At the Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden (mile marker 10.5) we’re doing our part to educate visitors, provide restrooms, parking, and an experiential and educational experience with 2.5 miles of walking trails and waterfall overlooks, and a cafe. We are a small family run business that has been publicly operating since 96’ and growing in popularity over the years. Our attraction breaks up much of the road congestion during the busy first half of the day.
Having the road shut down last year was extremely detrimental for our business. We do not support another closure of the federally funded highway, nor do we support a highway reservation system at this time. We need the income to continue operating with the increased costs of doing business. We cannot rely on tour buses. We have put in 30 years of blood sweat and tears and considerable resources into making our attraction what it is today. Our business model is founded around individual parties visiting. We contribute substantially in state tax dollars and community donations. If there is an anticipated closure or limit, we ask that you please work with us and implement it at or after our location. We’re 26 miles from Hana and 6 miles before Ke’anae.
With our strategic location, we are happy to work with the community, to better inform our guests through additional signage, pamphlets, etc. It is our thought that if travel guide books and Road to Hana Apps update their content with updated information on what is private property and considered trespassing, what attractions require reservations, and proper road etiquette, this would be a big first step as well as targeting popular travel blogs or companies such as AAA that are frequently doing articles on the Road to Hana. It would also be helpful for hotels to educate their concierge so that the concierges can also address this with visitors. The rental car companies should include a small pamphlet for each season stating the road work that is occurring, available restrooms, road etiquette for the Road to Hana, and public and accessible stops along the Road to Hana. It would also be beneficial to have someone specifically posting these updates in the incoming traveler facebook groups such as “Maui Bound.”
Once the general sentiment is that most popular stops along the road require reservations or have capacity restrictions, individuals will plan their trips to Hana differently which should help substantially.
While the new parking ticket signs have not alleviated the issues they have helped with MPD's enforcement. It is our recommendation that more signs are put in, where tourists are now parking just further up the road away from the signs (just past Waikamoi heading towards Hana.) It feels good to see more MPD presence on the highway, which will encourage locals who at times drive recklessly, to slow down, and it will help in limiting overall crime.
What we’re seeing right now with visitors is a lack of awareness and conscientiousness. Having been cooped up for a lot of last year likely contributes to this behavior. Visitor education is imperative.
I would like to make two suggestions to help address the Road to Hana overuse issues:
1. The County of Maui should consider making a bus route between Kahului and Hana. This bus could serve Hana Residents who just need to get themselves back and forth to town or this bus could be geared towards visitors, to reduce the number of visitors who would be put off by the $175pp cost of taking a guided tour, but are curious to experience the road. so publis transportation, subsidized by County funds would certainly take cars off the road.
2. Many of the issues on the road to Hana have been created by the tour book companies who give very specific instructions about accessing hidden sites along the road that visitors feel they “must see” They have also developed phone apps (Shaka guide, Maui revealed) that identify sites close to the actual gps location of the vehicle. Such knowledge ends up overloading these specific sites. The County could work on developing a similar app and that app could give specific instructions to keep the users safe and could limit the sites shown particularly when the app is aware of jow many people are at a site at a given time. Also the County should be working with the exisiting app developers to integrate important safety information into their apps.
Due to increase in arrivals of the tourism industry to the island of Maui I have personally seen an insurmountable amount of vehicular traffic into our rural district of Hana, blatant disregard for public health and safety (double parking on both sides of the Hana Highway, toilet paper strewn on sides of the roadway, running red light at marked construction zones and bottlenecks occuring in marked yield areas. There has also been disregard for the echo systems prevalent in our community, hiking areas, trails, clearly marked "no trespassing" /gates of private or State properties breached by entitled tourists and a severe lack of common sense when floods or natural hazards are present during inclement or torrential rainfall.
Aloha,
The Road to Hana has become more and more crowded with tourists parking illegally and blocking thru travel. It’s not only an inconvenience to residents but also a very dangerous hazard if an emergency vehicle or ambulance needs to get through and cannot. There have been bottlenecks at bridges, pools, Nahiku Marketplace and all along the road from Kuau to Hana. All these locations are overrun with tourists and it can take a full 10 minutes to clear the road so traffic flow can continue again. Tourists are also trespassing regularly and daily. It’s out of control. In going to Koki beach, Hana Bay and Hamoa beach we are seeing more garbage along the roadways/paths/trails, garbage left behind at the beach instead of packing it out and masks on the ground. It’s horrible and disheartening to see. Many residents and neighbors are saying they are finding wads of toilet paper in their driveways and along property boundaries as the east side is so overrun people are using private property as a toilet. This is an obvious health hazard as well as just unacceptable. The Aina is suffering, all that makes the east side so special is suffering from over tourism. A reservation system like Haleakala and Wai’anapanapa have, and limiting the amount of rental cars in to this sensitive area would curtail these abuses before it gets even worse. Also flyers and leaflets handed to people on arriving flights as well as an insert in rental agreements would be other helpful protocols to implement. Mahalo for your time in this very important matter.
