Should travelers come to West Maui? Travel advisors weigh in

Hawaii contributor Christine Hitt caught up with several travel advisors who recently visited West Maui, the part of the island most severely affected by last year’s wildfires. Their discussion covered visitor apprehension of traveling to Maui, advisors’ perspectives on their recent visits and their top tips on activities in the area. 

(The exchanges have been edited for length and clarity and to keep recurring topics together.

Should travelers come to West Maui now?

Christine Hitt: For people who have been apprehensive about coming to West Maui because of the 2023 wildfires, what do you want people to know about traveling to the side of the island now?

Stephanee Hughson, Plans in Paradise: One hundred percent, do it. When it comes to Maui, we must come and help rebuild this tourism sector. I think it’s important that, as advisors, we really can educate our clients through our social channels that it’s OK to come. It’s not going to be a bad experience.

Shelby Frenette, TravelFun.Biz: Everyone we’ve spoken to has not only loved to have us here, but they’re also yearning for us to come back. So, I think it’s truly like mixed messaging. And I think [travelers] need to know that we’re very welcome here. We’ve got to help our own 50th state, because they went through some trauma, and now tourism is the biggest part of their industry. So, tourism is a real necessity.

Jo Wattle, Travel with Jo: I didn’t know what to expect. And when I got here, I was amazed. Everything is wide open. Activities are in full force. There’s so much to do. They’re welcoming. But tour respectfully. Don’t go to the area that was burned. West Maui is open, but give Lahaina some breathing room.

Trish Smith, Trish’s Timeless Travels: Sometimes people would think, well, I don’t want to go because people are still trying to recover, and they’re still trying to heal, and I’m being intrusive, which, from what we’ve heard from so many of the locals, is so far from the truth.  As I told someone yesterday: You don’t have to share your trauma, you don’t have to share your story with me — I’m still here to help. Whatever you choose to share, I appreciate and I thank you, and I will keep it sacred. But my mission to be here was to help you build and recover.

And that’s what a lot of people should have in their mindset who are apprehensive: Just be mindful when you travel; just be thoughtful of what you’re doing.

Denise Ambrusko-Maida, Travel Brilliant: I do have a lot of folks on social media who are not just hesitant to come to Maui but hesitant to come to Hawaii in general. And I know that there’s some apprehension about whether tourism has been a good thing, especially for native Hawaiians. So, it was very important for me to speak to folks who were not just from Hawaii but native Hawaiian. I was able to speak to somebody who was many, many generations native Hawaiian, and she said she wants people to experience this place and why they love it and to be thoughtful when they do it.

I thought that was very reassuring that somebody who is a native Hawaiian wanted to share their culture with us and their island.

Linda Tollefson, LT Travel Design: I had some clients who were concerned that the hotels were housing people who were displaced. They didn’t want to go into the hotels if [residents] didn’t, you know, have somewhere to live. And that was something I learned in talking to people that made me feel better: They are starting to relocate, and the hotels really do need us.

A new approach to traveling to Maui?

Hitt: Do you think visitors should approach traveling to Maui, or Hawaii, differently than before?

Frenette: I see no reason. I don’t even think most visitors would even know what really happened if they came to at least the Kaanapali area, I mean, there’s so much to do here. … However, I think that they should be more giving, like, just support local. Now more than ever, supporting local would be helpful in any way you can.

Wattle: Not so much differently than before, but any time people travel anywhere — and it’s something that this trip really opened my eyes to — [people should] travel with heart, travel with compassion and travel with an eye out for the people that you’re traveling to. Rather than ‘What can I do? What’s the latest, sensational thing?’ Leave a place better than when you got there.

Hughson: I really don’t think you have to change your mindset; I think it’s just a matter of maybe being a little more adaptable and understanding and, you know, empathetic.

Hitt: What’s the responses you’ve gotten from people who came to Maui since the fire?

Hughson: Everyone has said it’s so amazing, like Hawaii in general, but Maui just has that spark. People get excited. It’s a bucket list trip, typically. When they ask me whether they should go right now, I’m like, 100%, go. Donate your time to help with what you can, or bring a few items to donate for people who are still without, but enjoy everything else that it has to offer. Don’t let that deter you from enjoying the rest of the island.

Advisors’ favorite things to do in West Maui

Hitt: What are some of the things you enjoyed doing in West Maui, particularly Kaanapali?

Hughson: Snorkeling. There’s so much wildlife. There’s so much hiking. There are catamarans. You can go on sailboats, food tours, wine tours, breweries. There’s something for everyone – multigenerational, too.

Tollefson: One of my favorite things is the beach walk that spans the entire length of Kaanapali beach, and I personally did that many times. It’s beautiful, and you can see nature that way.

Frenette: There are endless things to do. I mean, you’ve got the surfing, you’ve got the jet ski island, you’ve got outdoor sports. I saw one of the hotels had basketball and pickleball. I saw yoga at several properties. … The restaurants were fantastic. That was another plus. Usually when I’m in a resort area, what I find is that they lack on food quality and definitely double the price because you’re captive. And this trip, I have been so impressed by the food quality.

Wattle: I’m a wildlife lover, and we got to go behind the scenes with all the animals over at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. I was in heaven. You can also make leis, learn about all the flora and fauna. Take the time to do that and you’ll get much more interested in touring in an ecofriendly, environmentally friendly, and friendly to the locals way.