– Costco Travel has a “Hot Buy” for a Maui vacation package which includes accommodations at the Outrigger Kaanapali Beach Resort and rental car. Many rooms at this resort have been renovated recently. I tested out the booking engine and found a daily rate of $320 including taxes based on a seven-night stay. Please note that oceanview room rates will cost a bit more. Both the daily resort fee ($35) and daily, self-parking fee ($20) are also included, which is a very nice savings. You’ve got to book by April 29th, but you can travel between now and December 15th with this deal. Note that when you are pricing out your potential vacation, you might want to look at the pricing with and without flights so that you know how much each piece costs. We almost always book our airfare independently when we book a Costco hotel and car vacation package.
– Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) recently shared photos of the nearly 151 year-old, famous banyan tree in Lahaina. Though the tree was badly burned, it is showing encouraging signs of recovery. The following photo is courtesy of the DLNR. Please note that this banyan tree is in a restricted area that’s not open to visitors at this time.
– Speaking of Lahaina, there have been a couple more businesses that have been able to re-open following the fires of August 2023.
- Lahaina Cannery Mall has reopened and have restarted their hula performances and other cultural activities.
- Maui Chocolate Tours has restarted their farm and factory tour.
– Hawaii Tourism Authority launched a website to connect visitors to volunteer opportunities and nonprofits. You can check that out at this link.
– After a pause in operations due to funding issues, the free hula show at Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach has resumed. Shows are now offered on Tuesday and Saturday evenings.