Maui Is Open But Should I Go? Saturday Evening Post
In August 2023, fast-moving wildfires devastated Lāhainā, a historic town just minutes from Maui’s beloved Kāʻanapali Beach. Before the fires, the surrounding resort community welcomed more than three million visitors annually. While flames came dangerously close to Kāʻanapali’s resort corridor, the beachfront area itself was untouched. The emotional and economic impact, however, was immediate. Images of destruction spread rapidly across news outlets and social media, prompting travelers to cancel trips and, in many cases, to write Maui off altogether.
For thousands of Maui residents, tourism is more than an industry; it is a livelihood. The sudden drop in visitors, layered on top of the trauma of the fires, proved deeply disruptive. Even as much of the island remained safe and open, uncertainty lingered. Would visiting be appropriate? Would it help — or hinder — recovery?
Read the full article here.
