maui

[easyrider]

We were on Maui for ten days in January and enjoyed it as usual. We visited some different parts of the island and did notice the heavier traffic at commute time. We just allowed extra time like at home. We are planning to return this coming December and will be staying in Kaanapali, which we love.

Do you stay in the area or do you travel Maui ? I know people that like to stay in the Kaanapalli area. They never rent a car. I also know the exact opposite.

Bill

 

[mjm1]

Do you stay in the area or do you travel Maui ? I know people that like to stay in the Kaanapalli area. They never rent a car. I also know the exact opposite.

Bill

We have always rented a car, but have considered not doing so. We do spend a lot of our time right in the Kaanapali area, but like to get to Kapalua, Wailea and Kihei for certain restaurants. Every few years we will go all, or at least part of the way, to Hana, stopping in Paia.

 

[capjak]

Just got back from WKORVN, been going for 20 years always rent a car.

Went to Kapalua, Wailea and Kihei, I think traffic was lighter than previous years. Also if you go during rush hour it is always busy, go on weekends, off hours not bad at all.

 

[Luanne]

We made one trip up to Kapalua on our recent visit to Maui. The drive over was fine, but we came back in what we knew was rush hour traffic and it was slow pretty much all of the way.

 

[easyrider]

One could replace the title and concerns on this thread with any city or region. "The Future of ______________" and paint a negative story. Glass half full or half empty. Nothing is perfect.

We plan to visit next year. For us, Lahaina was only one day trip of our week. We are sad to lose it but we will still be able to see the Banyan tree.

We stand with those who lost their homes. Probably the best thing we can do is to visit and not disrupt their employment.

Not really, imo. Most tourist areas rely on tourism, right ? When a major historic area that was a hub of an area disappears in the way Lahaina did that area is definitely affected in many ways that hurt tourism. Lahaina was the party place. Lahaina was the restaurant place. Lahaina was the seaport. Lahaina was the home of many people that worked in tourism. After the fire and the deaths, Lahaina probably feels more like a grave yard than a tourist destination, imo.

I agree that tourism does help a segment of the population. I have no idea if it hurts other segments of the population at this time but it kind of did for a while anyway.

I have to disagree a bit with nothing is perfect. West Maui was what I considered perfect years ago.

Bill

 

[Ken555]

I agree that tourism does help a segment of the population.

Sometimes your comments make me wonder if you have truly ever visited Maui.


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[easyrider]

Sometimes your comments make me wonder if you have truly ever visited Maui.


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I bet you wonder about many things.

Bill

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't think visitors will be able to see the famous banyan tree anytime soon. According to the last drone video by the real estate broker who does some great videos of the area, only about 10% of the lots have been cleared of debris and leveled to rebuild or sell the lots. This is going to be a long process. I feel badly for all who lost homes and businesses in this fire.

So many conspiracy theories going around Maui right now, and we heard some doozies, including the comment that men in suits were directing traffic and stopping locals from fleeing the area because of the power lines being down. This particular woman said no one knew these strangers, who were stopping people from escaping the wildfire from Lahaina town. That really doesn't sound right, but she insisted it's the case.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I'm waiting for the future of East Maui. Hit em where they ain't

 

[Ken555]

I bet you wonder about many things.

Bill

Actually, that’s what I get paid to do. Sometimes I even have the answers, too. What I don’t do is make up facts…


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[easyrider]

Actually, that’s what I get paid to do. Sometimes I even have the answers, too. What I don’t do is make up facts…


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Good for you......

Bill

 

[NTP66]

That's not atypical for Maui in the summer. It's always dry/drought in the summer. I remember back when our kids were in school and we had to go in the summer from 2001 though 2011, the West Maui mountains were always quite brown. We've now been every winter since 2019, and the West Maui mountains have been very green each time. They were actually the greenest we have ever seen them the last couple years, so much so that we asked the question on one of our whale watches. The crew said the last several winters have been a bit wetter than normal, while the summers have been slightly drier, but not significantly so.

