Originally Posted by
mtofell
Yeah, beyond the obvious with the fire (lives lost, homes burned), the way the economics plays out is going to be interesting. All these resorts were built to bring tourists to Lahaina and it's now gone. So, what are the tourists expected to do when in west Maui? Sure, there are beaches, golf, other shopping and all that but without a doubt the heart of west Maui is/was Lahaina. Where will all the would-be tourists go? Wailea? Another island? Somewhere totally other than Hawaii?
I imagine in the coming years there will be some pretty significant stagnation or price drops on condos and vacation rentals in Kapalua, Kaanapali, Napili, etc.
Although a beautiful island, I usually gravitate to KOA, LIH, or HNL where I can more easily use Marriott, Hyatt, or IHG award nights. I don't stay long enough to make a condo worthwhile and never understood the exorbitant hotel prices on Maui when compared to neighbor islands... perhaps it's just a lack of hotel rooms compared to the number of visitors? I also find it odd that IHG doesn't have a single property on the island.