The Hawaii Tourism Authority is strongly discouraging visitors from traveling to West Maui and asking those who are there to leave. People posting to social media, including actor Jason Momoa, have written searing statements telling people not to visit Maui.
“Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,” Momoa posted on Instagram. “Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.”
So far, wildfires on Maui have burned through at least 2,170 acres in Lahaina and 678 acres in Kula. The fires that started a week ago are not yet contained. The death toll from the fires was at 99 at the time of publication. About 2,200 structures have been damaged by the wildfires, with 86% of them residences in West Maui.
Visitors on Maui have largely followed the guidance to leave, according to a Hawaii Tourism Authority news release. As many as 46,000 people have left the island via Kahului Airport since Wednesday.
Hotels and vacation rentals are housing displaced Maui residents
One reason tourists are being asked to leave or reschedule upcoming trips is concern over where the thousands of displaced residents will now stay.
Many hotels are providing housing for employees and their families as roads remain unsafe while the fires continue to burn. Outrigger Resorts & Hotels said on its website that it is providing hotel rooms at its properties across the state to employees who have been displaced.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said during a press conference Monday that the state’s temporary housing task force secured 2,000 housing units for displaced Maui residents. This includes 1,400 Airbnb units, 402 hotel rooms and 160 units via the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.
To increase the amount of temporary housing on Oahu, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi directed the Department of Planning and Permitting to suspend the 30-day short-term vacation rental mandate.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority directed hotel, vacation rental operators and others with accommodations that could be used by displaced Maui residents to fill out this form.
Disrespectful visitors
Green said during a press conference on Sunday that he didn’t think remaining visitors were impairing the search and recovery efforts. However, he said some people have been offended by visitors who are viewing the destroyed Lahaina town as a tourist site.
“We do have frustrations about the few visitors who decided they wanted to come and see a site, which we find to be toxic to us as our people have suffered. But that’s very few people,” Green said.
The area is off-limits to the public. A limited number of residents have been allowed in to assess damage and approved service providers have also accessed the area. But it is unsafe to visit the area because of hazards, such as broken glass or nails, and chemicals like asbestos and lead. The remains of the dead have also not all been accounted for — only about 25% of the area has been searched. Tourists who enter the area may be walking on the bones of the dead.
On social media, the account @KapunaFarms shared a video of a snorkeling company bringing visitors to snorkel near Lahaina on Aug. 11. Multiple accounts shared the video widely.
“My issue was where this was taking place,” @KapunaFarms wrote on Instagram. “This tour boat snorkel trip was taking place off the main highway entering Lahaina, Maui. Very visible from the highway as displaced victims, emergency personnel and volunteers drive past. Along the highway where one of the most gruesome tragedy’s our Island ever experienced is still unfolding.”
In response, Maui Snorkeling Lani Kai posted an apology, saying they planned to donate profits from the snorkel tour to the Maui Food Bank.
Visiting other parts of Maui
During the Sunday press conference, Green emphasized Hawaii’s economy relies on tourism and residents need jobs. Placing residents in hotels will allow the hotels to remain open, he said. The state and federal government will cover the cost. Still, small businesses will be affected.
“But we don’t want other businesses to leave and also leave other parts of Maui devastated. That wouldn’t be okay,” Green said. "I will say it’s going to be a very long time before tourism returns for us to anywhere near the levels that was in West Maui."
In June, nearly 72,000 tourists visited Maui, spending $620 million.
Bruce Fisher, who owns a travel agency called Hawaii Aloha Travel, told Spectrum News that his company is currently discouraging people from going to Maui and helping them reschedule upcoming trips. However, he wondered when visitors should be encouraged to go to parts of Maui that are not impacted by the wildfires, such as Wailea on the Kihei coast.