The big problem on Maui is the irrigated agricultural fields that once were in the hills moved off-island and those lands were replanted in non-native, non-irrigated grasses that dry out faster than native vegetation, making them less suitable for Maui's almost always dry summers. They become a tinder box.

We've noticed the same. Hell, even during our last summer trip, Maui seemed to be more green than it had been in the past, and I've got the pictures to prove it.

 

[Luanne]

We've noticed the same. Hell, even during our last summer trip, Maui seemed to be more green than it had been in the past, and I've got the pictures to prove it.

The past two years (this year and last year) when we've visited in March the island has been much more green and lush than in the past. Due to the rains they have had just prior to our visits.

 

[letsgobobby]

this is actually a sign of a problem. The wetter winters promote more growth, but when the dry season comes all that growth becomes tinder. It is particularly a problem with the invasive species which grow unchecked in the winter spreading across the island and displacing other slower growing native plants. This also seems to be a risk in the big island with all the invasive fountain grass and the very dry climate on the kona /waikoloa side. It seems inevitable.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

but none of it is really "inevitable." Same story in CA: we had a very wet winter last yr (again this yr I guess). Well, last summer I sat and listened to a few people predicting a terrible wild fire season for CA in 2023, because as you correctly said "wetter winters promote more growth, but when the dry season comes all that growth becomes tinder". I decided to watch the stock of Generac. Guess what they sell.
Result: CA had way below "avg" wild fire season because the electric utilities were finally forced to clear dead trees near lines and begin putting lines underground in many places. Proper VEGETATION MANAGEMENT & other PREVENTION makes none of it inevitable. Just as in most of the worst CA wildfires, the Lahaina fire was mostly caused by little prevention and poor response by humans. People like to blame mother nature for all this instead of their "protectors" at the utilities and fire depts.

Rate the response in Lahaina on a scale of 1 - 10?

 

[lynne]

The single house that survived the Maui wildfire hardened their home.

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/24/1195331310/red-roof-house-fires-lahaina-hawaii

Living in Hawaii County where my neighborhood experienced a wildfire on that same day, escaped the loss of any person, animal or building thanks to having a volunteer fire department (we are the only county in the state with volunteer fire departments) working with HFD. Before the fire, our development was working on becoming a Firewise Community. Everyone in the development (27 miles of roads) has been asked to have their property assessed to determine best practices on clearing landscape and debris creating a fire resistant border around their home. The other item that the county has taken advantage of was available funds to create a fuel break on the state land on the north and south sides adjoining the ranch property.

For all of us who live in dry, windy climates - it is not if there will be a fire, but when. You simply have to prepare the best you can.

 

[davidvel]

but none of it is really "inevitable." Same story in CA: we had a very wet winter last yr (again this yr I guess). Well, last summer I sat and listened to a few people predicting a terrible wild fire season for CA in 2023, because as you correctly said "wetter winters promote more growth, but when the dry season comes all that growth becomes tinder". I decided to watch the stock of Generac. Guess what they sell.
Result: CA had way below "avg" wild fire season because the electric utilities were finally forced to clear dead trees near lines and begin putting lines underground in many places. Proper VEGETATION MANAGEMENT & other PREVENTION makes none of it inevitable. Just as in most of the worst CA wildfires, the Lahaina fire was mostly caused by little prevention and poor response by humans. People like to blame mother nature for all this instead of their "protectors" at the utilities and fire depts.

Rate the response in Lahaina on a scale of 1 - 10?

To be fair we had really no major Santa Ana events last year. These are what drive the major fire disasters in CA. We usually have a few a year.

 

[easyrider]

The single house that survived the Maui wildfire hardened their home.

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/24/1195331310/red-roof-house-fires-lahaina-hawaii

Living in Hawaii County where my neighborhood experienced a wildfire on that same day, escaped the loss of any person, animal or building thanks to having a volunteer fire department (we are the only county in the state with volunteer fire departments) working with HFD. Before the fire, our development was working on becoming a Firewise Community. Everyone in the development (27 miles of roads) has been asked to have their property assessed to determine best practices on clearing landscape and debris creating a fire resistant border around their home. The other item that the county has taken advantage of was available funds to create a fuel break on the state land on the north and south sides adjoining the ranch property.

