I wrote a story last week that quoted Hawaii tourism officials as saying it’s a good time to visit Maui.
The gist of the article was that many areas of Maui are open to visitors (west Maui won’t open until October 15), and that local workers need tourism to return so they can keep their jobs.
Many readers agree, but some still don’t like the idea of visitors so soon after the August 8 fire that killed at least 115 people and destroyed almost all of the beautiful town of Lahaina.
Here are some sample comments:
“We will leave Maui for the emergency workers like Maui wants and just visit the Big Island instead this time. The locals don’t want people swimming in the ocean of Maui because it’s disrespectful of the people that died in the water so we don’t want to go to Maui if you’re only allowed to swim in the hotel pool.”
“Speaking as a South Maui resident who has been on island for ten years, coming here as a tourist for over twenty years before that, volunteered on the west side, and spoken to other residents about their opinions every day, I can tell you that I 100% agree with this article. Please DO visit the other parts of Maui but DON’T go to the west side unless with an organized volunteer group. There’s only a small minority of locals who think the entire island should be closed to tourists. In fact, I have never directly spoken to anyone else who has that opinion.”
“No, it’s not time to visit Maui. Why don’t you listen to the people? They don’t want or need us there. They don’t need our tourism dollars and they don’t need us coming in using up all of the limited natural resources. Leave Maui alone and let them heal. I think our government has done enough.”
“I wanted to go over and help with clean up, provide comfort to victims, help catalog, document, etc… and return items to their owners. My visit certainly wouldn’t be too looky loo. It would be to return the love and support that the people of Lahaina showed me when I was grieving a family loss years ago. I would help care for the elderly in shelters, offer anything I could do. I know that beauty will rise from these ashes and they will thrive like never before! My heart hurts on a level I can’t explain for them. They became my ohana (family). If there are opportunities to do this, please let me know!”
“I disagree.. I would not visit Maui now and never again, because the locals don’t want you to. I have loved the island for three + decades, but the resentment is beyond colonization that has always been present.”
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Lahaina, Maui before the fire. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Many readers also commented on the story I posted about some of my Lahaina memories, and on my post about rebuilding the town.
“I’ve wept for days. Whenever the news carried an update on Lahaina. It hits close to home when our family member lost their home. I couldn’t find or contact my GF from our high school days who lived in the area. I feared the worse as the body count kept rising. Tears of joy when i wad finally able get her. Others are still looking for their families. I just want them to be displaced and not found in the ashes. My heart aches for ‘my’ people.”
“Thank you for capturing my experiences too. My first trip to Maui and Oahu was 1973, your memories mirror mine. Such a special place and foundational to my life. Maui needs us then and now. My trip next week is canceled. But my heart is there forever.”
“So sad for our beautiful island Maui. Here on the Big Island we are praying for all of you and though we may be separated by oceans all hearts that you have touched are breaking for your losses. Please know, you are not alone and we are keeping you in our thoughts every minute of the day.
Aloha nui Loa Maui.”
“Beautifully said. Homes, family and dreams, gone. I’m sure as people around the world learn of this devastation, this tragedy, will contribute with Aloha. Maui food bank, check! As a resident of Kauai in this beautiful state of Hawaii I thank you for your meaningful words.”
