Current:Home > BackMost of West Maui will welcome back visitors next month under a new wildfire emergency proclamation-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Most of West Maui will welcome back visitors next month under a new wildfire emergency proclamation
View Date:2024-12-23 19:26:03
HONOLULU (AP) — Most of West Maui will officially reopen to travelers Oct. 8 under a new wildfire emergency proclamation signed on Friday by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green.
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 to stay away from Maui so residents and agencies could focus on emergency response efforts and supporting those displaced by the fires. In mid-August, officials began encouraging tourists to return to other parts of Maui, avoiding the burn zone and spending money to help the region recover.
On Thursday, Green told a meeting of the state Council on Revenues that he expected authorities to reopen most of West Maui to travelers in October, with the exception of the fire-damaged neighborhoods. The area, which includes beach resorts in Kaanapali, north of historic Lahaina, has 11,000 hotel rooms. That’s half Maui’s total.
In the emergency proclamation signed Friday, the governor said the previous guidance that strongly discouraged nonessential travel to West Maui will be discontinued Oct. 8.
Tourism is a major economic driver in Hawaii, and the wildfire disaster prompted state officials to lower their 2023 economic growth prediction for the entire state to 1.1%, down from 1.8%.
The number of visitors arriving on Maui sank about 70% after the Aug. 8 fire, down to 2,000 a day, and only half of the available hotel rooms there are occupied, said Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association president Mufi Hannemann. Airlines have begun offering steep discounts on flights to Hawaii, and some resorts have slashed room rates by 20% or are offering a fifth night free.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Something Corporate
- Restriction on carrying guns in Omaha and Lincoln violate Nebraska law, lawsuits say
- For a new generation of indie rock acts, country music is king
- How Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond Keeps Her Marriage Hot—And It's Not What You Think
- John Krasinski Details Moment He Knew Wife Emily Blunt Was “the One”
- Morocoin Trading Exchange: Opportunities and Risks of Inscription.
- Morocoin Trading Exchange's Analysis of Bitcoin's Development Process
- Brunson scores 38, Knicks snap Bucks’ seven-game winning streak with 129-122 victory
- Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
- Thousands join migrant caravan in Mexico ahead of Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to the capital
Ranking
- Nearly 80,000 pounds of Costco butter recalled for missing 'Contains Milk statement': FDA
- The Climate Treadmill Speeds Up At COP28, But Critics Say It’s Still Not Going Anywhere
- Aaron Carter's Team Speaks Out After Death of His Sister Bobbie Jean Carter
- Which retirement account should be your number one focus before the end of 2023?
- Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to watch the fight, time, odds
- Israeli man whose parents were killed on Oct. 7 calls for peace: We must break this pattern of violence
- The year of social media soul-searching: Twitter dies, X and Threads are born and AI gets personal
- Is the stock market open on Christmas? See 2023, 2024 holiday schedule
Recommendation
-
Oregon's Dan Lanning, Indiana's Curt Cignetti pocket big bonuses after Week 11 wins
-
Is anything open on Christmas Day? Store and restaurant chains whose doors are open today.
-
Holiday travel is mostly nice, but with some naughty disruptions again on Southwest Airlines
-
Dolphins vs. Cowboys highlights: Miami gets statement win in showdown of division leaders
-
How Jersey Shore's Sammi Sweetheart Giancola's Fiancé Justin May Supports Her on IVF Journey
-
Live updates | Palestinian refugee camps shelled in central Gaza as Israel seeks to expand offensive
-
Why Giants benched QB Tommy DeVito at halftime of loss to Eagles
-
Police seek suspect in fatal Florida mall shooting