Highlighted News Stories for April 2023.
Maui’s Visitor Arrivals Almost Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels in February.
Maui’s visitor arrivals in February were just 0.4% less than pre-pandemic levels in February 2019, with 220,741 visitors. Visitor spending also increased to $540.1 million, up 34.1% from February 2022 and 30.7% versus February 2019. The state of Hawaii saw 753,750 visitors in February, an increase of 19.5% from February 2022 and only down 3.5% versus February 2019. Maui is slightly more reliant on US mainland visitors than other Hawaiian islands, but the preference of foreign visitors for Oahu means it is expected to see better improvement in 2023. Learn more.
Mokulele Airlines to Invest $10 Million in Additional Aircraft to Improve Service and Prevent Delays.
Mokulele Airlines plans to invest $10 million in additional aircraft to prevent cancellations and delays in its service to Molokai and Lanai. The airline faced operational problems in March due to bad weather, damaged aircraft, and inspections, causing missed flights and long delays for passengers. The airline’s parent company, Southern Airways, plans to refurbish its entire Hawaii fleet with new paint to prevent corrosion from salt air. The first plane to be added next month will be a Tecnam Traveller, which will serve as a temporary reserve aircraft to back up the Mokulele Cessna Grand Caravans. The airline plans to add another Saab 340 aircraft during peak times and as a spare if another aircraft is unavailable. Learn more.
Maui hotel industry sees high room rates despite lower occupancy levels.
The Wailea region in Hawaii had the highest average daily hotel rate of $1,003.94 in February, despite Maui County having the state’s lowest occupancy rate at 71%. However, Maui County had the highest revenue per available room at $465, up 16.2% from last year and 32.3% from 2019. Statewide, the average daily rate for hotels was $387, up 9.6% from last year, while occupancy across the state was 76.3%, up 4.6% from last year but down 7.2% compared to 2019. Vacation rentals in Maui County also saw an increase in availability and demand compared to last year, with an average daily rate of $460, up 21.6% from last year and 58.1% from 2019. Learn more.
Maui County Approves Updated SMA and Shoreline Rules to Improve Coastal Resilience and Provide Flexibility for Homeowners.
Maui County has approved updated special management area (SMA) and shoreline rules, which aim to provide more balance and flexibility for homeowners while improving coastal resilience for the environment. The new rules reflect many years of work and incorporate the best available science on sea level rise. Some of the highlights of the new rules include creating categorical exemptions, removing the mandatory requirement of certified shoreline surveys, reducing the permitting burden for state-required conversion of cesspools, and requiring hazard mitigation plans. The rules will take effect 30 days after being submitted to the County Clerk’s Office. The public will be able to access the shoreline map on the Planning Department’s website, and the department will conduct public outreach to inform residents of the changes. Learn more.
Note: Parts of this post were written using ChatGPT, with stories gathered from Maui News.
Wailea and Makena Maui Market Update.
We offer many educational resources so that you can stay up-to-date with Maui Real Estate. If you are considering buying or selling in Wailea or Makena, take a look at the following market report.