Hawaii residents and visitors are being encouraged to make travel
plans to Maui and support the island’s businesses, a month after the 8 August wildfires that destroyed the town of Lahaina, the largest tourist destination on Maui.
Hawaii governor Josh Green has declared that the West Maui
communities of Kā‘anapali, Nāpili, Honokōwai, and Kapalua will fully
reopen on Sunday, 8 October.
“No one should be discouraged or reluctant to go and support the
businesses and workers that rely on tourism in West Maui for their
families’ livelihood,” the governor said.
Now is the time for people everywhere to show their support for Maui by booking trips, making restaurant reservations, and frequenting Maui’s retail stores and attractions that support workers and their families.– Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, chief administrative officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority
Lahaina itself will remain closed to the public until further notice
out of respect to the town’s residents. County, state, and federal
emergency responders are continuing with efforts to identify victims and
the missing, and conduct clean-up efforts of debris and hazardous
materials resulting from the wildfires.
“No one in Hawaii will ever forget the tragedy that our friends,
families, loved ones, and colleagues in Lahaina are enduring,” said
Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, chief administrative officer of the Hawaii Tourism
Authority.
“Now is the time for people everywhere to show their support for Maui
by booking trips, making restaurant reservations, and frequenting
Maui’s retail stores and attractions that support workers and their
families.”
The death toll from the wildfires remains at 115 while another 66 people are listed as missing.