Maui County Council has asked for a reopening delay. That decision remains until the 11th hour with Hawaii’s governor in this latest twist as confusion reigns.
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Maui County Council has asked for a reopening delay. That decision remains until the 11th hour with Hawaii’s governor in this latest twist as confusion reigns.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
I feel they should re open as the governor has planned. Lahaina will never be the same, we all will always remember what was and those who perished on that day. But we have to move forward. You tell the Governor to stop yet ask for his help. Well he is continuing to help but needs to open up for the sake of those who depend on the jobs provided to pay the debt that don’t care what happened. If we continue to sit and wallow in deep depression we will never open and Maui will fail 100%. The entire island is suffering. Let’s move forward as the governor and mayor plans.
Everybody thinks this island will be broke. What happened to the huge celebrities donations of 110 million and 89 million the federal government kicked in as well as all the go fund me accounts. fundraisers etc. I’ve seen this bailout senerio happen with other states as with covid and all of a sudden a huge amount of money gets found in some drawer and the politicians just vote themselves a raise. If all the tourist pay for this rebuilding where does the 89 million go? Sure the governor wants to open October 8th. Maybe all the rich that have property investments need to invest in something else or make it a tax right off. Sounds like us Haole mainlanders are expected to bail Maui out. Isn’t Oahu considered the meeting place?
I’m reminded of a time when our family suffered a tragic loss. We all wanted the world to stop – it felt like it should stop. But life doesn’t work like that – it goes on and needs to go on, in spite of grieving, along with grieving. People need to work, kids need to go to school, meals must be made, babies are born, and birthdays are celebrated. I know this situation is unique in some ways – I’ve read that 89 hotels are housing those who’ve lost homes. That is wonderful, but that is a ton of hotel rooms, and can’t be full occupancy. Let the tourists come. It is good that life goes on, and hard that grieving goes on. They must coincide.
This is “Island Life”, unfortunately counsel/govt allowed resort buildup to the extent of over tourism. Big/small resorts with kiddo magic slides, the rolled out carpet for diners/shoppers turned our natural Maui into a travel mecca.Natives have never approved & appear they can maintain life on their own, those who can not live without govt assistance need to be back to work asap! Those that work and want to rebuild need tourism dollars and Maui depends on it Now! 17k Fighting reopening are just using this stand to keep out tourists. Social media bullying continues. Gov. Green is mostly banking on relelection, thus his stance now. 17K people better start to build gardens to sustain life,live healther & self-educate!
Be happy for what you have. As we all need to remember the minor miracles in our everyday lives. We are reminded to live in the moment…this is a great reminder. For those of us who are work a day people being able to afford visiting your beautiful State of Hawaii like us who save our pennies to make the trip. We are not your enemy. Here in Oregon we experience tourists, people who want to live our lifestyle then want to change us. Check out our rebuilding after the Holiday fire (caused by electric lines) 3 years after getting to rebuild, McKenzie Community Land Trust. Loss of life, human and animals along with everything they owned. Jobs too. Be the resilient survivors you are, we understand it’s hard, but you will get threw this.
Either I missed your post or you missed it…
https://yourmileagemayvary.com/2023/09/25/big-loss-for-hawaiian-airlines/
The passing of Leina’ala Ann Teruya Drummon, the iconic face on the HA tail logo.
The people who call Maui home have been through enough, and the unfortunate disagreement on when to reopen isn’t helping. I continue to find the extremely poor communication between the local council and the population strange. With a vote to delay the reopening, the council has decided that the financial security of many is less important. Is this accurately representing their constituents? I don’t have the answer. The seemingly lack of communication between the council and the governor always amazes me. This should never have come down to the 11th hour. Help your people. Do not perpetuate more angst.
Our trip to the beautiful Island of Maui has been 3 years in the making. Everything had been booked and paid for 2 monthes prior to the devastation in Lahaina. My heart is broken all over again💔
My Husband died in Sept. 2020. His wish was to be spread at Sea off the Coast in Lahaina. Due to COVID, like many, Celebrations of Life have been postponed, which alters families closures. His Celebration of Life was to be in April of 2024 in Lahaina.