As a Maui resident of 29 years, 11 of which were in Hana, I have seen a drastic change in the congestion and safety of Hana Highway in recent years. From the Facebook posts that people are making, the situation deserves immediate resolution. The level or frustration and concern has naturally escalated since the quarantine was lifted last October, 2020. The dire parking dilemma means longer drive times and dangerous circumstances, not to mention that many of our special locations are apparently so inundated that they must surely be suffering damage, as least spiritually. The idea of implementing a permit system for visitors, such as to Haleakala, seems to me a perfect way to simultaneously foster respect and education. I, for one, would love to feel free to travel home to Hana to see the beloved, sacred places that are close to my heart.
Control the amount of vehicles on the road at a given time by requiring sign-ups & reservation system. Allot time early in the morning and evening for residents only to safely get to and from work without visitor traffic. Provide education on proper road conduct via Hawaii Tourism/Airlines such as staying on the road, pulling aside for local drivers, sitting in vehicle while driving, picking up trash etc. Enforcement is needed to ensure safe road conditions, hire within the communities to give residents jobs such as ticketing illegally parked cars, documenting unsafe activity, providing education to lessen burden on police. Additionally local help in enforcing rules will be more consistent and therefore more effective than what is currently happening. Fine illegal and legal tour companies, Apps, etc. that promote venturing off the path and encouraging illegal activity.
As a small business owner that won't work. Tour vans don't stop at little business. We will have to close down because we won't be making money. I reley on tourist. Aloha. Hana treasures.
1) Limit visitor access by prohibiting rental cars or anyone who is not a Maui resident in a private vehicle, allowing visitors only to have access by Tour companies in small 12 seater vans. Contracting with a limited number of tour companies limiting the number of tours/ visitors allowed on a given day and time. ( Similar to what was done to control the sunrise bike tours on Haleakala.) No weekend tours allowed, keeping the beaches and parks more accessible for locals.
2) Maui residents with proper ID still allowed 24/7 access since many who live elsewhere on the island have family or residences in Hana
At the Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden (mile marker 10.5) we’re doing our part to educate visitors, provide restrooms, parking, and an experiential and educational experience with 2.5 miles of walking trails and waterfall overlooks, and a cafe. We are a small family run business that has been publicly operating since 96’ and growing in popularity over the years. Our attraction breaks up much of the road congestion during the busy first half of the day.
Having the road shut down last year was extremely detrimental for our business. We do not support another closure of the federally funded highway, nor do we support a highway reservation system at this time. We need the income to continue operating with the increased costs of doing business. We cannot rely on tour buses. We have put in 30 years of blood sweat and tears and considerable resources into making our attraction what it is today. Our business model is founded around individual parties visiting. We contribute substantially in state tax dollars and community donations. If there is an anticipated closure or limit, we ask that you please work with us and implement it at or after our location. We’re 26 miles from Hana and 6 miles before Ke’anae.
With our strategic location, we are happy to work with the community, to better inform our guests through additional signage, pamphlets, etc. It is our thought that if travel guide books and Road to Hana Apps update their content with updated information on what is private property and considered trespassing, what attractions require reservations, and proper road etiquette, this would be a big first step as well as targeting popular travel blogs or companies such as AAA that are frequently doing articles on the Road to Hana. It would also be helpful for hotels to educate their concierge so that the concierges can also address this with visitors. The rental car companies should include a small pamphlet for each season stating the road work that is occurring, available restrooms, road etiquette for the Road to Hana, and public and accessible stops along the Road to Hana. It would also be beneficial to have someone specifically posting these updates in the incoming traveler facebook groups such as “Maui Bound.”
Once the general sentiment is that most popular stops along the road require reservations or have capacity restrictions, individuals will plan their trips to Hana differently which should help substantially.
While the new parking ticket signs have not alleviated the issues they have helped with MPD's enforcement. It is our recommendation that more signs are put in, where tourists are now parking just further up the road away from the signs (just past Waikamoi heading towards Hana.) It feels good to see more MPD presence on the highway, which will encourage locals who at times drive recklessly, to slow down, and it will help in limiting overall crime.
What we’re seeing right now with visitors is a lack of awareness and conscientiousness. Having been cooped up for a lot of last year likely contributes to this behavior. Visitor education is imperative.