For all of us who live in dry, windy climates - it is not if there will be a fire, but when. You simply have to prepare the best you can.

Nice article. Great job on the firewise too. I remember a California fire that burnt out all but one home on a hill that was built to withstand fires. The HOA was wanting this owner to replace the roof with tile like all of the others. The metal roof, cement walls and concrete fence saved the home.

Bill

 

[WahooWah]

I'm with you, Ken, on this. Bill's "observations" are pretty much bogus and over the top negative. Every resident on the island of Maui is dependent on tourism. If not directly then indirectly. It is nearly 80% of the island's economy. Your loss if you don't want to come back to Maui, Bill. Traffic isn't really any different than it was. It gets bad when there is an accident and sometimes during rush hour by the bypass and on the Pali. We still have the beaches, the whales, the sunsets, etc. and many restaurants and merchants have relocated to other commercial spaces up north that were vacant before the fire and we get new openings of businesses each month.

I am a resident of West Maui and was a resident of Lahaina. In fact, I lived right next door to the red roof house in 2022 when the owners cleared the bushes that separated our properties. It was very annoying when they did it as it removed a barrier that gave each of us privacy and a bit suspect as I think the bushes were on county property and not their property. They planted new palm trees to create a new barrier once they were fully grown. I'm not entirely sure it saved their house as I think the roof renovations were probably most important, but if it did I'm happy they did it for their sake.

 

[easyrider]

I'm with you, Ken, on this. Bill's "observations" are pretty much bogus and over the top negative. Every resident on the island of Maui is dependent on tourism. If not directly then indirectly. It is nearly 80% of the island's economy. Your loss if you don't want to come back to Maui, Bill. Traffic isn't really any different than it was. It gets bad when there is an accident and sometimes during rush hour by the bypass and on the Pali. We still have the beaches, the whales, the sunsets, etc. and many restaurants and merchants have relocated to other commercial spaces up north that were vacant before the fire and we get new openings of businesses each month.

I am a resident of West Maui and was a resident of Lahaina. In fact, I lived right next door to the red roof house in 2022 when the owners cleared the bushes that separated our properties. It was very annoying when they did it as it removed a barrier that gave each of us privacy and a bit suspect as I think the bushes were on county property and not their property. They planted new palm trees to create a new barrier once they were fully grown. I'm not entirely sure it saved their house as I think the roof renovations were probably most important, but if it did I'm happy they did it for their sake.

My older observations are a total flip of my newer negative observations of West Maui which are due to traffic, too many tourists and beach erosion. I now have to include the straw that bent the camel which is Lahaina. There was a time that West Maui for us was our favorite place.

Let me ask you this since you lived in Lahaina and probably know some people. How many people plan on coming back ? Is it over half ? I apologize if this seems insensitive. It isn't meant to be.

Bill

 

[WahooWah]

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Some people just aren’t built for adversity and they bail at the first sign of difficulty. Some people bitch and complain and look for a scapegoat and blame tourists for their unfortunate and often self-inflicted circumstances in life. Some people use a crisis for their own personal gain like the opportunistic organizers and grifters behind the occupation movement. Those that remain are committed to this place and work hard and their efforts are rewarded. Well more than half remain. I honestly don’t know where you get your information or what your agenda is.

Beach erosion? LOL. 30 years ago there was a big storm that washed out the beach at Ka’anapali. These things happen cyclically. You make it sound like there are all kinds of catastrophic events that are only occurring recently. I’ve lived here for two decades and I’ve never known of a time where we had to ration water or that drought was a serious and prolonged issue. The beaches are just fine. The sand moves seasonally each and every year. It’s the opportunistic activists who can’t find better ways to use their time productively than to grift people and the local government with their fake NGOs and causes who cry wolf about how the sky is falling.

