SUNRISE AT HALEAKALA. A NEW DAY…photo taken by Jeannie Kong-Evarts 2023
Maui has Reopened After The Fire and What You Need To Know
This post is a bit more personal than my usual posts. You might have noticed it has taken me a while to write but I am back at it in full force. It has taken me a while not because I have not been working but because everything else needed so much attention after the fire in Lahaina. For those who may not be aware, our beloved historical town of Lahaina and also areas of Upcountry was devasted by fires on August 8, 2023. Lives and homes were taken and our hearts…our hearts have been so tremendously shocked and hurt. That night of the fire was unlike any other. I won’t go into detail as you can find it in new articles or social media but needless to say, I will never forget that night.
It has been a few months now and recovery has been underway. The island as a whole has been affected dramatically in so many ways; one being economically due to a major reduction in tourism. There were so many conflicting messages/info on social media about traveling to Maui that I think visitors got very confused.VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: KNOWING WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON IN MAUI AND THEN READING SOME OF THE POSTS BEING CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WAS STRONG PROOF TO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ/SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA! SO MANY OF THE POSTS WERE FROM PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T EVEN LIVE HERE. REMEMBER SOCIAL MEDIA TENDS TO ATTRACT ALOT OF NEGATIVE AND CLICK BAIT TYPE OF OPINIONS FAR MORE THAN HELPFUL OPINIONS (this is just my opinion but I bet you can find studies that would support my opinion). So outside of the affected areas (mostly in the Lahaiana area) the rest of the Maui Island is open to visitors.
So if you are going to be traveling to Maui, there are some helpful and meaningful tips being presented by Maui County along with the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Below is a summary excerpt from their email but click on the link for the full brochure.
Some of their travel tips:
- Make sure you’ve packed two things on a trip: patience and grace. Expect to wait for longer than you’re used to for food or other services.
- Support local businesses. Your visit will support Maui businesses that rely on tourism for their families’ livelihood. Visit MauiNuiFirst.com for various ways to eat, shop, play, stay and support local.
- Hosting uninvited volunteers in direct recovery work may be difficult at this time. Visit MauiNuiStrong.info for efforts welcoming volunteers and contributions.
- Do not enter Lahaina Town or take photos of the area, even from afar. The area is restricted because conditions can be hazardous to your health. Respect the privacy of survivors and the dignity of those who lost their lives.
- Do not ask about a resident’s personal experience with the disaster. While a question such as “Were you impacted by the fire?” may be intended to be supportive, many survivors are not ready to share their experiences with others.
- If you come across a memorial service or other private gathering, leave the area immediately. Respect the gathered survivors and residents — do not take photos or videos.
Visit the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) Malama Maui Toolkit to View and Download to view and download these resources along with an updated map. CLICK HERE
The County of Maui also launched a website to find local businesses. MauiNuiFirst.com
Here is a video from HTA.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT WITH KIND WORDS/PRAYERS OF SUPPORT AND COMPASSION AND ALSO WHO HAVE HELPED EITHER FINANCIALLY AND/OR PHYSICALLY… THANK YOU. YOUR SUPPORT HAS MEANT SO MUCH!!! THIS ISLAND MAY SEEM JUST LIKE A TROPICAL PLAYGROUND WITH LIGHT AND FUN AMENITIES BUT IT IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE MAKE A LIVING, LEARN, RAISE THEIR FAMILIES, AND BECOME A MEANINGFUL PART OF OUR VITAL PLANET.
BREATHE ALOHA, THINK ALOHA, ACT ALOHA, SPREAD ALOHA….
Thank you and A Hui Hou… (until we meet again)
Jeannie Kong-Evarts
