Hawaii Governor Josh Green, during a Pathways to Recovery Webinar held on the 8th of September, announced that West Maui would be open to tourism starting on the 8th of October. The Governor said that tourism jobs are essential to recovery.
Maui’s visitor numbers dropped by around 70% after the devastating wildfires that occurred in early August. Hawaii is a place where many airlines and hotels offer deep discounts to attract visitors. Maui, the second-largest Hawaiian island, is a major tourist destination. Tourism accounts for a significant portion of Maui’s economy. West Maui has been severely affected by recent fires but the rest of the Island is still safe.
The announcement by Governor Green came just one month after wildfires devastated the town of Lahaina. They destroyed more than 2,000 structures, killed 115 people, and left many others unaccounted for.
