I know, you probably are thinking, has she lost her marbles completely??? I’ve been wondering that myself. Every day I read the NY Times and The Wall Street Journal, looking for something positive to say about the economic crisis and looking for an answer as to how soon this will be over? I also watch NBC news and have been struck by Brian William’s segment on “random acts of kindness”. In case you have not tuned in, it is a hopeful piece of journalism about what people are doing during this time, as millions lose jobs and see their income disappear in 401K plans. One segment I found particularly moving was about an individual who drove people to their appointments (even for job interviews) mostly because they didn’t have a car or were too worried about paying for the gas. I know, by now you are wondering what does this have to do with Maui? Well, here is my answer.
The recession has forced us to think about our rates and how we are going to keep paying our mortgages. Consequently, we have considerably lowered our rates to reflect the recession we are now in. I own two oceanfront condos in Maui, Nohonani 204 and The Whaler 661. Both have breathtaking views of the South Pacific and wonderful sandy beaches. At this point, I’m sure you are asking “How can I possibly afford this?” Well, this is the good news about the recession. We are now offering gorgeous condos on the bluest of oceans at a rate less than a Howard Johnsons or an Embassy Suite. We are doing this for two reasons. #1 is that we want to keep our condos full #2 is that we want people to have the opportunity to stay at our condos at an unbelievable rate, so that something good comes out of this whole mess we all find ourselves in. Maui does not have to be expensive. Condos that in the good times go for $225 a night are now being offered as low as $125 a night. If you are savvy, check out the air fares from the West coast. There are some unbelievable deals. Or, like many of us, you may have saved up enough miles to get to Maui with 40,000 points. Use these miles and then take advantage of the lowest rates we have ever offered and do a little cooking (or really heating) in our well stocked kitchen. Many of our clients tell us they eat breakfast in the condo, go on the beach or go snorkeling and come back to the condo for lunch and a little snooze. Cocktails on the lanai at sunset are prettier than any restaurant view you will ever find. Look out to Molokai and Lanai and save the money by having a few hour d’oeuvres and drinks before dinner and watch the big ball of yellow disappear. You may even catch that green flash if you are lucky when the sun sets. If dinner is out, there are some alternatives to expensive restaurants. There are even early bird specials (many restaurants offer them or half- priced pupus at the bar) later in the evening. We often share an entrée and dessert and find that the portions are quite large, so that in addition to a much less expensive meal, we also have not gained 5 pounds by the end of our vacation. Leilani’s on the beach is great for people watching and serves a cobb salad that is enormous (enough for two people) and a to die for hula pie that is big enough for a party of four. Another favorite of ours is Maui Tacos. There is one at the Lahaina Square Shopping Center and another at Napili Plaza. Although the ambiance is nothing to write home about, the fresh succulent fish tacos and the meat tacos are really great and very inexpensive. There is also the Penne Pasta Café on Dickenson Street in Lahaina that offers pasta and pizza that are simple and tasty.
So, what I am getting at is that this may actually be a GREAT time to visit Hawaii. The rates are fantastic, your miles are just accumulating (use them before the airlines decide they can’t afford to offer them anymore), and with a little ingenuity you can take advantage of these two wonderful condos and improve your mental health at the same time. Many guests say they feel refreshed after a visit to Maui. Even a four of five night stay seems to really change your perspective on life and the world. So, if things are tough at home (as they are for many of us), a dose of Maui is just what the doctor ordered. Get a little sun on your body, chill out for a week or so and you will find when you return that you are more refreshed and have a better outlook on life! So, is the recession good for us? No, but you can make it work in your favor and enjoy a vacation that you might otherwise not be able to afford. I like to think there is a silver lining in every cloud or in this case, in the bright, big beautiful SUN!
Please visit us at our condos on Maui …