My heart aches for Hawaii, the Island of Maui, and especially for the families whom lost their loved ones in Lahaina. I honor and respect the loss. Grief is to be honored and respected…there is no timeline. It lasts a lifetime.
Wrapping you all in L🩷VE always💕
Aloha, Lu. I am sure your trip to Maui in April will be meaningful and Lahaina spreads out further than Front Street. I am sure you will find a good spot where you can spread your husband’s ashes in Maui. I have been on a boat once (with tourists) and there was a Hawaiian couple who asked the captain if they could spread their relatives ashes in the sea. So, at one point, he stopped the boat and let them to just that, with flowers all round, a moment of silence, he circled around and it was just beautiful.
Thank you for your kind words🌸 Many Blessings🌸
So what “if” tourists stop coming and supporting local shops, hotels, timeshares and golf courses. Now imagine Whalers Village becoming a ghost town and the big and smaller resorts turning into The Coco Plams. As a timeshare owner, I am concerned what the value of my family’s investment of 25 years ago will be now. At the time of our purchase it was the number one traded for resort in the Marriott Vacation Club division. And for those who don’t know, time share owners pay Hawaiian property taxes. West Maui needs to reopen and just move on with life.
Markr:
Everything you said rings true.
Clear thinking, reasonable, “left-brained” humans will surely concur.
It can be an awfully rocky road at times but “Life has to go on”…
Best Regards
We as visitors are getting so many mixed messages. We aren’t coming until late February and like most frequent visitors, we are respectful and responsible to the culture and residents.
We understand that the Lahaina community needs.
We want to give back to all workers and businesses in the West area and help Maui recover and not add to the turmoil
Congratulations to Governor Green for showing leadership allowing a gradual reopening and sticking to his guns. Tourism is not a plague and although sensitivity is in order, being out of work or going out of business will not help the healing process. Governor Green has learned lessons from the abject failure of his predecessor’s handling of the pandemic!
Reopen! Some people need to grieve but many others need to work. We all have bills to pay and have family’s to feed. Do not delay the reopening, delaying the opening will only cause more suffering to many more island residence in Maui as well as our other islands too. Get on with reopening and let the healing happen over time, otherwise what is the healing time frame for a reopening, one month, two, a year? Please do not cause more unnecessary suffering by delaying this opening any longer.
I agree with you Joe. Everyones’ journey in life is personal. I had a very tragic chldhood (in my eyes), but could not Ever feel sorry for myself, mourn, etc. I was indeed taught to get back up, not in 2 days or more, but immediately and with a smile. So, I know it takes mental toughness to move ahead, but it did teach me that do whatever it takes to move forward asap, sooner no matter what or the days will turn into years with tragic endings! Today, I am a mentally strong, and happy successful independent soul that can do Anything.
My thoughts are in accord with what some others feel. It’s hard, but it’s beyond time to move forward. *Standard time off for bereavement is typically up to 5 days.* Yes, if you personally lost your home and everything you own on top of a loved one, a couple of weeks would be considered necessary. In the real world, people have to move on. It’s never easy, but waiting for something or someone else to fix things will not resolve anything. Things will never get fixed, that is the reality. People all over the world, in any situation, carry their losses with them for life. Loss is the burden of life; it is not unique to Maui. Continued closures makes things worse, not better. I respect the people of Hawaii and moving forward is how to heal.
“17K signatures …” yada yada.
Bet 99% of them are snowbirds or wealthy transplants from the mainland—if you know what I mean.
They don’t care one bit about “displaced” residents.
But, now, they have Maui virtually all to themselves.
😝
I think he has to go ahead and reopen, right? If hotels and businesses have been closed, they have to prepare, take reservations, etc., and they rely on these opening dates. The same dilemma happened with reopening after Covid.
The council, on the other hand, has to answer to their voters, so they have to at least make some kind of gesture to appease them.
So, my guess is that those 3 hotels will “open” tomorrow. Jury’s out what that opening will look like.
