I was just asked to do an interview with KCAL/CBS news here in Los Angeles about whether or not people should be traveling to Maui yet? When the interview request came in, I was getting a massage and the masseuse I see always softly plays Hawaiian music in the background because it’s my favorite. About 15 minutes into the massage, I just couldn’t relax because I couldn’t stop thinking about the poor people in Maui who have lost everything so I asked her to switch the track.
When I returned home and saw the KCAL interview request in my email, I immediately called my friend from Visit Maui to get her input since I didn’t want to give any bad advice. I had a good idea what she was going to say since I’ve been reading the news and sharing it daily in my newsletter (scroll down to read some of those stories.)
I also interviewed my friend Mike Binder for my podcast; he splits his time between Maui and L.A. and was nearby at the time of the fires. You can read/listen to my interview with Binder here.
Binder and everyone else who works in tourism all say that travelers should come to Maui but be respectful. Most importantly, stay away from West Maui where the devastating fires happened. In other words, “Respect the west but visit the rest.”
Keep in mind Maui is a large and beautiful island at 727 square miles so it’s comparable to the state of Rhode Island—1,045 square miles. There are a lot of places to visit besides West Maui.
Visit Maui’s official statement:
So you have it straight from the horse’s mouth, here’s Visit Maui’s official statement: “In West Maui, recent wildfires have resulted in the devastating loss of loved ones, homes, cultural and historical sites, and businesses in Lahaina. We are grateful for the outpouring of support for Maui from around the world, from sharing memories and offering their assistance, to asking questions about travel to Maui and the rest of the state. While vacation travel to West Maui (including Lahaina, Nāpili, Kāʻanapali, and Kapalua) is strongly discouraged through October 17, travel to all other parts of Maui (including Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena, Pāʻia, Makawao and Hāna) and other Hawaiian Islands are welcomed to keep residents employed and our economy alive.”
After speaking to my friend in the tourism office and doing some more research before my interview, I started thinking that maybe my family and I should go to Maui this weekend to support the people of the island. I checked airfares and was shocked that we could depart on Friday and return on Monday for $197 roundtrip on both American Airlines and United. Hawaiian Airlines was $247. See screenshot below.
As if reading my mind, few minutes later, I received an email from Hawaiian Airlines with the subject line, “How you can show your love for Maui.” Here’s what they wrote:
“The Valley Isle holds a special place in our hearts. While non-essential travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged after the wildfires of August 2023, The Hawaii Tourism Authority recommends visiting other areas of Maui, like the historic town of Paia or the sunny beaches of Kihei. Our local businesses are ready and waiting for you. As a visitor, you can have a positive impact. While you’re on Maui, remember to Travel Pono — to travel responsibly and thoughtfully — and show your aloha for our cultures and communities. Respect areas that are healing, support local businesses, and take your time to appreciate this extraordinary place. Together, let’s show our love for the Valley Isle and support the road to recovery. Here are some tips to make your visit more meaningful.”
The kicker is that Hawaiian Airlines is offering $82 one-way fares to Kahului, Maui (screenshot below) which is pretty much unheard of.
So, the good folks of Maui are asking for you not to put off your trip to the Valley Isle or plan a future one. And as I write this piece, I just turned on some Hawaiian music, thinking of the locals, reminiscing about our past trips, especially our visit this past January, and dreaming of future trips, possibly as early as this weekend.
