[M5Rick]

Probably wait until the damage is cleared up?

[P1]

"Why would anyone stay in a hotel?"

[XutvJet]

This is a very complicated subject that has deep roots going back to the illegal, yes illegal (the US government apologized for this back in the 1990s), annexation of Hawaii. A vast majority of native Hawaiians, which there aren't many anymore, do not want tourists/white man on the islands. Disasters like this help foster this as the native population is very distrusting of the government and I don't blame them for thinking this. So much as been taken and continues to be taken. Tourism is about 25% of Maui's economy. It might not sound like a whole lot, but without the tourism, the island would be in full blown extreme poverty and look like Haiti. If the US didn't annex Hawaii, the English would likely have, and if they didn't, the Japanese would have attempted an invasion during WWII and if they were successful, would have likely wiped out a majority of the population. Look at what the Japanese did to hundred of thousands of Chinese civilians during the Second Sino-Japanese War between the late 1930s-mid 1940s. That would have been Hawaii. Long story short, the islands are screwed either way.

About 1,400 people in Maui, primarily from the Lahaina area, have been displaced and are living in hotel rooms and AirBnBs. The Lahaina area was the impacted population area associated with the fire. There is a lot of anger brewing about the response from the lack of fire water hydrant pressure, the electric utility not turning off the powerlines (possible source of the fires), warning sirens not sounded, etc. People are pissed and I would be too as it certainly appears to me that this is colossal failure of government to protect it's citizens combined with a long drought and a rare weather event.

So, would I visit Maui RIGHT NOW? No. The aloha vibe is wrecked at the moment, natives are pissed, people are sad, roads are likely packed with emergency response personnel, supply and equipment runs from the metro areas to Lahaina. There will be vivid reminders of what recently happened in every aspect of the trip and many people you're dealing with will likely be a bit cold. Visit a few months from now? Sure. The sad reality is most people in the US/world will have forgotten about this within a couple of months and Maui is going to need the tourism money....badly.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Maui is going to need the tourism money....badly.

A (possibly) useful tidbit that came across my desk yesterday:

"in 2019 the Maui Economic Development Board reckoned that 51% of workers in the county were employed by the tourism industry."

The Economist 8-19-2023

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

This is a very complicated subject that has deep roots going back to the illegal, yes illegal (the US government apologized for this back in the 1990s), annexation of Hawaii. A vast majority of native Hawaiians, which there aren't many anymore, do not want tourists/white man on the islands. Disasters like this help foster this as the native population is very distrusting of the government and I don't blame them for thinking this. So much as been taken and continues to be taken. Tourism is about 25% of Maui's economy. It might not sound like a whole lot, but without the tourism, the island would be in full blown extreme poverty and look like Haiti. If the US didn't annex Hawaii, the English would likely have, and if they didn't, the Japanese would have attempted an invasion during WWII and if they were successful, would have likely wiped out a majority of the population. Look at what the Japanese did to hundred of thousands of Chinese civilians during the Second Sino-Japanese War between the late 1930s-mid 1940s. That would have been Hawaii. Long story short, the islands are screwed either way.

About 1,400 people in Maui, primarily from the Lahaina area, have been displaced and are living in hotel rooms and AirBnBs. The Lahaina area was the impacted population area associated with the fire. There is a lot of anger brewing about the response from the lack of fire water hydrant pressure, the electric utility not turning off the powerlines (possible source of the fires), warning sirens not sounded, etc. People are pissed and I would be too as it certainly appears to me that this is colossal failure of government to protect it's citizens combined with a long drought and a rare weather event.

So, would I visit Maui RIGHT NOW? No. The aloha vibe is wrecked at the moment, natives are pissed, people are sad, roads are likely packed with emergency response personnel, supply and equipment runs from the metro areas to Lahaina. There will be vivid reminders of what recently happened in every aspect of the trip and many people you're dealing with will likely be a bit cold. Visit a few months from now? Sure. The sad reality is most people in the US/world will have forgotten about this within a couple of months and Maui is going to need the tourism money....badly.

A very rational post that I agree with.

[Our03z4]

There goes all of our opinions I guess.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/25/hawa...ims-surge.html

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

There goes all of our opinions I guess.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/25/hawa...ims-surge.html

LOL that didn't take long... Idiots.

[TboneS54]

Just because they need/want the tourism still doesn't mean it's the best idea to go on your vacation there now.

If so inclined, you could donate some $. Vacation shouldn't be a means to help support an area, let it just be for you and your family for a fun, stress free experience IMO.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

There goes all of our opinions I guess.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/25/hawa...ims-surge.html

This was totally predictable and understandable when Hawaii is faced with a large number of unemployment claims and only needs customers to return to forego the cost.

See 2 posts above yours for the reason why this move was expected by informed observers; 51% is fairly startling, even for those of us who have visited Maui.