Lahaina Condo Owners Face $200M+ Rebuilding Gap Three Years After Fire
Three years after the 2023 Maui wildfires, owners at two Lahaina condo complexes — Aina Nalu and Spinnaker — are still struggling to fund rebuilds due to major insurance shortfalls and no government assistance. Aina Nalu had only about 20% of the estimated $200 million needed to rebuild. Aina Nalu’s 189-unit complex was fully destroyed, […]
Maui Council Moves 2,000+ Apartment-Zone Vacation Rentals Toward Hotel Rezoning
The Maui County Council voted 7-1 to refer roughly 2,056 apartment-district vacation rental units to the Planning Commission for potential rezoning into new hotel districts, where short-term rental use would be explicitly permitted. The move could exempt these properties from Bill 9’s phase-out of STRs in apartment zones. The Council passed two resolutions referring ~2,056 […]
Maui’s Medical-Only Cannabis Rules: What Visiting Guests Need to Know
Hawaii requires all cannabis buyers — including visitors — to obtain a state-issued medical card (329 card) before purchasing at any of Maui’s five dispensaries. There is no recreational cannabis market in Hawaii. Hawaii has no recreational cannabis program; all purchases require a valid 329 card issued by the Hawaii Department of Health. Out-of-state and […]
OGG Ground Transport Guide: Taxis, Uber & Lyft for Arriving Guests
Kahului Airport offers taxis, Uber, and Lyft for arriving visitors, each with distinct pickup zones and pricing. Taxi rates increased in late 2024, while rideshares remain competitive for longer trips to resort areas like Lahaina and Kihei. Taxis, Uber, Lyft, and pre-arranged shuttles all operate from the lower level outside baggage claim in separate designated […]
Maui Council Committee Advances New Hotel Zoning for Vacation Rentals
A Maui County Council committee approved Bill 88 to create new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories that could provide a pathway for some vacation rental properties affected by the Bill 9 phase-out. The measure now goes to the full council for consideration. Bill 88 creates H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories but does not […]
Council Advances 170-Unit Housing Development Near Congested Paia Town
Maui County Council committee voted to advance a 170-home development proposal on former sugarcane land near Paia, despite existing traffic and parking issues in the already crowded north shore town. The development would include 120 single-family homes, 50 multi-family units, commercial businesses, and a medical clinic on 40 acres. A 200-stall public parking lot is […]
Maui Tourism Recovery Accelerates Despite Visitor Cost Concerns
Maui is seeing faster tourism recovery than other Hawaiian islands with 11.5% increase in arrivals and rising hotel occupancy, though visitors are becoming more cost-conscious and planning shorter stays. Maui arrivals increased 11.5% year-over-year by February 2026 with hotel occupancy rising from 71.5% to 78.0%. The Lahaina-Kaanapali-Kapalua corridor saw occupancy climb from 69.2% to 76.3% […]
How Maui Vacation Rental Owners Win Despite HTA Chaos
Maui vacation rental owners benefit as Governor cleans house at tourism authority while committing $6 million to recovery efforts.
Maui Vacation Rental Owners May Have Funded Their Own Attack
Maui vacation rental owners who generously donated to wildfire relief may have unwittingly funded lobbying efforts against their own properties. An alarming ethics complaint reveals that funds intended for fire victims were allegedly hijacked by a for-profit group masquerading as a charity. With no financial disclosures and connections to political attacks on vacation rentals, this situation raises serious questions about the integrity of charitable giving. Discover how these property owners became victims of a deceptive scheme and what legal recourse they may have to seek justice.