Articles for West Maui

A year after Maui’s deadly fires, the hills are still filled with flammable grass
4 months, 2 weeks ago

A year after Maui’s deadly fires, the hills are still filled with flammable grass

NPR  

A year after Maui’s deadly fires, the hills are still filled with flammable grass toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images LAHAINA, Hawaii — There’s heavy machinery — a large mower and excavator — parked in Gordon Firestein’s neighborhood, just south of Lahaina. “So it’s a high priority for us to deal with the vegetation, especially near the roads.” toggle caption Lauren …

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Maui’s economy needs tourists. Can they visit without compounding wildfire trauma?
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Maui’s economy needs tourists. Can they visit without compounding wildfire trauma?

Associated Press  

LAHAINA, Hawaii — The restaurant where Katie Austin was a server burned in the wildfire that devastated Hawaii’s historic town of Lahaina this summer. “It was soul-sucking.” Hawaii’s governor and mayor invited tourists back to the west side of Maui months after the Aug. 8 fire killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. Last week, hundreds …

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Maui’s economy needs tourists. Can they visit without compounding wildfire trauma?
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Maui’s economy needs tourists. Can they visit without compounding wildfire trauma?

LA Times  

Tourists get off of a Trilogy Excursions boat arriving on Kaanapali Beach in front of a flag of Hawaii planted in the sand Dec. 6 in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hawaii’s governor and mayor invited tourists back to the west side of Maui months after the Aug. 8 fire killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. Last week, …

Housing Work West Visit Maui Hawaii Tourists
Mayor says West Maui to reopen to tourism on Nov. 1 after fire and workers are ready to return
1 year, 2 months ago

Mayor says West Maui to reopen to tourism on Nov. 1 after fire and workers are ready to return

Associated Press  

HONOLULU — All of West Maui except for burned-out sections of historic Lahaina will reopen to tourism on Nov. 1 following the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than century, the mayor of Maui County said Monday. Josh Green last month declared West Maui would officially reopen to tourism on Oct. 8 to bring back badly needed jobs and help the …

West Mayor Maui Lahaina Bissen West Maui
‘Fresh out of aloha.’ As tourists return to West Maui, some Hawaiians rethink the aloha spirit
1 year, 2 months ago

‘Fresh out of aloha.’ As tourists return to West Maui, some Hawaiians rethink the aloha spirit

LA Times  

Paele Kiakona is not ready to go back to work. My whole town died.” The 28-year-old Hawaii native who worked as a bartender at a farm-to-table restaurant north of Lahaina is wary of fielding questions, including what he says is now the ultimate dreaded icebreaker: “Did you lose your house in the fire?” In this moment, he said, visitors aren’t …

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Tourism resumes in West Maui near Lahaina as hotels and timeshare properties welcome visitors
1 year, 2 months ago

Tourism resumes in West Maui near Lahaina as hotels and timeshare properties welcome visitors

Associated Press  

HONOLULU — The area around the Maui town largely destroyed by wildfire two months ago began welcoming back travelers on Sunday after the mayor and Hawaii’s governor pushed ahead to restart tourism to boost the economy despite opposition from some Lahaina residents. Lisa Paulson, executive director of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association, said her organization’s surveys indicated the number …

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Lahaina residents deliver petition asking Hawaii governor to delay tourism reopening
1 year, 2 months ago

Lahaina residents deliver petition asking Hawaii governor to delay tourism reopening

Associated Press  

HONOLULU — Residents from fire-stricken Lahaina on Tuesday delivered a petition asking Hawaii Gov. “Our grief is still fresh and our losses too profound.” Tamara Paltin, who represents Lahaina on the Maui County Council, said two months may seem like a long time, but she noted Lahaina residents didn’t have reliable cellphone service or internet for the first month after …

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Hawaii economists say Lahaina locals could be priced out of rebuilt town without zoning changes
1 year, 3 months ago

Hawaii economists say Lahaina locals could be priced out of rebuilt town without zoning changes

Associated Press  

HONOLULU — Residents who survived the wildfire that leveled the Hawaii town of Lahaina might not be able to afford to live there after it is rebuilt unless officials alter the zoning laws and make other changes, economists warned Friday. “The risk is very real,″ Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, told a virtual …