Many travelers sincerely don’t want to intrude. We’re people too, who have experienced death, tragedy and loss. We come from places of destruction, too –places with tornadoes, floods, school shootings, drought, Covid. We can see Hawaii’s sorrow, fragility, its meager infrastructure, its isolation & its unnatural dependency on tourism. Moving Lahaina survivors out of a fragile stability at this time — the hotels where they’ve found refuge and friends — and mingling visitors with grieving, homeless people… Who does this benefit? The governor, mayor and dozens of groups should move into the hotels and set up an ad hoc “government” among the people of Lahaina who can advise them to a better Hawaii.
I firmly believe Governor Green should postpone reopening of West Maui. Honor and respect should be afforded the people of this beautiful area. It appears the Governor is pressured by deep pocket hotels and condos that are losing money as a result of this devastation. This is all business for them and they do not take into account the feelings of those locals involved. That mentality is par for the course with these owners….respect the people’s wishes! They were here before you infested (invested)!
I respect the residents of Maui and will wait as long as they want. I realize a lot of tourists have become the proverbial ugly American and are off putting. I do hope to go see my family there within the next year but not in the Lahaina area. My prayers continue to be with the people of Maui.
I also know that our world has become polarized and not everyone will agree on everything.
“ … not everyone will agree with everything.”
Exactly.
Which means that by your decision to “respect [some of] the residents of Maui” you will, in fact, be disrespecting many other residents and turning your back on them—a possible large majority.
Just saying.
Aloha,
To be blunt, which is out of character for Hawai’i in general, this is about math and not about “feelings”. Whether we all like it or not, all our eggs are mostly in the tourism basket. So, for most of us to make a living, this helping and spending in our community – we need tourists. That’s the reality. The funds will cease, the government will slow payments and SBA will cap payments. Those with “feelings”, which I understand, are not thinking outside of their heart. We need clear heads here. Mahalo
Very well said and also very true. Thank you for your thoughtful albeit blunt comment.
First, gathet the world’s brightest architects who have living sustainability foremost on their minds.
Provide housing: platforms with tents, round yurts, teepees, container housing, compost toilets & community kitchens & gathering places.
If you invite visitors, their presence will compete with resources – housing: hotels, air bnb; transportation: rentals, mechanics, parking;
Food & water.
And the potential to disrupt 8 weeks of stability these grieving people have gathered.
Find another source for income generation for this small island other than tourism..
Reopen. Phased. At the risk of sounding callous, I am not sure where this need for extended grieving comes from. I understand people are angry and mad, and have every right to be. Healing will be up to each individual. Some will get up off the floor and make a go of it — others will wallow in their misery and milk it for all they can. Years ago I was almost killed inside my apartment when it went up in flames. I escaped with the shirt off my back. I had 7-dollars in coin to my name. I’ve been there. It took years to come back from that. But never did I expect people to do things for me because I was harmed. I did not let the disaster define me. BTW – 17K signatures when the population of Lahaina was barely 13K? Really? Reopen.
I would reopen to help the businesses on the test of the island. Not that it’s going to bring everyone back over to visit right away. Why let the whole island go bankrupt for just one small part of it. I’m sure visitors would be responsible and respectful to their concerns. What’s your opinion?
Locals and Hawaiians have posted signs on yahoo stating Tourist No Trespassing. Do you think the 17,000 petitioners will greet you with open arms? I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of this battle between the locals and the governor by going and showing my face. Who knows make the locals mad and they may never welcome any tourists in the future. It’s a darned if I do and darned if I don’t situation. Hopefully no violence or bad things occur when tourist population increases because of some petition.
They absolutely must reopen in order to sustain the island financially. Those who lost homes and lives in the fire can still grieve as much as they feel they need to, and rest, assured that no tourists are going to be anywhere near the burn area. Without tourists, the island is going to die, and the people will be bankrupt. I don’t understand why any resident would not want tourists coming in and providing jobs and income for them and their families.