More Maui Stories:
Maui struggles with “potentially catastrophic” tourism shortfall
After wildfires on Maui killed over 100 people and destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, officials told people looking to travel to the Hawaiian island to stay away. Now, as the economic toll of the fires grows, that message has changed. West Maui is losing about $9 million a day, and the rest of the island is feeling the impact. Gina Dello, a cafe owner in South Maui, said that business at her establishment came to a screeching halt in the wake of the fires. CBS News
Maui business owners need tourism to survive, but say visitors should rethink how they use resources: ‘It’s not Disneyland’
Two weeks ago, deadly fires ravaged Maui, leaving behind physical and economic devastation. Now, businesses say they need tourism to stay afloat and keep their workers employed. But there’s a tricky fine line between economy-sustaining tourism and a strain on local resources. Insider
Many Maui restaurants were destroyed in the fires. For those that survived, their future remains uncertain
On August 8, the day that Maui was overcome with flames, Qiana Di Bari saw a puff of smoke near her home and knew she and her family had to escape. Earlier that day, a fire had been spotted and put out in her vibrant Lahaina neighborhood. But by late afternoon, Di Bari was hearing of more fires elsewhere on the island. The island’s resources, she knew, were stretched thin. CNN
I’m a small business owner on Maui. We need tourists to keep coming to support the economy and it’s super irresponsible to tell them to stay away.
Javier Cantellops has lived in Maui for eight years and owns three diving businesses. Cantellops told Insider it’s irresponsible to tell tourists to stay away from Maui after the fires. He said the rest of Maui can’t help devastated Lahaina if they lose their jobs or businesses. Insider
As tourism drops officials worry about rest of Maui
As recovery continues for West Maui, there are growing concerns about the economy for the rest of the island. Officials said tourism is down 20% compared to last year. Hotel occupancy is down to 57% while the rest of the state is about 80%. While helping survivors is still the top priority, tourism officials said there’s the danger of not having enough jobs for Maui residents. “The balance has to be struck that we cannot shut down the rest of Maui. Maui is the most dependent county on tourism and without tourism, they are in a world of hurt because there are no short term economic alternatives,” said Mufi Hannemann, president of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association. KHON2
How to be a good visitor on Maui
Supporting local businesses is the quickest and best way to get Maui back on its feet again. While many think of airfare and hotel stays as being the primary beneficiary of tourism dollars, Gomes points out that it’s a much larger economic ecosystem than that. “It’s our local restaurants,” declared Gomes. “It’s important to note that there are a number of businesses that all support the visitor industry, right, cleaning services and staffing services and HR services, all of these people play a role in supporting what makes up the primary elements of the visitor industry.” KHON2
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I’m sorry for everything that happened to Maui. But I am speechless on them asking for visitors. When I saw a post with a woman saying that it was very hard on her as a Maui resident watching us tourists snorkeling after everything that has happened to them and that we should have respect for what Maui just went through and not enjoy it as a vacation place.. I’m very confused.
Jess: Since you don’t even know that Lahaina is in West Maui NOT South Maui the accuracy of the rest of your comments are called into question.
Nice article, crazy comments. Everyone’s right only thing wrong is the flight from ATL Georgia to Maui round trip is over $450-600 at the least.
This article is so poorly written and irresponsible, it’s almost funny. You never bothered to say where these super cheap flights originate from.
You should be embarrassed for writing this nonsense.
Perhaps the State of HI needs to take a pause and decide what it wants – and not let corporations and franchise businesses determine their fate. I, for one, am not going anywhere that I’m not welcomed – and it sounds like HI was “over” the whole tourism thing if you were a resident.
@Monica Lane…. Neighborhoods? They have neighborhoods? Shocking. I would think everyone lived in little grass shacks. On the beach. Like in the song.
You called a bunch of white people in the tourism industry. This article is bs and you know it. Respect what the native Hawaiians want and not what your disgusting white friends want. Stay away and send money.
