Hawaii is ridiculously unaffordable: who's travelling there?
Sep 16, 2018, 5:48 pm
#46
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Yeah, I'm also helping a family member plan a "class reunion trip" to Hawaii. I've cautioned her that it would be extremely expensive for them to stay at a resort in Maui and that perhaps they want to go to another island. I can help people who have hotel loyalty points visit Maui, but I can't do much for folks who don't. Unless, perhaps, they're willing to camp!
Sep 17, 2018, 11:13 am
#47
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I think I've flown to Hawaii at least 20 times in my life. I'm fond of the islands, and try to visit at least every other year (often annually). Over time, my "favorite" Hawaiian destinations have changed. For the last decade or so, I've been a regular in Kapoho on the Big Island where I could rent an awesome old-Hawaiian style villa with a private thermal-heated lagoon for about $1000/week. That property, as well as much of the surrounding area, is now under lava, so I need to head elsewhere.
Sep 17, 2018, 11:39 am
#48
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Well, the number of Puna travellers who are now heading to Maui is undoubtedly small, but you may be correct that some travellers have been scared away from Kona by the volcano and are now booking into Maui resorts. Of course, the volcano is no longer erupting, and logic would suggest that the nose-bleed prices on Maui are likely to reverse that trend. 
Sep 17, 2018, 1:35 pm
#49
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Condos are the way to go
This site https://www.westmauicondos.com/prope...3A%22%22%7D%7D has rentals at a number of nice resorts on Maui for <$300 a night. Some are higher of course. The one in the link is Papakea. We've stayed there and like it. It's Ocean Front property with a variety of "view" options. So, no, you don't need to pay $800 a night. These are 1 and 2 BR condos with kitchens. I don't stay in hotels on Maui.
Sep 17, 2018, 8:30 pm
#50
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BTW, this is one of the properties I used to rent on the Big Island for much less than that. Just check out the private lagoon. But it's now under lava. Maui property rentals seem to be 2x for half as much house/apartment.
https://www.vaycayhero.com/Pahoa-vacation-rentals/55072
Last edited by iahphx; Sep 17, 2018 at 8:40 pm Reason: more
Sep 18, 2018, 10:31 am
#51
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I don't think you should expect to pay nearly that much. Hawaii is expensive and always will be, but not $800/night expensive unless you're at the Four Seasons or Fairmont.
Anecdotal but we stayed at Hotel Wailea in summer of 2017 for about $450/night. It was a 15th anniversary trip and a known splurge, but we could have gotten much less expensive lodging without even trying very hard.
Anecdotal but we stayed at Hotel Wailea in summer of 2017 for about $450/night. It was a 15th anniversary trip and a known splurge, but we could have gotten much less expensive lodging without even trying very hard.
Sep 18, 2018, 8:45 pm
#52
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While it's true that the economy has been booming for a few years, and tourism is surging as a result, I think what the OP is seeing is more their own fault than anyone else's. Maui has never been "cheap", but the affordable mass-market hotels are in Ka'anipali. Since the OP doesn't like that area, and also doesn't like Wailea (which is pricey but not "base rooms are $800 a night most of the year" pricey), his options are EXTREMELY limited. So it's no surprise that given those constraints, lodging prices are high.
Sep 18, 2018, 9:08 pm
#53
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While it's true that the economy has been booming for a few years, and tourism is surging as a result, I think what the OP is seeing is more their own fault than anyone else's. Maui has never been "cheap", but the affordable mass-market hotels are in Ka'anipali. Since the OP doesn't like that area, and also doesn't like Wailea (which is pricey but not "base rooms are $800 a night most of the year" pricey), his options are EXTREMELY limited. So it's no surprise that given those constraints, lodging prices are high.
Sep 18, 2018, 10:31 pm
#54
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Many available at <$500/night
Just looked up rates on hotels.com for Jan. 13>14 and there are awesome properties available for <$500. See https://www.hotels.com/search.do?res...rt-order=PRICE Honua Kai Resort & Spa is a prime example. OF and < $500/night, all in.
