Maui: The Economics

When we first landed and got over to the beach, it was late and dark. The next day was a Friday, so I wrote it off that we got here before the weekend truly began.

It's now Sunday afternoon and one thing is for sure: The recession is definitely noticeable here. As one might say, it is on like Donkey Kong.

Wake up at 5:30 in the morning and you notice that there is no one walking around. It's not because it's 5:30; unless you are visiting from California, everyone here is from the middle or eastern part of the US or Europe, and nobody is sleeping in late. You get nods when passing other tourists on the sidewalk, a knowing, "yep, I passed out at 8 p.m. from exhaustion too, pal, and here we are together at dawn" kind of brotherhood.

Then you go to the grocery store, and all the people there are locals. Hardly any tourists buying supplies of sunscreen and kitschy towels and souvenirs. Go to the hotel pool around 11 a.m. and there are still lounge chairs to be had. Sure, they may be under the blazing sun, but last year on my honeymoon you would have filleted a small child for one of those suckers. Head over to the beach for some afternoon snorkeling and you almost have a free run of the place, when before you would be fending off flippers to the head and fat people from Michigan who keep touching the damn coral when everyone tells them not to because it will kill it.

Talking to two different hotel managers, I found that Maui's hotels are between 30-60% under fulfilled, depending on where you are staying. It shows. Restaurants you can get reservations without hassle. I made golf tee times at two of the top courses on the island without any trouble, and I could have named a time to strike the first ball and gotten it.

Yes, it's no surprise or new information to hear that the economy is in recession. But I will be the first to admit that even I thought that Hawaii could withstand some of it, especially on a holiday weekend. Clearly I was wrong, seeing the impact from one side of the nation to the other is telling.