Hawaii Travel Update: Mayor Makes Plea To Residents, Visitors In New Video as West Maui Reopens To Tourism

Yesterday on October 8th, exactly two months after a wildfire destroyed the town of Lahaina, visitors were officially welcomed back to parts of Maui’s west coast.

The key word in that last sentence is “parts.” Originally, the entirety of Maui’s west coast was set to open yesterday, per plans set forth by Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green in early September (except for Lahaina, which will be closed indefinitely).

Then, in late September, Maui’s Mayor Richard Bissen stepped in and announced that the west coast would undergo a phased reopening in order to give displaced residents living in hotels more time to find long-term lodging, among other reasons.

Yesterday, Phase 1 of Mayor Bissen’s plan took effect, allowing hotels in Kapalua to reopen. You can read the full details of which hotels are open, and when others in Kaanapali will open, here.

To go along with the reopening, two new videos were released by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. Both videos are aimed at establishing some ground rules for people visiting the area, as well as addressing some on-going concerns from residents.

Video 1 – Mayor Bissen Speaks to Residents

Mayor Bissen released a short, 90-second video that makes a plea to residents about why West Maui needs to begin reopening in the face of a petition calling for its delay.

“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 (kids) have needs, and our kapuna face continued medical care,” the Mayor begins.

Bissen said that he and his staff are working directly with the visitor industry to “ensure tourists are educated before they come.”

The video comes at a time when many residents feel it is too soon to have visitors return to West Maui due to various on-going struggles. You can read the debate on both sides here.

Video 2 – Maui Community Members Speak to Tourists

The part about educating visitors was expanded upon in a second video that featured several members of the Maui community speaking directly to tourists about what they should expect and how they should behave when visiting West Maui.

It asks visitors to recognize the pain and suffering that is still present on Maui, including displaced residents staying in hotels, children being bused to different schools, and the suffering of the people in general.

Of note is that, while many West Maui hotels are reopening, the community members advise visitors to explore other parts of the island, including a rainforest adventure in Hana, farmer’s markets in Upcountry Maui, and dining in Wailea.

They specifically ask people to stay away from Lahaina and avoid taking/posting insensitive photos. Other local news outlets offered similar advice.

At its end, the video directs people to the Maui New Strong website for information on how to help support the local community while on island. It also invited folks to prioritize locally-owned businesses via the resources on Maui Nui First.

If you’re visiting Maui in the near future, we recommend watching both videos to get a sense of the atmosphere and to learn more about how your visit can be mutually beneficial.