Hawaii Urges Tourists to Avoid Maui as Wildfire Devastation Continues
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Hawaii officials are urging tourists to avoid traveling to Maui as the island faces a long recovery from a devastating wildfire that has demolished a historic town and claimed the lives of over 90 people.
Since the devastation in Lahaina became clear on Wednesday, approximately 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of Kahului Airport in West Maui, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The agency released a statement late Saturday, stating that the focus should be on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses. Tourists are encouraged to visit Hawaii’s other islands.
Governor Josh Green has announced that 500 hotel rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced, while an additional 500 hotel rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Some hotels will continue with normal business operations to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy.
The state is also working with Airbnb to ensure that rental homes can be made available for locals. Green hopes that the company will be able to provide three- to nine-month rentals for those who have lost their homes.
As the death toll in Lahaina continues to rise, authorities have warned that the effort to find and identify the dead is still in its early stages. The wildfire has already become the deadliest in the United States in over a century.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier stated on Saturday that crews with cadaver dogs have only covered 3% of the search area. He emphasized that the number of dead is likely to increase, as the full extent of the tragedy is still unknown.
Federal emergency workers are currently searching through the charred remains of Lahaina, marking the ruins of homes with a bright orange “X” to indicate an initial search, and ”HR” when human remains are found.
Families are anxiously awaiting news about their missing loved ones. Lylas Kanemoto, who is awaiting word about her cousin Glen Yoshino, expressed her fears and hopes, stating, “We are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.” Family members are submitting DNA samples to help identify any remains.
The devastation in West Maui is extensive, with at least 2,200 buildings damaged or destroyed, mostly residential. The total damage across the island is estimated to be close to $6 billion.
Meanwhile, two other fires are burning on Maui, one in the Kihei area and another in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. No fatalities have been reported from these blazes, but the Upcountry fire has affected 544 structures, mostly homes.
As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, according to county officials. J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, has been providing meals for approximately 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been displaced by the fire. His own family is staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than their home in Lahaina.
The cause of the wildfires is still under investigation. The fires are Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. The state’s firefighting efforts may have been hindered by limited staff and equipment.
Residents and officials are now focused on the recovery and rebuilding process, as they come to terms with the immense loss and heartbreak caused by the wildfire.Wildfire Devastates Historic Town in Maui, Hawaii
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — A devastating wildfire in Maui, Hawaii has prompted officials to urge tourists to avoid traveling to the island of Maui. The fire has destroyed a historic town and claimed the lives of over 90 people.
Since the destruction in Lahaina became apparent on Wednesday, approximately 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of Kahului Airport in West Maui, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The agency released a statement on Saturday, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to focus on the recovery of residents who have been forced to evacuate their homes and businesses. Tourists are encouraged to visit Hawaii’s other islands.
Governor Josh Green has announced that 500 hotel rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced, while an additional 500 hotel rooms will be reserved for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Some hotels will continue with normal operations to support local jobs and sustain the economy.
The state is also working with Airbnb to provide rental homes for locals who have lost their homes. Green hopes that the company will be able to offer three- to nine-month rentals for those in need.
As the death toll in Lahaina rises to 93, authorities have warned that the search and identification process is still in its early stages. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier stated that only 3% of the search area has been covered by crews with cadaver dogs. He anticipates that the number of casualties will continue to increase, as the full extent of the tragedy is yet to be determined.
Federal emergency workers are currently combing through the charred remains of Lahaina, marking the ruins of homes with a bright orange “X” to indicate an initial search, and “HR” when human remains are found.
Families are anxiously awaiting news about their missing loved ones. Lylas Kanemoto, who is awaiting word about her cousin Glen Yoshino, fears the worst. The family has already lost four other relatives in the fire.
The wildfire has caused extensive damage, with at least 2,200 buildings destroyed or damaged in West Maui. The total estimated damage across the island is close to $6 billion.
In addition to the devastating fire in Lahaina, two other fires are burning on Maui: one in the Kihei area and another in the mountainous Upcountry region. No fatalities have been reported from these blazes.
The Upcountry fire has affected 544 structures, mostly homes, according to Governor Green. County officials have stated that as many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter.
Amidst the tragedy, the community has come together to support one another. J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, has been providing meals for approximately 200 hotel employees and their families who have been displaced by the fire. Maui water officials have issued warnings to residents about contaminated running water and advised them to take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid chemical vapor exposure.
The cause of the wildfires is currently under investigation. These fires mark Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing the death toll of a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. The devastation caused by the fire is a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness and the need for continued efforts to mitigate the impact of wildfires in vulnerable areas.
How are the state’s firefighting efforts being affected by limited staff and equipment
Is still unknown.
Federal emergency workers are currently searching through the charred remains of Lahaina, marking the ruins of homes with a bright orange “X” to indicate an initial search, and “HR” when human remains are found.
Families are anxiously awaiting news about their missing loved ones. Lylas Kanemoto, who is awaiting word about her cousin Glen Yoshino, expressed her fears and hopes, stating, ”We are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.” Family members are submitting DNA samples to assist in the identification process.
The devastation in West Maui is extensive, with at least 2,200 buildings damaged or destroyed, mostly residential. The estimated total damage across the island is close to $6 billion.
Meanwhile, two other fires are burning on Maui, one in the Kihei area and another in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. No fatalities have been reported from these blazes, but the Upcountry fire has affected 544 structures, mainly homes.
As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, according to county officials. J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, has been providing meals for approximately 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been displaced by the fire. His own family is staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than their home in Lahaina.
The cause of the wildfires is still under investigation. The fires are Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. The state’s firefighting efforts may have been hindered by limited staff and equipment.
Residents and officials are now focused on the recovery and rebuilding process, as they come to terms with the immense loss and heartbreak caused by the wildfire.
This is devastating news for Maui. Thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the wildfire. Stay safe, everyone.
It’s heartbreaking to see the beautiful island of Maui facing such destruction. Tourists should respect the call to avoid the area and support the local community in their recovery efforts.