Fall has officially begun, but in Hawaii the leaves and palm fronds will stay green year-round! October is one of our calmest months as school is back in session and families and professionals are waiting to use vacation time until the holidays arrive in November. Because of that, October is a great time to visit Maui!

Important developments for our Maui visitors:

• Faster check-ins at the airport: A new TSA Pre-check line was added at Kahului airport, along with passenger-screening canines, to expedite the historically long security lines at the airport. Officials say the hope is it will cut security line wait times in half! From personal experience, the lines still appear very long during the peak times of 11am-3pm, BUT it only took us 30 minutes because the line moves very fast!

• October 1st starts the mineral-only sunscreen law in Maui County: The ingredients in typical sunscreens that have proven to cause damage to our sensitive coral reef, fish and sea turtles include: octocrylene, nanoparticles, avobenzone, homosalate, oxybenzone and octinoxate. Many sunscreens even carry the label "Reef-Safe," yet still include some of these harmful toxins. What you want to find are mineral sunscreens made with "non-nanotized zinc oxide" or "titanium dioxide" and make an effort to protect your skin with rash guards, hats, and sun umbrellas, especially during prime sunny hours between 10am-2pm. Find out more here.

• The Ka'anapali Beachwalk has taken a beating: Ever since a large south swell and the king tides hit in July, several portions of the beachwalk in Ka'anapali have been compromised. Some areas have filled back in North of Whaler's Village, but South of the shopping center in front of Ka'anapali Ali'i, the boardwalk has been completely closed and rerouted because PALM TREES are falling into the water. Officials are working on an action plan but have not been able to share it with the public yet. 

• First whale sighting ALREADY: On September 14th, there was a verified humpback whale sighting off the coast of Kihei! Experts are not sure if this was an anomaly or if there are more whales close behind. Official whale season is November-May, with the highest concentration of whales between January-March.