As West Maui gears up to reopen to visitors — just two months after deadly wildfires ripped through the area — opinion is divided among those who want time to come to terms with the loss and those who depend on tourism to survive.
Thousands of buildings were destroyed and 97 lives lost in early August when deadly fires swept through West Maui and burned the historic town of Lahaina almost to the ground.
However, the area contributes 15% of the state’s tourism revenue, and declining in visitors caused an estimated loss of state tax revenue between $11 million to $13 million each day.
“I know families who want to go back to work, and they all work in the hotel industry,” Molokai resident Bridget Mowat told the Maui County Council on Oct. 6.
‘It’s not what they want… it’s what they need. They need work.’
Homes were burned to the ground and 97 died in early August when wildfires tore through West Maui and destroyed the historic town of Lahaina.
Protesters gathered on October 3 to deliver a petition to Governor Josh Green, urging him to delay reopening the devastated area to tourists.
West Maui contributes 15% of the state’s tourism revenue, and the decline in visitors has caused a multi-million loss in state tax revenue each day.
Opinions are divided between those who want time to process the loss of possessions and loved ones and those who raise to return to work in the hospitality sector
That day the council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution urging Hawaii Governor Josh Green to delay the reopening of West Maui to tourism.
The governor had previously announced that state officials were looking to reopen West Maui starting Oct. 8.
While acknowledging that there is no “right time” to welcome tourists back, Green said, “I can say that if we support Maui’s economy and keep our people employed, they will heal faster and be able to continue to can afford to live on Maui.’
The Council heard from Pamela Tumpap, the president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, who said economic damage to Maui could be limited by helping the tourism industry while providing humanitarian relief.
“Relief efforts are just not coming fast enough for many businesses, and they are seeing the negative impacts due to visitor losses,” she explained.
Just under 8,800 people are estimated to be out of work on the island, and nearly 8,000 people who lost their homes are staying in temporary accommodation.
The resolution follows a roughly 10-hour Board Committee meeting on Sept. 27 where members heard concerns from hundreds of West Maui residents.
The document reads in part: ‘The reopening of West Maui to tourism … poses a significant challenge to the emotional well-being and preparedness of our community members, especially those directly affected by the wildfires.’
It says the recovery process ‘requires time, compassion and a supportive environment that allows residents to heal, rebuild and regain a sense of normalcy,’ and highlights concerns that tensions could arise between stressed residents and tourists – a tensions that could damage Hawaii’s welcoming reputation. .
Councilor Keani Rawlins-Fernandez described Governor Green as having ‘cracked the whip’ by sending West Maui residents back to work.
She described the decision to reopen as ‘not trauma-informed’ and one that was inconsiderate of those suffering.
Rawlins-Fernandez identified a spectrum of tourists ranging from ‘incredible people, to the uneducated, to the downright deplorable’ who treated ‘locals as roadside attractions’.
But she also recognized the desire – and need – of others to return to work.
The governor previously announced plans to reopen West Maui starting Oct. 8
Some fear tourists may be oblivious to the trauma residents are still trying to process, like Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin (pictured)
A petition from community advocacy group Lahaina Strong garnered 11,141 signatures before being hand-delivered to Gov. Green’s office on Oct. 3. By the weekend, the number had grown to nearly 17,000.
Demands included stabilizing housing and rents for displaced residents, ensuring education for children and marketing other parts of Maui to tourists — points touched on during Tuesday’s protest.
Gathering outside Hawaii’s state capitol, protesters waved signs that read “Let Lahaina Heal” and “Delay the reopening of West Maui.”
Speakers acknowledged the indispensable role tourism played in the economy, but stressed that many survivors were not ready to open their homes to visitors, especially those still struggling with the fear of losing their belongings and loved ones .
Councilor Tamara Paltin opened her remarks by saying: ‘The majority of people I speak to, myself included, still can’t sleep through the night. The majority of people in West Maui, our children are not in school.’
She said she sent a message to the governor asking him to stop letting tourists back when she first learned of the proposal on Sept. 7.
‘So many people I’ve spoken to have had tourists stick cameras in their faces and demand to be told what the experience is like if they’ve lost their home. Nobody is in the headspace to handle it politely,’ she said.
Paltin urged elected officials to open a dialogue with the people of West Maui to set benchmarks for reopening rather than “a date you pick off the calendar.”
Green’s absence from the event fueled protesters’ frustration.
‘All the people are really asking for is that back-and-forth dialogue in a public setting. I don’t think it’s too much to ask,” Paltin told reporters from KHON 2.
Lahaina native Paele Kiakona emphasized the trauma caused by the fires – and that grief was still fresh for many.
“Obviously our business benefits from the presence of tourism,” he began.
‘For myself personally, I’m not ready to go back. I also don’t want the conversation to be, “Oh, did you lose your house? How were you displaced in this wildfire?” And that’s for myself.
‘Imagine someone else who doesn’t have the metal stability, as they could be in even tougher times. And someone who consistently reminds you of the disaster you just went through and reminds you of that trauma.
“That’s where we come in with that plea that so many of us are not ready,” he said. ‘Everything in Lahaina is very disorganized right now. At every level. So adding tourist visitors coming to Lahaina adds insult to injury.’
After the speakers made their remarks, a chant began: ‘Stop West Maui! Now is not the time!’
On October 6, the Maui County Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution urging the governor to delay the reopening of West Maui to tourism
Green previously said, ‘I can say that if we support Maui’s economy and keep our people employed, they will heal faster and be able to continue to be able to afford to live on Maui’
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen provided his own statement following the adoption of the resolution.
In a video posted on the County of Maui Facebook page Saturday, Mayor Bissen stood in front of a peaceful beach backdrop.
“I know we are still grieving and it feels too soon, but the reality is that there are those in our community who are ready to go back to work,” he said. “Bills must be paid.”
The mayor explained that a few hotels would welcome tourists as part of a “phased reopening” disrupted by the proximity of Lahaina.
The initial phase area runs from the Kapalua Resort to Kahana Villa. Two phases closer to Lahaina will follow with unspecified timing.
Bissen explained that his office will work with community partners to ensure that those displaced by the fires are not pushed out of temporary housing to make way for tourists.
He also referred to the launch of an education campaign to ensure that visitors will treat the island with respect.
“And together we will make our way to restore and rebuild the Maui we want for our families and our children,” the mayor said.
West Maui set to reopen to tourists two months after wildfires killed 97 leaving locals struggling over reopening economy
