Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Pearl Harbor 'Tour' Ticket Markup
- 1 of 5 scams are rated high risk
- Use app-based ride services (Uber, Lyft) instead of unmarked vehicles or unlicensed cabs
- Never accept unsolicited offers from strangers near tourist sites in Maui
⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Keep phones and valuables in secure pockets when in crowded areas
- Use only licensed taxis or app-based ride services
- Book tours and tickets through verified operators with online reviews
- Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original
Jump to a Scam
The 5 Scams
Companies charge $60-150 for 'Pearl Harbor Tours' that include bus transport from Waikiki and a ...
Companies charge $60-150 for 'Pearl Harbor Tours' that include bus transport from Waikiki and a 'guided experience.' What they don't tell you: admission to the USS Arizona Memorial is completely FREE. The 'tour' is a bus ride and someone reading Wikipedia facts. You're paying $150 for what a $5 Uber and a free ticket would get you.
Red Flags
- Any company charging a premium for Pearl Harbor 'tickets'
- Tour includes 'exclusive access' to the free memorial
- Price includes transport from Waikiki at extreme markup
How to Avoid
- Book FREE timed-entry tickets at nps.gov/perl — they release 60 days in advance
- Take TheBus Route 20/42 for $2.75 or Uber for $15-25 from Waikiki
- The only legitimate extra cost is the audio tour ($7.50) or boat tour of the harbor
- If free tickets are sold out, recreation.gov releases same-day walkup passes
You return your rental car at OGG.
Weeks later, a claim arrives: 'windshield chip damage — $932.96.' The photos show a tiny chip you never noticed. Some rental agencies at Maui's airport systematically file damage claims after return — they know you're thousands of miles away and unlikely to dispute. One viral case involved a $932 charge for returning a car to 'the wrong terminal' (both terminals share the same lot).
Red Flags
- Damage claim arrives via email weeks after return
- No damage was noted at drop-off
- Claim filed by a third-party processing company
- Amount seems disproportionate to the alleged damage
How to Avoid
- Video the entire car at pickup and drop-off — include the date and rental agreement number
- Get written confirmation of return condition from the attendant
- Use credit card rental car insurance for dispute protection
- Photograph the drop-off location to prove where you returned it
You find a stunning beachfront condo in Kihei for $200/night — half the going rate.
The listing has professional photos and a detailed description. The host asks for a deposit via Venmo or wire transfer 'to secure the booking.' You arrive in Maui to find the condo doesn't exist — or it does exist, but the 'host' was a scammer who stole photos from a real listing and collected your money.
Red Flags
- Price 30-50% below comparable listings in the area
- Payment requested outside the booking platform (Venmo, Zelle, wire)
- Host won't do a video call or answer specific questions about the unit
- Listing only appeared recently with no reviews
How to Avoid
- Only book and pay through official platforms (VRBO, Airbnb) with buyer protection
- Never wire money or use peer-to-peer payment apps for rentals
- Verify the property address on Google Maps Street View
- If it seems too good to be true for Maui prices, it is
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Get Free Itinerary →You park your rental car at a trailhead on the Road to Hana, locking your bags in the trunk.
You hike for two hours and return to find the rear window smashed and everything gone -- laptop, camera, passports, and cash. Rental car break-ins at remote trailheads and beach parking lots are one of Maui's most persistent crime problems. Thieves target rental cars specifically because they know tourists carry valuables. The break-ins happen in broad daylight in secluded parking areas where there are no witnesses. Reddit users on r/Hawaii and r/travel report this as the single most common crime affecting tourists on Maui.
Red Flags
- You are parking at a remote trailhead or beach with no attendant
- Other cars in the lot show signs of break-in (glass on the ground)
- Your rental car has visible branding identifying it as a rental
- You have left any bags, even empty ones, visible inside the car
- The parking area is secluded with no security cameras or regular foot traffic
How to Avoid
- Never leave anything visible in your rental car -- even an empty bag attracts thieves
- Lock all valuables in the trunk before arriving at the trailhead, not in the parking lot where you can be watched
- Leave the glove box and console open to show there is nothing to steal
- Carry your passport and essential cards on your person in a waterproof pouch
- Consider renting a car with no visible rental company branding
You walk into a shop on Front Street where an enthusiastic salesperson grabs your hand and begins ...
You walk into a shop on Front Street where an enthusiastic salesperson grabs your hand and begins applying Dead Sea mineral lotion, telling you how amazing your skin looks. Before you know it, you have been pitched a 'complete system' of products costing three hundred to five hundred dollars, and the salesperson has become extremely difficult to say no to. A Reddit user on r/maui reported approximately five of these high-pressure lotion shops on Front Street between Dickenson and Papalaua streets alone. The products are marked up by five hundred to one thousand percent over similar items available online. The aggressive sales technique combines compliments, physical contact, and social pressure.
Red Flags
- Salesperson physically grabs your hand or begins applying product without permission
- Products are marketed as 'exclusive' or 'Dead Sea minerals' at extreme prices
- You are told the price is 'special just for today' or 'only for visitors'
- The salesperson follows you around the store and becomes upset when you try to leave
- Similar products are available online for a fraction of the in-store price
How to Avoid
- Decline immediately if someone tries to grab your hand — a firm 'no thank you' works
- Walk past these shops quickly without making eye contact with the door greeters
- If you enter and want to leave, simply say 'I need to think about it' and walk out
- Check Amazon or similar sites on your phone for the same product — the markup is enormous
- Report overly aggressive sales tactics to the mall management
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Local Police Department station. Call 911. Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at usa.gov/crimes.
💳 Cancel Your Cards
Call your bank immediately. Most have 24/7 numbers on the back of the card (keep a photo saved separately). Block any suspicious transactions before the thieves use your details.
🛂 Lost Passport?
Visit the nearest US Passport Agency. For international visitors, contact your country's consulate or embassy directly. US State Department emergency line: +1-888-407-4747 (from US) or +1-202-501-4444 (international).
📱 Track Your Device
If your phone was stolen, use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) from another device. Don't confront thieves yourself — share the location with police instead.
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