Kudos to Alaska Airlines for encouraging visitors to Maui, and offering sizeable discounts on air tickets.
The airline says it will offer 40% off on tickets on flights to Maui until Oct. 18, 2023.
The governor of Hawai’i currently has banned travel to West Maui until October 17.. West Maui is home to the fire-ravaged city of Lahaina and popular resorts in Ka’anapali, Kahana, Napili and Kapalua.
Alaska Airlines’ website has a post with a series of interviews with Maui residents and business owners asking visitors to return in a respectful manner to open areas of the island and help boost the economy. They also have links to where people can donate to help fire victims, and where to volunteer.
As someone who dearly loves Hawai’i and Maui, it’s wonderful to see.
The Keanae Peninsula on Maui. PHOTO COURTESY HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY
“In the aftermath of the Maui tragedy, our team at Alaska Airlines remains unwavering in our dedication to support the communities and organizations on the island,” the airline said in a statement. “We are actively working to protect air access to Maui amidst upcoming flight cancellations, recognizing the significant economic challenges residents are currently facing.”
The airlines’ website has comments from five Maui residents = some of them native Hawaiians – who support the idea of respectful visitors returning to an island where some 70 to 80% of the GDP comes from tourism.
“E hele mai a e kipa mai (please come and visit Maui),” says Kalani Pe’a, a three-time Grammy Award winner and Native Hawaiian singer. “As a kānaka (Native Hawaiian) living on Maui, we are now here protecting the cultural landscape and our po‘e (people) of Lāhainā, Kā‘anapali and Nāpili. But, Maui is open in Kīhei, Wailea, Hāna, Wailuku, and Kahului. Small business owners and my loved ones in hospitality depend on tourism, as it is a huge part of Maui’s economic growth. You visiting Maui helps put food on our tables and clothes on our children’s backs. Please come. ‘Āmama, ua noa (it’s a blessing to have you). Please come with humility, love, and aloha during these trying times. Maui is not closed – just the west side is. We are open.”
“Many of us are down to nothing – we’ve lost a lot, but we can recover slowly with the help of responsible tourists and locals returning to Maui,” said Cindy Liu, who owns a Hawaiian barbeque restaurant in Honokowai, on West Maui. “We want our restaurant to thrive again so that we can provide for our community and our family.”
Maui Tourism Map, showing which areas are open for respectful tourism.
Hollywood star and Hawai’i native Jason Momoa at first told people to stay away from Maui. But he now says it’s “an important time to come and be a part of our community.” He also reposted a video of Maui on his Instagram page with the words, “I recently had the opportunity to produce this film for the people of Maui welcoming visitors, and the truth is Maui needs them more than ever! Help local businesses & help Lahaina by visiting Maui!”
Momoa noted that Lahaina and West Maui remain closed, but the rest of Maui is open.
Some locals and Native Hawaiians find it disturbing to have visitors in such a painful time. I understand that, which is why I’ve repeatedly used the word “respectful” here.
It’s a time for quiet visits to Maui. Go to the beach, but don’t go shouting and screaming “Isn’t this great!” Don’t go out and dance the night away and shake and shimmy. There’s time for that later, but not now.
I wrote a story the other day where a top official from the Hawai’i Tourism Authority suggested it’s a good time for visitors to support local businesses, versus shopping at Costco or drinking your morning coffee at Starbucks. That’s also a good point.
Also, if you can, PLEASE donate or, if you go to Maui, volunteer a day or part of a day to a local charity.
I can’t find the information right now, but I read last night that some hotels in the Wailea area are offering discounted rooms over the next few weeks.
Much aloha to all my friends on Maui and across Hawai’i. You might disagree with my approach, and I respect that. Reasonable people can have different opinions. Please know that my suggestions come from someone with a deep and long-lasting respect for your islands and your culture.
Mahalo nui loa.
AIR CANADA TRIMMING CALGARY FLIGHTS
Calgary International Airport. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Air Canada is cutting flights from Calgary to Ottawa, Halifax, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Cancun and Frankfurt.
Canadian Press reports the cuts will take place in late October as Canada’s largest airline deals with pilot shortages and other issues, including a supply chain problem that has impacted aircraft maintenance.
Air Canada said it will continue to operate flights between Calgary and other cities, including London (England) and, presumably, Toronto and Vancouver.
Calgary-based WestJet last year announced a reduction in capacity in Eastern Canada and said it would concentrate future growth in the west.
Air Canada told Canadian Press that its winter 2023-2024 network will be reduced by 4.6% from what was previously planned. But that still represents a 12% increase in network size from last year, officials said.
