Maui is HOT! Here’s how to join the crowds cheaply

The 2009 Travel Leaders’ “Fall Travel Trends Survey” reports that Maui is the 5th most booked domestic destination among U.S. travelers for the rest of this year. Mind you, that doesn’t mean the island is over-run by tourists. But it does mean that main-landers seeking the perfect luau are taking advantage of the low travel costs brought on by the still-struggling economy. That’s great news if you’ve been saving for that dream trip to the islands, economy be damned. And here’s even better news: My recent search on Trip Advisor reveals a $487 roundtrip airfare between San Francisco and Kahului on the highly rated Hawaiian Airlines for Wednesday to Wednesday travel in November — and that fare includes taxes and fees. Clearly, it’s time to see for yourself just what all hub-bub is about.