I would like to make two suggestions to help address the Road to Hana overuse issues:
1. The County of Maui should consider making a bus route between Kahului and Hana. This bus could serve Hana Residents who just need to get themselves back and forth to town or this bus could be geared towards visitors, to reduce the number of visitors who would be put off by the $175pp cost of taking a guided tour, but are curious to experience the road. so publis transportation, subsidized by County funds would certainly take cars off the road.
2. Many of the issues on the road to Hana have been created by the tour book companies who give very specific instructions about accessing hidden sites along the road that visitors feel they “must see” They have also developed phone apps (Shaka guide, Maui revealed) that identify sites close to the actual gps location of the vehicle. Such knowledge ends up overloading these specific sites. The County could work on developing a similar app and that app could give specific instructions to keep the users safe and could limit the sites shown particularly when the app is aware of jow many people are at a site at a given time. Also the County should be working with the exisiting app developers to integrate important safety information into their apps.
Due to increase in arrivals of the tourism industry to the island of Maui I have personally seen an insurmountable amount of vehicular traffic into our rural district of Hana, blatant disregard for public health and safety (double parking on both sides of the Hana Highway, toilet paper strewn on sides of the roadway, running red light at marked construction zones and bottlenecks occuring in marked yield areas. There has also been disregard for the echo systems prevalent in our community, hiking areas, trails, clearly marked "no trespassing" /gates of private or State properties breached by entitled tourists and a severe lack of common sense when floods or natural hazards are present during inclement or torrential rainfall.
Aloha,
The Road to Hana has become more and more crowded with tourists parking illegally and blocking thru travel. It’s not only an inconvenience to residents but also a very dangerous hazard if an emergency vehicle or ambulance needs to get through and cannot. There have been bottlenecks at bridges, pools, Nahiku Marketplace and all along the road from Kuau to Hana. All these locations are overrun with tourists and it can take a full 10 minutes to clear the road so traffic flow can continue again. Tourists are also trespassing regularly and daily. It’s out of control. In going to Koki beach, Hana Bay and Hamoa beach we are seeing more garbage along the roadways/paths/trails, garbage left behind at the beach instead of packing it out and masks on the ground. It’s horrible and disheartening to see. Many residents and neighbors are saying they are finding wads of toilet paper in their driveways and along property boundaries as the east side is so overrun people are using private property as a toilet. This is an obvious health hazard as well as just unacceptable. The Aina is suffering, all that makes the east side so special is suffering from over tourism. A reservation system like Haleakala and Wai’anapanapa have, and limiting the amount of rental cars in to this sensitive area would curtail these abuses before it gets even worse. Also flyers and leaflets handed to people on arriving flights as well as an insert in rental agreements would be other helpful protocols to implement. Mahalo for your time in this very important matter.
As a Maui resident of 29 years, 11 of which were in Hana, I have seen a drastic change in the congestion and safety of Hana Highway in recent years. From the Facebook posts that people are making, the situation deserves immediate resolution. The level or frustration and concern has naturally escalated since the quarantine was lifted last October, 2020. The dire parking dilemma means longer drive times and dangerous circumstances, not to mention that many of our special locations are apparently so inundated that they must surely be suffering damage, as least spiritually. The idea of implementing a permit system for visitors, such as to Haleakala, seems to me a perfect way to simultaneously foster respect and education. I, for one, would love to feel free to travel home to Hana to see the beloved, sacred places that are close to my heart.
Control the amount of vehicles on the road at a given time by requiring sign-ups & reservation system. Allot time early in the morning and evening for residents only to safely get to and from work without visitor traffic. Provide education on proper road conduct via Hawaii Tourism/Airlines such as staying on the road, pulling aside for local drivers, sitting in vehicle while driving, picking up trash etc. Enforcement is needed to ensure safe road conditions, hire within the communities to give residents jobs such as ticketing illegally parked cars, documenting unsafe activity, providing education to lessen burden on police. Additionally local help in enforcing rules will be more consistent and therefore more effective than what is currently happening. Fine illegal and legal tour companies, Apps, etc. that promote venturing off the path and encouraging illegal activity.
As a small business owner that won't work. Tour vans don't stop at little business. We will have to close down because we won't be making money. I reley on tourist. Aloha. Hana treasures.
1) Limit visitor access by prohibiting rental cars or anyone who is not a Maui resident in a private vehicle, allowing visitors only to have access by Tour companies in small 12 seater vans. Contracting with a limited number of tour companies limiting the number of tours/ visitors allowed on a given day and time. ( Similar to what was done to control the sunrise bike tours on Haleakala.) No weekend tours allowed, keeping the beaches and parks more accessible for locals.
2) Maui residents with proper ID still allowed 24/7 access since many who live elsewhere on the island have family or residences in Hana