 

[davidvel]

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Some people just aren’t built for adversity and they bail at the first sign of difficulty. Some people bitch and complain and look for a scapegoat and blame tourists for their unfortunate and often self-inflicted circumstances in life. Some people use a crisis for their own personal gain like the opportunistic organizers and grifters behind the occupation movement. Those that remain are committed to this place and work hard and their efforts are rewarded. Well more than half remain. I honestly don’t know where you get your information or what your agenda is.

Beach erosion? LOL. 30 years ago there was a big storm that washed out the beach at Ka’anapali. These things happen cyclically. You make it sound like there are all kinds of catastrophic events that are only occurring recently. I’ve lived here for two decades and I’ve never known of a time where we had to ration water or that drought was a serious and prolonged issue. The beaches are just fine. The sand moves seasonally each and every year. It’s the opportunistic activists who can’t find better ways to use their time productively than to grift people and the local government with their fake NGOs and causes who cry wolf about how the sky is falling.

Bill has lot of thoughts, beliefs, opinions, theories, and [...], all of which he considers to be and asserts as facts. They have consistently been debunked as lacking foundation or basis, with him admitting same. Nothing new here.

 

[WahooWah]

I am also happy to report that, despite all the caterwauling about the beach erosion that washed out the beach walk in front of the Ali'i two years ago and the tide moving right up against the beach walk in front of the Marriott, there is now almost 60ft of sandy beach in front of the Marriott. The movement of sand on the beaches of Maui are cyclical and they are seasonal. There is absolutely never a need to panic. So don't let crisis actors, climate change activists or dingbat appointed officials of the DLNR make you think otherwise.

 

[NTP66]

If I'm being honest, I'm more concerned about the missing section of boardwalk. While I hope that it's replaced, I don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[easyrider]

I am also happy to report that, despite all the caterwauling about the beach erosion that washed out the beach walk in front of the Ali'i two years ago and the tide moving right up against the beach walk in front of the Marriott, there is now almost 60ft of sandy beach in front of the Marriott. The movement of sand on the beaches of Maui are cyclical and they are seasonal. There is absolutely never a need to panic. So don't let crisis actors, climate change activists or dingbat appointed officials of the DLNR make you think otherwise.

Yes, I know the beaches come and go. I don't have enough time to wait it out. Our resort on the Lower Honoapiialani Road had sand, then no sand for ten years, with a state study that says they will replace the sand some day. I doubt it has happened yet. I think it might be the dingbat at DLNR that thinks replacing sand without using structure will solve the problem. We stopped going here a while back. Parking at Napilli Bay had also become impossible because of tourists.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Some people just aren’t built for adversity and they bail at the first sign of difficulty. Some people bitch and complain and look for a scapegoat and blame tourists for their unfortunate and often self-inflicted circumstances in life. Some people use a crisis for their own personal gain like the opportunistic organizers and grifters behind the occupation movement. Those that remain are committed to this place and work hard and their efforts are rewarded. Well more than half remain. I honestly don’t know where you get your information or what your agenda is.

To be honest, I really don't have an agenda other than siding with the Hawaiian people who are Lahaina Strong over mainland corporations. To me, the Kanaka got a bad deal. Unlike indigenous people on the main land, the indigenous people of Hawaii are not recognized by Congress so they have no official territory or governing body. If they were recognized, they could engage in commerce and build casino hotels and attractions in Hawaii. Lahaina was the Capitol of the Hawaiian Kingdom and maybe should be again. Really, all Kana'ania with any percentage of Hawaiian Blood should be given Kanaka rights, imo. I doubt anyone here agrees with this. Kaanapalli has it's own problems with the indigenous people. Especially when the area is a known Kanaka burial site.

I'm glad to hear you are doing well and hope your efforts are rewarded. Thanks for the replies. It's good to get perspectives from people working on the rebuild. I was wondering if any of the grant or rebuilding funds have been released to help you ? What do you think is a reasonable timeline for clean up and rebuilding ? Estimates I hear are clean up takes three to five years and rebuilding takes three to five years.

Bill