All this chaos and mumbo jumbo has convinced me to take Hawaii off my vacation list permanently. I lived on Ohau as a child and had been traveling there every couple of years as an adult, but I go on vacation to relax, enjoy sun and beach. While I am always respectful of locals, I am not there to immerse in culture, get involved in local spirituality/paganism or volunteer for anything. Hawaii has become to complicated and needy for me to enjoy. There are many many other locals clamoring for me to come that don’t require me to do any more than enjoy their location. It is unfortunate because it is such a beautiful place but has almost become isolationist and in paty hateful of haoles. Well, you may just get what you wish for.
We waited to see what the people of West Maui wanted ( stay away and let people grieve in peace vs come and spend money to save jobs) deciding to come today when we got word that north West Maui would officially open on Oct 8. Now we see that the City Council doesn’t want West Maui to open. We would honor whatever is wanted if told. We live in Sonoma County where many friends lost their houses in 2017,2019 and 2020 and understand the trauma of loss of jobs added on to loss of home. No easy choices but there are choices
Did everyone stop going to all of the wineries in other parts of Sonoma, and in Napa, St. Helena, and Mendocino? That is the equivalent here.
Yes they did and in Napa it took years for tourists to come back after the earthquake in 2014 and the fires in 2017 as well as upvalley fires since. On top of that was Covid. Napa is just beginning to get back on it’s feet economically. We Napans didn’t necessarily miss the tourists or the traffic, but they are essential to our economy and we welcome them back!
Wow, you’re right. So I guess it will take years in our case as well. I would think that it will take even longer here because the anti-tourist sentiment was already strong before the fires, and people were already steering away from Maui.
Here is an interesting article about the Napa earthquake, followed by the fires, followed by the pandemic:
businessinsider.com/napa-sonoma-california-wine-country-travel-tourism-recovery-2017-wildfires-2020-6#in-2017-over-170-wildfires-raged-across-northern-california-known-as-the-october-fire-siege-the-fires-began-on-october-8-and-burned-across-245000-acres-almost-eight-times-the-size-of-san-francisco-before-they-were-contained-toward-the-end-of-the-month-3
Not all of Napa was damaged by the earthquake. As a matter of fact we were in Maui in 2014 when it happened. We were on the first flight home. Our home was completely trashed but standing. Most of Napa was ok. Same with the wildfires but people stayed away for various reasons mainly because they thought all of Napa was destroyed or damaged. Not at all true but the media made it sound like the entire valley was destroyed. Same with the fires. We were able to rebuild and move on.
Bottom line: No one is helped by staying closed. Those grieving also need to go to work. If nobody gets back to work then nobody benefits. Old Lahaina town is years from full recovery.
Help the people who lost their homes. All the residents of West Maui and the rest of the Island are equally important.
The hotels will not accompany locals much longer nor are they obligated to.
The Hotels & local businesses and the entire Island economy of Maui are at stake.
I am a Maui resident who was evacuated. Yes, grieving is a process toward recovery. But emotional/economic recovery begins with action.
It is time to take action and open up Maui completely
Maui needs tourists to survive.
A fact only about 12% of locals are in denial about.
Re-open ! if local business Across the Island do not get an increase in touri$t$ revenues soon, I have no idea how they survive ! Yes, we must all honor & respect those who lost everything while bringing the economy back-There is no housing for those displaced as there was not Housing Before the Fires-the Red Cross is housing/feeding hundreds still & no one can say for how long. The myriad of needs besides housing includes any local business actually having a business to open profitably.For better or worse, Maui needs visitor$! The Whaler’s Village (outdoor shopping mall in Kaanapali Resort area) opens up Monday, shop owners tell me..but without visitors, I don’t think the locals can sustain them..
Since $17,000 residents signed a petition not to open, I wouldn’t open, especially since politicians said they would do what the locals want.
Not all of those 17,000 are locals. And even if they were there are 165,000 people who live in Maui. Bowing to 17K is not “doing what the people want”. They are just the most vocal.
We’ve all suffered losses, significant losses. How much time is needed? For those who lost family, that’s one thing, for others…
In the worst of losses, I’ve never heard of so many people needing an unlimited amount of time to grieve.
When my mother was killed by my brother (my only sibling) and then himself, in 1987, I went back to NJ to wrap up their affairs. To this day I grieve, always will, but I got on with life. When my barracks burned to the ground in 1964, 700 Marines and our Navy Corpsman lost everything, everything. We went to work that day and every day.
So, I feel the pain of loss, but the best cure is to resume life. To find a way to move on. The 97 lost will be remembered.
If I were the governor, I’d move forward with reopening October 8th…it will take a very long time for those affected by the fire, so having mindful tourist coming back assist with keeping people employed and money coming into the West side. Tourist want to help and
The only way we can do it now is to go to West Maui, spend money and assist in any way we can.
When you discuss the phased openings, a map would be very helpful to those who are not familiar with each and every landmark.
There is no easy choice here and with all the conflicting policies and information coming out folks concerned that its too soon to welcome visitors back need not worry much. The numbers will be way down regardless of any pronouncements of opening up West Maui incrementally or otherwise. Letting the few that want to come now makes sense in an effort to salvage what little may be achieved in boosting the Maui economy. I would currently be hesitant to book West Maui but not any of the other areas around the island. We winter on the BI and it will be interesting to see if arrivals go up as an alternative to Maui or if they go down as all of the islands may be affected by all of this.
We have reservations at Outrigger Kaanapli Beach Hotel from October 31 to November 9. Outrigger is saying they are opening October 9, and yet then we hear they are opening in phases and that would be the last phase open. I really wish someone would decide what is going on. I don’t know whether to cancel hotel and air or plan on going. Can someone help with this?
Rita H
Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone can give you a firm answer.
What does the hotel say? Go by what they say. It really isn’t that complicated.
Common sense open up the rest of the island. It’s residents need to make a living. It looks like FEMA got an increase in funding. $1 billion of that funding needs to go to Maui. Peole need to realize the $700 that was given to those who were impacted is FEMA’s standard funding. The issue I have with FEMA is that there needs to be a fast-track way of rebuilding during these type of disasters and if there is liability found with a company then FEMA can recoup those monies from these companies. Also, FEMA should be able to build funding through distaster sales & property tax. All states and territories pay into this where the tax ranges from 0.10% to 1% for sales tax and, 0.05% to .50% in property tax. Tax rate dependent on area risk.
Not sure what you mean by “fast track way of rebuilding”. I certainly hope that the next buildings will be safer than the ones that burnt. There should be more oversight on how much trash people can keep in their yard. Nobody spoke about the fire hazards that existed besides having electrical wires hanging on wooden poles instead of underground. Let’s rebuild Lahaina better than it was. Otherwise, it’s just begging another tragedy to repeat itself.
It is too late to stop Phase 1 of the reopening. That is this Sunday and visitors are leaving in hours to head to Maui. Stopping them now at the last minute would be a bad thing.
Perhaps consider delaying Phase 2 start to a month from now, and see how this first stage works out.
Do what the people of west Maui clearly indicated to the State but the people of the rest of Maui need to carry on. Open the island you just can’t go to Lahaina and if the businesses north of Lahaina are adversely affected then should continue to be financially helped.
There needs to be some sort of “come and see the rest of Maui not effected by the Lahaina fire” public private message pumped out over every social media and news outlets. Don’t we fund a bureau that’s supposed to advertise Hawaii to the world already? Let’s put those millions of dollars to work,let the people of Lahaina grieve and get the rest of Maui back on track.
I think he should keep his word and not boe to the pressure. From all accounts, there will not be many visitors coming anyway and the few who are shouldn’t have the rug pulled out from under them at the last minute.
We have reservation for Ka’anapali Villas beginning Oct 24 and were called twice last week by the villas to confirm that we’re still coming. We plan to, unless something else happens, I guess. We’ve always been respectful travelers, but even more so now.
They average traveler, Maybe goes to front street once in the week they are there, No reason for this at all,
Absolutely agree! Lahaina made for a fun afternoon, and I’m sad it’s gone. However, it by no means defines Maui. There are so many other things to do and see here. Volcanoes, beaches, hiking, upscale shopping, top-tier restaurants, charming small towns full of arts and crafts…the list goes on.