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Maui to welcome back tourists next month under a new wildfire emergency rule
1 year, 3 months ago

Maui to welcome back tourists next month under a new wildfire emergency rule

Hindustan Times  

Most of West Maui will officially reopen to travellers Oct. 8 under a new wildfire emergency proclamation signed on Friday by Hawaii Gov. Maui to welcome back tourists next month under a new wildfire emergency rule Nonessential travel to much of the island's western coastline has been strongly discouraged since devastating wildfires killed at least 115 people in the historic …

Maui Hawaii West Maui
Most of West Maui will welcome back visitors next month under a new wildfire emergency proclamation
1 year, 3 months ago

Most of West Maui will welcome back visitors next month under a new wildfire emergency proclamation

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Most of West Maui will …

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Most of West Maui will welcome back visitors next month under a new wildfire emergency proclamation
1 year, 3 months ago

Most of West Maui will welcome back visitors next month under a new wildfire emergency proclamation

Associated Press  

HONOLULU — Most of West Maui will officially reopen to travelers Oct. 8 under a new wildfire emergency proclamation signed on Friday by Hawaii Gov. Nonessential travel to much of the island’s western coastline has been strongly discouraged since devastating wildfires killed at least 115 people in the historic town of Lahaina last month. State tourism officials initially urged travelers …

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Maui in Hawaii beckons tourists to stave off economic disaster after wildfires
1 year, 3 months ago

Maui in Hawaii beckons tourists to stave off economic disaster after wildfires

Hindustan Times  

Richie Olsten has been in Maui's helicopter tour business for a half century, so long he's developed a barometer for the tourism-dependent economy: rental cars parked at the island's airport. Hannemann called the situation “pretty grim.” One of Maui's most venerable restaurants, Hali'imaile General Store, laid off about 30 workers and temporarily closed after business shrank to one-tenth of pre-fire …

Tourism West State Maui Hawaii Lahaina Swain
Maui beckons tourists, and their dollars, to stave off economic disaster after wildfires
1 year, 3 months ago

Maui beckons tourists, and their dollars, to stave off economic disaster after wildfires

Associated Press  

KAHULUI, Hawaii — Richie Olsten has been in Maui’s helicopter tour business for a half century, so long he’s developed a barometer for the tourism-dependent economy: rental cars parked at the island’s airport. Hannemann called the situation “pretty grim.” One of Maui’s most venerable restaurants, Hali’imaile General Store, laid off about 30 workers and temporarily closed after business shrank to …

Tourism West State Maui Hawaii Lahaina Swain
Fearing economic disaster, Maui wants tourists to return. But feelings are complicated
1 year, 3 months ago

Fearing economic disaster, Maui wants tourists to return. But feelings are complicated

LA Times  

The line at Paia Fish Market usually extends so far down the main drag that staffers can’t see the end of it through their front window. “Today is the lowest it’s been so far,” said Lehua Jimenez, 21, a cashier at the popular restaurant in Paia — a windsurfing destination on Maui’s North Shore. Trisha Kehaulani Watson, ‘Āina Momona’s co-founder, …

Tourism Economic West State Island Visitors Hawaiian
Should you visit Maui right now? What locals want from tourists as the island rebuilds
1 year, 3 months ago

Should you visit Maui right now? What locals want from tourists as the island rebuilds

LA Times  

A couple walks along the beach in Kihei, Hawaii, just over a week after wildfires hit West Maui. Don’t “rubberneck” around the affected communities, said Kainoa Horcajo, a cultural consultant and organizer with mutual aid organization Maui Rapid Response. Everyone is emotional and hurt.” Patronize small businesses and tip well “Support the economy by shopping at local stores, restaurants, food …

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Maui fires renew centuries-old tensions over water rights. The streams are sacred to Hawaiians
1 year, 4 months ago

Maui fires renew centuries-old tensions over water rights. The streams are sacred to Hawaiians

Associated Press  

LAHAINA, Hawaii — Shortly after the ignition of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, a developer of land around a threatened Maui community urgently asked state officials for permission to divert water from streams to fight the growing inferno. West Maui Land Company, Inc. said it eventually received approval from the Hawaii commission that oversees water management, …

