Tourists were initially urged to stay away from the Hawaiian island of Maui in the immediate aftermath of a wildfire that killed at least 115 people and devastated the historic town of Lahaina.
But now, nearly three weeks after the catastrophic wildfire, officials and some locals are urging visitors not to cancel upcoming trips to other parts of the island, saying tourism dollars are needed to keep locals employed.
“Maui update. South Maui resorts (Lahaina is West Maui) NEED visitors. The furloughs and layoffs begin because people think the entire island is closed. It's not,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii. he tweeted on Thursday. “If you are planning a trip to Wailea or Kihei, don't cancel it. If you want to come to Hawaii, consider South Maui.”
Weary tourists gather at the Kahului airport to return home, two days after a wildfire devastated Lahaina.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
'Āina Momona, a community organization that discouraged visitors from coming immediately after the fire, is now offering advice to tourists coming to the island.
“If you decide to travel to Maui, conduct yourself with comfort, empathy and compassion,” he urges in a recent Instagram slideshow. The “bottom line,” she says, is that people should “visit,” “spend,” and “come home.”
Tourism has historically been a tense issue in Hawaii and the recent fires have brought those tensions to the forefront.
But for those visiting the island in the coming weeks and months, officials, community leaders and other locals offer some tips for being a respectful visitor and minimizing negative effects on the island:
Don't go west Maui
The number one message from community leaders and officials is that tourists should stay away from Lahaina, which was devastated by the fire, and from nearby towns like Kaanapali and Kapalua, which are home to relief efforts and displaced survivors of the fire.
Don't be nervous about affected communities, said Kainoa Horcajo, a cultural consultant and organizer with the Maui Rapid Response mutual aid organization. “But the rest of the island is open and needs support,” Horcajo added.
Stories about tourists taking selfies in front of the destruction immediately after the fire compound the anger and frustration of people in the community who have already lost so much, said James Kunane Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Development. of the state. Tourism.
Tokioka reiterated the message that the rest of the island and the state are open, but urged tourists to act respectfully.
Popular south Maui towns such as Kihei and Wailea are far from destruction, as is Paia on the north shore.
Travelers are welcome in Kahului, Wailuku, Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Paia and Hana, as well as the neighboring islands of Lanai and Molokai, Maui County, according to official state guidelines.
Act with sensitivity and empathy
“Come with respect, humility and reverence for our Maui community, especially West Maui. There is a lot of cultural and emotional sensitivity right now,” said Jeana Naluai, a Native Hawaiian who runs a spa in Maui's interior that specializes in traditional Hawaiian Lomi Lomi techniques. “The families are suffering and deserve your consideration and care.”
Trisha Kehaulani Watson, co-founder of 'Āina Momona, highlighted the fact that many people tourists encounter, including hotel, restaurant and retail workers, may have a personal connection to the fires.
“We really need tourists to be patient and kind and compassionate and understand that people here are deeply traumatized and really starting to come to grips with this,” said Kehaulani Watson, a natural and cultural resource management consultant.
Tourists should know that recovery remains the island's priority and should expect some places to be short-staffed and some attractions to close, Kehaulani Watson said.
Gemma Alvior, a local designer who has a boutique at Maui Mall Village in Kahului, also urged visitors to “always remember to watch how they talk about their vacation because you don't know who's listening. “Everyone is excited and hurt.”
Patronize small businesses and tip well
“Support the economy by shopping at local stores, restaurants, food trucks and purchasing Hawaiian products,” said Naluai, who runs Ho'omana Spa. He suggested that tourists use the Kuhikuhi database to find Native Hawaiian-owned businesses or purchase them virtually and take as many selfies as they want to support local businesses in unaffected areas.
Many people are looking for jobs and local businesses need to absorb the workforce until things rebuild, Naluai said. “Only prosperous companies can continue to offer opportunities. “We all need to survive to be able to continue serving in the long term towards restoration.”
Volunteer or donate
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism urges visitors to check mauistrong.hawaii.gov for the latest information on Maui emergency management and recovery, as well as information on how to help.
'Āina Momona suggests tourists consider volunteering at Maui Food Bank, Maui Rapid Response or Common Ground Collective.
Alvior, the designer of the Pulelehua boutique, also suggested people consider volunteering at the Maui Humane Society or donating goods.
“You can also bring an extra luggage full of items that are needed here. Don’t come empty-handed,” Alvior said. (Needs have changed relatively quickly in recent weeks, so it's best to connect with local groups beforehand or on social media.)
Kilakila Nunes, a Maui resident whose pool service business works with local resorts, suggested that travelers consider making “a small monetary donation to a credible agency, if possible” while enjoying the rest of the island.
