Many travelers today aren¡¯t sure how to approach Maui. The island is a longtime favorite, winning travel awards on the regular as a world-class vacation destination. But after the horrific wildfires that engulfed Lahaina in August 2023, there was a pause.

Thoughtful travelers wanted to be respectful of the many challenges being faced by locals, including a shortage of housing. Residents were being housed in local hotels, and there was a sense from some travelers that perhaps we should stay away.

There was also messaging that Maui needed the visitors that so much of its economy relies on. So, what¡¯s the situation now, two years on?

¡°We are definitely encouraging travel to Maui,¡± said Leanne Pletcher, Director, Public Relations & Marketing, Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau. ¡°Book that trip, go ahead and take the step to come visit. By doing that, you¡¯re supporting our community, as we depend on tourism for our economy. And if you¡¯re so inclined and you want to connect with the community further, consider a volunteer activity, like our Malama program.¡±

Resorts have taken advantage of the down time to refresh their public spaces and guest rooms. The Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea just completed a renovation, and General Manager Michael Pye commented that his personal highlight is the transformation of their open-air lobby and?arrival experience.?

The Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea features a renovated lobby area. (Photo Credit: Photo by Paul J. Heney.)

¡°More than just a front desk,?it¡¯s a sensory welcome,?surrounded by lush greenery, soothing waterfalls, and ocean breezes,¡± he said. ¡°It's designed to bring the outdoors in and set the tone for an unforgettable arrival. Our Hawaiian cultural center, Hale Kukuna, is an extension of that welcome, a space intentionally placed at the heart of the lobby to celebrate and share the richness of Hawaiian culture ... these elements create a powerful sense of place and connection for our guests and community.¡±

And over at the Andaz Maui, Brittain Komoda, Marketing Manager, is thrilled with her property¡¯s big guestroom and suite renovation.

¡°We completed the renovation it in Q1 of 2024. Our team listened to the feedback from guests. We all went through the surveys and through streams of guest feedback and found all the small touches that would enhance the guest experience,¡± said Komoda.

The Andaz Maui has undergone a room renovation, including bathroom upgrades. (Photo Credit: Photo by Paul J. Heney.)

They¡¯ve also built 19 ¡®Ilikai villas over the past few years, bringing the resort¡¯s villa total to 30. And Komoda reiterated Pletcher¡¯s message of asking visitors to return to Maui.

¡°I would say [to potential visitors] please come, please support the island,¡± she said. ¡°Support local if possible. But obviously, be mindful of the areas in Lahaina. Be respectful. There¡¯s still places closed off, so be respectful. I think it¡¯s amazing to see the progress that has been made in Lahaina and how many homes are being rebuilt ... we obviously want tourism. We want people to come and visit, and there¡¯s so many places to see outside of the affected areas.¡±

Luxury at Budget Prices?

Pletcher noted that a special offers page was recently launched on the Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau¡¯s website, as part of the current marketing campaign.

¡°A number of our resorts and hotels have special offers, anything from a fourth night free to included resort fees to different activities. The other way to save some money is going to your travel agent¡ªthey might have some ideas for travelers. Also, consider central Maui, between Maui Seaside Hotel and the new Hampton Inn Suites and Maui North Shore; those are more affordable rates compared to some of the other parts of the island,¡± she said.

Pletcher also explained that timing affects prices, as well.

¡°The time of year that you travel matters, too. You¡¯re going to want to look for those times we¡¯re not as busy. If you¡¯re looking for more budget prices, you may want to avoid [Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year¡¯s], as that¡¯s going to be our higher price season.¡±

The Fairmont Kea Lani's Hawaiian cultural center, Hale Kukuna. (Photo Credit: Photo by Paul J. Heney.)

Recovery Continues

Pletcher explained that there are a number of different companies and non-profits on the island working on the recovery process; one on the west side is called Kipuka Oluwalu.

¡°Kipuka Oluwalu is working on a tree recovery program, where they¡¯re growing native trees that will be eventually planted in Lahaina once it¡¯s built up. This tree recovery program is connected with the banyan tree in Lahaina, which is actually doing quite splendidly. We drove by there the other day and it looks as beautiful as ever,¡± she said.

¡°But on the rebuilding process, the good news is that there¡¯s a lot of homes being rebuilt as we speak. Front Street will be a while; there is still a conversation going on about how to build that back, but all of the debris has been removed. Currently, they¡¯re moving the debris from Lahaina to central Maui, so that that¡¯s going to be a process. But we¡¯re really encouraging people to come experience the island, connect with the community, and support local. Maui is still what it was before, in terms of being a beautiful location¡ªand our aloha spirit is still here.¡±

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