Jan Wesner Childs
A handful of hotels reopened Sunday in West Maui, Hawaii, despite pleas from some Lahaina wildfire survivors hoping to delay the return of tourism.
The move came two months after the fire fueled by high winds and dry conditions leveled most of historic Lahaina, killing at least 98 people and destroying or damaging more than 3,000 homes, businesses and other buildings.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen in a video message released Saturday stressed the difficulties of the situation.
“I know we are still grieving, and it feels too soon. But the reality is there are those in our community who are ready to get back to work. Bills need to be paid, keiki have needs and our kupuna face continued medical care,” Bissen said, using the Hawaiian words for children and elders.
(MORE: 1,200 Pets Reported Lost After Lahaina Wildfire)
More than 3,500 West Maui residents signed a petition delivered to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green last week, asking the state to say "not yet" to tourists in the region surrounding Lahaina.
In response, Green told Hawaii News Now that more than 8,700 people were left jobless after the fire, and tourism is key to Maui's economy.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, is viewed Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The resort reopened on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, as the first phase for tourism returning to West Maui.Some survivors worry tourists will intrude at a time when they are still grieving and just beginning to embark on the long road to recovery.
(MORE: Veteran Firefighter Describes Search Through Ashes of Maui Fires)
A second video released Saturday by Maui County implored visitors to be mindful of all the region has been through.
"As you visit our home, we ask for your respect and understanding, as so much has changed," Hokulani Holt, a local cultural leader and educator, said in the video. "You may experience some of these changes for yourself from our children who lost their schools and are being shuffled between various locations throughout the island, to the families who lost everything, now staying in the same resorts where you may be."
Maui tourism officials said the reopening was expected to be slow and they weren't anticipating a huge influx of visitors right away.
Four of the five hotels that reopened over the weekend are in the northernmost section of West Maui, about 7 to 10 miles from the hardest hit section of Lahaina.
Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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