Winter visitor arrivals are set to arrive in droves in over the next few weeks and the Sayles team wanted to take this opportunity to offer a few Maui safety tips. While we completed a deep dive to the top 10 things not to do when you visit Maui in a previous blog post, the Maui County Police Department echoed similar thoughts in a recent press release highlighting their best tips for visitors.
DON’T LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR
Most of the crime on Maui is typically not super violent. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a shooting or stabbing on the news here like they have on the mainland and on Oahu. We do unfortunately have a lot of petty theft including vehicle theft and break-ins. Do not leave valuables in your rental car where they are visible. Don’t leave them in the trunk either. Rental cars have specific barcode stickers on the windows which are easily identified by thieves. Be particularly careful at unattended parking areas like beach parks, remote hiking trails (ie: Twin Falls, Bamboo Forest, the Blow Hole, Etc) or other places where it’s obvious that you will be away from your car for a while.
If you see shattered glass on the ground when you pull your car up to a new area, survey says you should consider parking somewhere else. Also don’t leave your valuables unattended at the beach or the hotel pool as they can quickly go missing and not show up in the lost and found (anybody seen the White Lotus!?).
The following areas are beautiful to visit and are majestic to soak in, but are in isolated areas and are well known for break ins: Olivine Pools, Nakalele Blowhole, Venus Pools, Twin Falls, Honolua Bay, La Perouse Bay, and Big Beach.
DON’T GO HIKING OR SWIMMING ALONE
Always exercise common sense and use the buddy system when in doubt. Never swim, snorkel, fish, kayak, stand up paddle, or surf alone in the ocean. Please make sure somebody else accompanies you at all times and has your back. Be super careful jumping from heights, especially into unknown waters. Maui beaches are infamous for being exposed to frequently changing wind and weather conditions. There are strong ocean currents at many of our beaches as well as dangerous shorebreaks (ie: Makena Big Beach). Always face the ocean while in the water. Never ever turn your back to the ocean and listen to lifeguards when instructed. Pay close attention to the “high surf” and “strong current” and or “shark sighted” signs and red flags when posted on some of the more populated beaches. They are there to protect and advise you of sketchy conditions.
ROAD TO HANA TIPS
Maui pretty much has one road that goes around the entire island including the road to Hana. While there are epic sights along that way, many parts of the road to East Maui are one way with several long stretches of windy bridges that meander through steep cliffs without any guardrails. That being said, just because you’re going 2MPH trying to avoid death by driving off the cliff’s edge doesn’t mean locals aren’t trying to pass you during their daily commute. Never stop on one way bridges to take photos. As previously stated in the Maui activities blog, please for the love of God: LET LOCALS PASS. If a local driver pulls behind you and starts tailgating you, please pull over at the next available stop. This will save you lots of stress and possibly getting into a road rage incident.
The State of Hawaii also placed new ‘No Parking’ signs along the Hana Highway that can result in a $200 surcharge on top of the $35 parking violation citation for parking in un-permitted areas. Motorists should park and only stop in areas with designated marked parking stalls.
Contact a Maui Real Estate Specialist
The Sayles team is a group of real estate professionals who are committed to delivering a higher level of customer service to exceed the demands of our clients. Our extensive market knowledge, negotiating skills, and hyper local expertise on Maui have earned us the reputation of being industry leaders, and the #1 team for Coldwell Banker in the state of Hawaii.
With over $155M in closed transactions YTD in 2021, our energy and 150 years of collective experience gets results. Hope you have a wonderful day, and please let us know if you are interested in buying or selling. Our entire team is here to support you and advocate for your family.
Aloha,
Anthony Sayles R(S)
808-280-6532