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In deadly Maui fires, many had no warning and no way out. Those who dodged a barricade survived
1 year, 4 months ago

In deadly Maui fires, many had no warning and no way out. Those who dodged a barricade survived

Associated Press  

As flames tore through a West Maui neighborhood, car after car of fleeing residents headed for the only paved road out of town in a desperate race for safety. “And I could see that people were on fire, that the fire was just being stoked by the wind, and being pushed toward the homes.” The road closures — some because …

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‘Disaster capitalism at its finest’: Fights over water amid west Maui’s charred ruins ignite new fears
1 year, 4 months ago

‘Disaster capitalism at its finest’: Fights over water amid west Maui’s charred ruins ignite new fears

CNN  

Wailuku, Hawaii CNN — On a Hawaiian tourist brochure, fire and water are selling points for a volcanic paradise where lava flows and waterfalls mist. I’II leave that to you to explore.” The statement outraged advocates for nature and cultural conservation, especially since it came on the heels of a written request by the powerful West Maui Land Company to …

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‘Heaven on Earth’ turned deadly: Fire exposes Maui’s shocking lack of preparation
1 year, 4 months ago

‘Heaven on Earth’ turned deadly: Fire exposes Maui’s shocking lack of preparation

LA Times  

The fire that raged through West Maui last week — leveling a historic community and killing more than 100 people — has exposed major weaknesses in the island’s preparations for such a disaster. Hawaii’s community wildfire protection plan for West Maui, dated from 2014, notes that while evacuation protocols exist for tsunamis, fire safety zones in West Maui “are yet …

Emergency Wildfire Earth West California Evacuation Officials
Ignored warnings, hubris, slow response fueled America’s deadliest wildfire in a century
1 year, 4 months ago

Ignored warnings, hubris, slow response fueled America’s deadliest wildfire in a century

LA Times  

A burned-out car lies in the driveway of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii. “If you have no scars, you may learn all at once.” Smoke blows across the slope of Haleakala volcano on Maui, Hawaii, as a fire burns in Maui’s upcountry region on Aug. 8. The ignition point of last week’s fire …

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Road to Lahaina reopens. For many, heartache awaits
1 year, 4 months ago

Road to Lahaina reopens. For many, heartache awaits

LA Times  

His Hawaiian shirt lit red by taillights, Jowel Delfin waited in the inky darkness for the road to Lahaina to reopen. Hundreds of cars waited in line by the time police began waving people through at 6 a.m., the first time this section of Honoapi’ilani Highway opened to the public since the most deadly U.S. wildfire in a century cut …

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With 106 dead and 1,300 unaccounted for, Maui braces for more heartbreaking news
1 year, 4 months ago

With 106 dead and 1,300 unaccounted for, Maui braces for more heartbreaking news

LA Times  

Davilynn Severson, left, and Hano Ganer search for their belongings in the ashes of their family’s house in Lahaina, Hawaii. With 106 people confirmed dead and about 1,300 still unaccounted for, Maui braced for more heartbreaking losses as officials continued to search for fire victims. Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said helicopters would fly along the fire’s perimeter, which …

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Hawaii wildfires: Death toll rises to 89, search for the missing continues. 10
1 year, 4 months ago

Hawaii wildfires: Death toll rises to 89, search for the missing continues. 10

Live Mint  

Hawaii wildfires are the deadliest wildfire in the US since the 2018 Camp Fire in California that killed at least 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise. Here are 10 points you should know Hawaii Wildfire: 1) Hawaii Governor Josh Green has said that the number of confirmed deaths from Maui wildfires has gone up to 89, making it …

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Many Maui fire survivors are struggling to find aid even as it pours in
1 year, 4 months ago

Many Maui fire survivors are struggling to find aid even as it pours in

Raw Story  

This story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat. “It’s so beautiful seeing everyone coming together.” Donations have poured in to Maui Preparatory Academy, a supplies distribution center in Lahaina. Photo: Brittany Lyte/Civil Beat/2023 Hawaiian Electric also said it has restored power to one of three main transmission lines serving West Maui, bringing service back to some 3,700 customers in …

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