“There are businesses in Wailea and other parts of Maui that survive on tourism. It’s a question of how we balance all of this and be respectful,” Fisher said.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea reiterated in a statement sent to Spectrum News that non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged and said they are housing displaced employees. But Hotel Wailea, which is part of the Relais & Chateaux association, said in a statement on its website that it “is fully operational and unaffected by the fires at this time.” Spectrum News reached out for more information about whether Hotel Wailea is encouraging visitors to come, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Visiting the other Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaii Tourism Authority said other islands in Hawaii are “not affected at this time.” While there were wildfires on Hawaii Island, they are now contained.
Fisher said he has noticed visitors hesitant to travel to the other Hawaiian Islands because of the devastation on Maui.
“We understand that people really shouldn't be going to Maui. But at the same time, we're seeing that the whole thing is having a chilling effect on travel to Hawaii in general, because we're seeing a dip in bookings,” Fisher said.
He encouraged people to travel to the other Hawaiian Islands.
Norwegian Cruise Line is no longer stopping on Maui “to avoid stressing the local resources,” according to a statement sent to Spectrum News. Instead, the cruise line will stop in Hilo, Hawaii and add an overnight in Nawiliwili, Kauai, until the end of the month.
However, Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp, who runs a popular Hawaiian history account on Instagram, posted a call to tourists to cancel their upcoming vacation to Maui or Oahu. He asserted visiting Oahu would put a strain on medical services and housing units that may be needed by displaced people coming from Maui.
“If you think that your tourist dollars are helping, no. If you want to help, donate,” he wrote.
When will it be OK to visit Maui?
The Hawaii Tourism Authority urged visitors with plans to come to West Maui in the coming weeks and months to reschedule their trip when the situation has improved for residents. But when will that be?
Fisher said some of his clients have trips to Maui in October and November, and they are still hoping to visit. However, he is advising them to reconsider.
“People on Maui, they don’t want anybody there,” he said. “I don’t want my guests coming there and getting harassed.”
Instead, Fisher recommended they reschedule their trips for 2024.
The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas and Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club said on their websites that “the situation is changing rapidly, and we cannot yet answer questions about resort status, amenities, and services that will be available this fall.” Reservations for upcoming guests are canceled through Aug. 20, and cancellation fees are waived through Aug. 31.
Rescheduling reservations
The Hawaii Tourism Authority asked visitors to hold off on calling to reschedule their upcoming West Maui reservations, as efforts continue to restore basic services. The governor said at Sunday’s press conference that Hawaiian Electric has restored one of three transmission lines.
West Maui hotels, like the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and Kaanapali Alii, have temporarily stopped accepting reservations. Both hotels have also closed to arrivals until Sept. 5 and Sept. 10 respectively. Deposits and prepayments for these dates will be refunded.
Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, which is also a Hyatt Hotel & Resort, said on its website that because the state is requesting only essential travelers go to Maui that they are contacting guests with upcoming reservations to advise them on next steps. The hotel also said they are receiving a “higher than normal call volume and will assist as soon as we are able.”
Outrigger Resorts & Hotels is encouraging guests with a trip planned during August to its Maui locations to rebook at the same rates at their Oahu resorts. The hotel company is also allowing guests to change the dates of their stay to later months at the same rate.
The Outrigger hotel chain operates three properties on Maui, including the 18-room Plantation Inn located in Lahaina, which was damaged in the fire. The Best Western’s 34-room Pioneer Inn on Wharf Street in Lahaina was also destroyed.
Montage Kapalua Bay in northwest Maui said it is experiencing interruptions due to the wildfires, but encouraged guests to call (844) 916-0363 for information about upcoming trips. The hotel also established an emergency relief fund for employees impacted by the fires.
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows, which is in Kaanapali, said in a social media post that travel is discouraged and its reservation team is assisting with refunds and rebooking.
Airbnb’s “extenuating circumstances policy” allows guests with trips in impacted areas to cancel for a full refund. Vrbo, which is owned by Expedia Group, is also allowing travelers to Maui to get a full refund.
Most of the major airline carriers — Hawaiian, Alaska, American, Delta, United and Southwest — have announced policies to reschedule flights during August at no additional cost.
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.