Hawai’i brings the Aloha spirit to Toronto

It’s been over a year since the Lahaina fire, but Sherry Duong, executive director of the Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau, said the destination is still experiencing a dip in demand from the Canadian market as a result.

“I think the most important thing that I would tell [agents] is that they need to continue booking Maui for their clients — that it is open, it’s always been open — there’s just other hidden gems that they need to be able to explore,” Duong told Travel PressToday. “We’re going into fourth quarter right now where typically you are already starting to see the holiday season starting to pick up and we’re not seeing that right now.”

In Toronto as part of the Aloha Canada roadshow that included a stop in Vancouver and concludes in Calgary, Duong said Maui is loaded with other scenic areas, community festivities and more. Notably, all the Kaanapali hotels that were used to house displaced residents (Westin Maui, Hyatt Regency Maui, the Royal Lahaina Resort, the Ritz-Carlton Maui and the Kaanapali Beach Resort) are now ready to welcome more Canadians.

“They’ve all found other homes and accommodations — temporary ones — and therefore those hotels are now needing to have our visitors stay there,” she said.

And for inquiring minds, Duong said the 150-year-old banyan tree that survived the fire is still thriving.

“It survived, it’s thriving, it’s definitely a beacon of hope that says that says we’re going to come through this,” she said.

In terms of where to stay, Duong highlighted that there are several new hotel options to consider like Maui Bay Villas, an all-suite Maui beachfront resort, the Hampton Inn, which was formerly the site of the old Maui Palms Hotel, set to open in 2025 next to the Maui Beach Hotel. The Maui Coast Hotel also recently added another tower and pool area.

As for Lahaina itself, she said all the debris has been cleared and some residents have been able to get permits issued to rebuild homes.

“In terms of the businesses that were on Front Street however that still hasn’t really moved because you have to remember that the businesses from Lahaina were built on Front Street back in the 1800s where there were no permitting laws, no zoning laws so they built them right by the water. Now, it’s not allowed so the question is do we allow Lahaina to be rebuilt and grandfathered in so it takes on its same autonomy as it was before or do we have them governed under the current laws? So those are all the discussions that are happening right now. We probably won’t see anything built for a little while yet.”

While it hasn’t fully recovered, Duong stressed the importance of the Canadian market.

“The Canadian market is our biggest international market. The Canadian market is very big because we have those direct flights from Vancouver and the season from Toronto and Calgary,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau and managing director of the Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau, said Kaua’i is an ideal destinations for those who like nature and the great outdoors.

“I think it’s really an island that you get into the way you want to whether it’s a boat tour of the Nā Pali Coast, or it’s an air tour of the Nā Pali Coast or some people will hike it — those are three different experiences just of the Nā Pali Coast,” she shared. “Then Waimea Canyon is gorgeous on any given day.”

As for accommodation news, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has taken over the former St. Regis with a focus on wellness. For a unique twist on a do not disturb sign, guests will use a rock.

Lydgate Farms now has a storefront in Kapaa so travellers can now purchase their renowned chocolate without having to trek to the farm. Another new experience is a two hour rum safari with Kōloa rum across the 105-acre Kilohana Plantation.

Kanoho said agents should keep in mind that the Kalalau Trail now requires reservations, as does the Tropical Botanical Gardens and Kīlauea Lighthouse. 

The event was a hula lot of fun with cultural elements like a lesson in how to properly do the Hawaiian dance and what the moves mean and symbolize.

Also representing the islands were Noelani Schilling-Wheeler, Oahu VB; Kalei Bridges, Island of Hawaii and Colin Wood, Sue Webb and Samantha Carreira of VoX International, which represents the Hawaii Tourism Association in Canada.

Destination partners included: Jaye Gayagas-Youn, Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; Mynor Guerra, Maverick Helicopters; Rachel McLaughlin, USS Missouri; Susan Koehler, Courtyard Oahu North Shore; Vickie Zhu, Holiday Inn Express Waikiki; Sam Arita, The Surfiack Hotel & Swim Club; Deaner Snively, Marriott International – Hawaii; Emily Endres, Hyatt Resorts in Hawaii; Lori Flores, Castle Hospitality Group and Rob Taylor, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels.