The Hawaii Tourism Authority has issued a travel information update concerning the Western section of the island of Maui, around the historic town of Lahaina, which was struck by a devastating wildfire last week.
Access to West Maui is currently restricted for safety reasons, according to Travel Pulse.
The update said visitors had heeded the call to leave the island, and emphasised the need for the islands resources to be chanelled towards relief efforts. It said travel to the other Hawaiian islands is still possible. Travellers heading to other parts of Maui, including Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea and Mākena, should contact their chosen accommodation to see if they are still open for business.
Hotels in West Maui have stopped booking future reservations until power, water and communications infrastructure is restored. Over 1 000 people are being housed in West Maui hotels. Hotels are now housing their employees and their families, other evacuees and first responders. Holiday house owners and those with available spaces are being encouraged to help house displaced residents.
Airbnb.org says its hosts will provide free, temporary accommodation to 1 000 displaced people.
The major airlines that fly to Kahului Airport are reported to be operating flexible change and cancellation policies for impacted travellers.
A week after the fire, many residents remained with intermittent power, unreliable cellphone service and uncertainty over where they might get assistance.
A great deal of tourism infrastructure has been incinerated and will have to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Tourism-dependant
Maui has, over the years, become a tourism-dependent island.
But Reuters reports that the sight of tourists snorkelling and enjoying the beaches at Lahana, (where searchers are trawling the adjacent buildings for the bodies of victims) has sparked anger in the local community.
Other residents have welcomed the remaining trickle of tourists . Maui’s tourism is responsible for around 80% of GDP, and some players feel the risks associated with banning tourism should be weighed against the livelihood losses.
"All of our people will need to survive, and we can't afford to have no jobs or no future for our children," Hawaii Governor Josh Green said. "When you restrict any travel to a region, you really devastate its own local residents in many ways more than anyone else."
"Maui is not closed," Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at a weekend press conference alongside the governor. "Many of our residents make their living off of tourism."