I moved to Maui in 1984. Just shy of my 19th birthday. I raised 3 children, and now 6 grandchildren. All of whom live on Maui. I moved back to the MAINLAND after 30 years. Why? Because my kids were all grown and supporting themselves. I was tired of living paycheck to paycheck, looking forward to “high season” so I could make better money. I never bought a home there because, frankly, I couldn’t afford it. I never took my kids on a vacation out of state for the same reason. And after 30 years of taking care of “tourists”, I was over it. It’s not that the locals don’t want you there. What they don’t want is the people who come there. Forget their manners. Behave as though everyone is supposed to be catering to your vacation needs. The rude ones who step out in front of a car on Front St and then get upset for being verbally scolded by the driver of the car. This is, sadly was, Front St. NOT MAIN ST. AT DISNEYLAND. People live on these islands. And the sad fact is that the State of Hawaii never should have been. It was stolen. Then exploited into the tourist destination that it has become. Thus making the economy dependent upon a lot of visitor industry tax dollars and income. But you know what. The Hawaiians, and Kamaʻāina are resilient people. They are proud of their heritages and cultures. And they will show you aloha and respect like you have never seen. What are you going to bring to the table? A guide book and a entitled attitude because you are on vacation and paid a lot of money to be there. To be catered to and pampered. Sure, you can have all that. But the second you step out of the resorts with their spas, $700 a night rooms and paid staff to cater to your every whim….BOOM!! YOU IN MAUI NOW. People LIVE there!!! You’re in their backyard now baby. Educate yourself about where you are going before you go there. Be a traveler not a tourist. Understand where the animosity stems from and maybe you’ll have a better experience. Because you’ll understand the resentment. Pack your suitcase with knowledge, respect, human kindness and understanding. And you will leave with aloha. Be welcomed back. And will have gained so much more. Or whine and complain about how you got yelled at for being a donkey when you were acting like an a*s. Oh, and by the way. I have been called a haole many times. But Uncle Chuckie on Molokaʻi said I’m one damn good haole. Because I get it. Do you? …a hui hou ka kāu. Mālama pono. Aloha ke Akua 🤙
I am do sorry for all that the inhabitants of Maui are going through, especially the people of native origin. We were blessed to visit in 2014 and enjoyed nothing but respect and love from locals in Kapalua and Lahaina. I will always treasure that visit, our first to Hawaii, and I will respect their mourning period. Aloha
This is truly not a great time to visit the island. Please honor the sacredness of this land and lit the people of Maui at least begin to heal. It’s not time to be selfish and think about the hotels and Condos and wants people to rent their places where there is so much homeless on the island. Flights may be cheap but find somewhere else to go.
I love how so many people here in the comments are offended by the locals in Hawaii, yet aren’t offended by how their own treat other human beings. Spread the same kindness you’d like.
I was there when the COVID pandemic started, obviously not what we planned for, and the locals were jerks. They get nothing from me, other than some empathy.
couldn’t be a worse time to visit, the vacation rentals and hotels should be opened up to the displaced locals , with the average cost a night stating at 500. 00 and up a cheap flight doesn’t matter . Thay are overrun with tourist , the traffic is insane , and really they don’t want you there .
Wow! We’re being told to come to Maui by some but most of you say you don’t want us or need us or our money so stay away, if everyone takes your advice and starts going somewhere and business start failing you have no one to blame but yourselves. We went to Hawaii several years ago an had a wonderful time and was treated very well, its too bad. Hawaii is a beautiful place but we’ll certainly stay away, ill never go back again
I agree so much with the comments related to Hawaii being a”State” that does treat visitors like crap. I don’t know how you can be so much uptight and coincided, not to mention the hatred for all cultures, these Hawaiian residents are ignorant of what keeps them afloat, no pun intended. I wish that the island of Maui recovers soon and we are very sad for the loss of life and property. I prefer Aruba and Bermuda. To Mr. Jet, would you not rather be playing a sport, hiking, learning boxing or riding a motorcycle, instead of a massage? Fantoche, culonroto
I have two little kids so carrying them messes my back up. But I do hike, play softball, beach volleyball, tennis …
My husband and I are travel nurses and inquired about the need for healthcare staff during the recent fires. We were considering a 13 week travel contract there. We were rudely told by locals to stay on the Mainland unless we were volunteering our services. Seriously! How many nurses have enough money to pay for transportation, housing, and food to volunteer at hospitals. The island is expensive to visit and live on. I will NEVER vacation there again. I will NEVER reach out to them during a crisis. Hopefully, they have enough “local” nurses to cover their health needs moving forward.