Last edited by philemer; Sep 18, 2018 at 10:36 pm
Sep 20, 2018, 1:37 pm
#55
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So maybe my perspective is relevant-I grew up on Maui (lived there from 1967-2004). How much do I spend on hotels?
If I need a cheap roadside place to stay, I plan on spending about $200. For a city hotel for a transportation connection or business, $300-$400. For a vacation, I plan on spending $600-$800 per night.
One time when I was living on Maui, I got a hotel room in Wailea for a post-chemotherapy celebration. In 2002, I paid about $800 a night for the Fairmont.
If I need a cheap roadside place to stay, I plan on spending about $200. For a city hotel for a transportation connection or business, $300-$400. For a vacation, I plan on spending $600-$800 per night.
One time when I was living on Maui, I got a hotel room in Wailea for a post-chemotherapy celebration. In 2002, I paid about $800 a night for the Fairmont.
Sep 20, 2018, 2:29 pm
#56
Join Date: Nov 2011
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There's plenty of places where you can stay for less than $800 a night and have a fantastic time.
I'm paying $3000 for 7 nights for a oceanfront room, daily breakfast included plus car rental week before Christmas.
Right on Kanaapali.
But I'm certainly not expecting the Four Seasons for that price.
And also....Kapoho isn't Maui. I'd be very dissapointed too if I was looking for the same holiday on Kaanapali or Wailea than I had in Kapoho. And I would be dissapointed if I was looking for a Maui vacation in Kapoho.
Perhaps you should adjust your expectations or rethink what kind of vacation you want.
I'm paying $3000 for 7 nights for a oceanfront room, daily breakfast included plus car rental week before Christmas.
Right on Kanaapali.
But I'm certainly not expecting the Four Seasons for that price.
And also....Kapoho isn't Maui. I'd be very dissapointed too if I was looking for the same holiday on Kaanapali or Wailea than I had in Kapoho. And I would be dissapointed if I was looking for a Maui vacation in Kapoho.
Perhaps you should adjust your expectations or rethink what kind of vacation you want.
Sep 22, 2018, 10:55 pm
#57
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As crowded as Maui gets, it’ll never be as intensely dense and busy like where we live and it has all we want so we keep returning annually as long as possible. I enjoy the known entities. I have heard that it’s easy to find affordable lodging away from the resorts. In Maui I only stay in kaanapali and Wailea areas. Anyway I hope you have a lovely time there and if it’s really bad, then next vacation you’ll enjoy a different island :-)
Oct 8, 2018, 10:25 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Maui, HI
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No, no it's not if you know how to manage it. I may be biased, I live on Maui, but I'm a market manager for a large hospitality company and am sent to Hawaii, Oahu, and Kauai frequently for work. Each island has their charms and benefits. Maui, IMO, is the best of them all. Not too big, not too small, and the best beaches of them all. It's not really anymore expensive than the others if you shop in the right places, etc. I love the other islands, don't get me wrong, but Maui really is No Ka Oi and offers the best bang for your buck if you want to experience all of Hawaii on a single island.
Oct 30, 2018, 2:09 pm
#59
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I'm heading to Maui for the second time in January, and compared to my last trip (2015), it feels like prices have increased by a noticeable amount. Obviously I'm affected by the CAD's decline relative to the USD, but even without that it feels like sticker prices for accommodations have increased over the last few years.
Maui is an exceptionally wonderful place and I suppose therein lies the problem. I do love Maui but I suspect that it may be at least a few years before we go back. (That said, we've been to the FLL area for our last couple of winter vacations and that wasn't particularly cheap either. I suppose there are just an awful lot of people looking for sun destinations by the water in the US.)
Maui is an exceptionally wonderful place and I suppose therein lies the problem. I do love Maui but I suspect that it may be at least a few years before we go back. (That said, we've been to the FLL area for our last couple of winter vacations and that wasn't particularly cheap either. I suppose there are just an awful lot of people looking for sun destinations by the water in the US.)
Oct 30, 2018, 3:27 pm
#60
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