The very well-intentioned proposal to impose a moratorium on hotel building permits is probably unnecessary at the moment (and will likely apply for the next six years).
Nationwide, hotel occupancy was 23.3 percent in January after 83.5 percent in 2020 before the coronavirus arrived. The Maui County rate was 18.4 percent.
Now is probably not the time for developers to think about building new hotels, but now is the time for Maui County to think about buying hotels and converting them to high-end public housing.
Housing costs are probably the biggest barrier to hiring good health and education professionals.
The cute little Aloha Pualani Boutique Hotel on Sugar Beach went up for sale in 2008 for $ 3.9 million. With six units and a pool, it could have offered young professionals the fulfillment of the Hawaiian dream home. It has since been converted into condominiums. At a subsidized price, enticing a young doctor or professor to move to the Valley Isle could have been an attractive convenience.
If one of the giant albatrosses on Wailea Alanui Drive is phased out, it can help add occupancy to the other hotels and provide much-needed, affordable housing for a wide variety of income groups.
Ed Felien
Kihei
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