I don't know if that was the right message because it's hard to bring those individuals back. PATEL: Initially saying that, you know, all of Maui was closed. But his seaside neighborhood that he's looking out on from his second-story balcony is untouched. One property that he owns was also destroyed. He manages vacation rentals in the resorts around Lahaina. SIEGLER: Snehal Patel is doing all he can to keep businesses afloat. SNEHAL PATEL: We had a few families evacuate up here into this neighborhood. The Hawaii Tourism Authority estimates that West Maui has been losing more than a million dollars a day since August 8. There was already a labor and housing shortage before the fires. But the stakes here may be higher than most considering almost the entire island is dependent on tourism. SIEGLER: A mass exodus is always a big concern after such a huge disaster. What are they going to do? There's going to be a mass exodus of people leaving here. KOTTER: I'm conflicted because there's people - they've got three months of savings. The rest of his family works at resort hotels, and most of them are closed. SIEGLER: But Kotter's lived here for almost 60 years. And it's - I feel fully it's not very sensitive to think about all these people and the trauma that they've gone through. This isn't a sightseeing place right now. SIEGLER: Bully Kotter lost everything in the fire.īULLY KOTTER: You know, stay out of Lahaina. To get to all the resorts and golf courses on the west side of Maui, you have to drive through the destruction. At first, it was unimaginable that anyone would or should vacation around Lahaina. SIEGLER: Many longtime locals are also still feeling conflicted. But now, talking to more people, we know that we wanted to be here. Syrota says they decided to come to Maui after reading a post from a nearby surf hostel. Hawaii was a bucket list trip after graduating from university. SIEGLER: Kennedy Syrota (ph) and a friend are visiting from Canada. KENNEDY SYROTA: We were kind of scared that - like, we didn't know if it was kind of, like, looked down upon almost for coming here. SIEGLER: The few tourists who are here still feel a little conflicted. Kids jump and swim in the waves just a few feet from two giant Hawaiian green sea turtles. SIEGLER: Locals are throwing birthday parties along this beach an hour away from the burn zone. Last year tourists spent more than $5.5 billion here. Maui typically gets upwards of 3 million visitors a year. SIEGLER: This is a refrain you're hearing now a lot across the island. To stay away now will just make the problem worse. Seven hundred and thirty square miles of beauty isn't burned.įOREST: The Maui economy relies on tourism. SIEGLER: Despite what you see on the news about the tragedy right in Lahaina, he continues, the rest of the island is open. KIRK SIEGLER, BYLINE: On the Blue Bus show on Manao community radio, local DJ Forest has a pitch for listeners streaming from outside the Hawaiian Islands.įOREST: Another way you can support Maui - come here. Local businesses and state tourism officials are now making desperate pleas for tourists to return. The planes that are landing are still mostly empty apart from aid workers and journalists. And now, three weeks after the fires, scores of flights to the island have been suspended. David Ige, Hawaii has committed to producing 100% of its energy from clean, renewable sources by 2045.After the deadly wildfires on Maui, tourists were turned away. "These electric-powered buses are vital to the future of JTB Hawaii, as they offer the quietest, most energy-efficient and cleanest form of commercial ground transportation available for people wanting to enjoy tours," Hiroyuki "Keith" Kitagawa, president and CEO of JTB Hawaii, said in a statement. The air-conditioned buses will initially operate routes provided by JTB in Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, with service beginning in April. The three full-size buses represent Hawaii's first electric-powered commercial bus fleet, and each one can carry 77 passengers, reach a top speed of 65 mph, and can travel 250 miles on a single charge. JTB Hawaii and its subsidiary, Travel Plaza Transportation, have unveiled a fleet of electric buses that feature colorful exterior wraps inspired by Hawaiian children who participated in the Blue Planet Foundation's "Driving Forward" Art Challenge program. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.Introducing Aguascalientes to the leisure market Meagan Drillinger visited the state for its first U.S. Future-proofing in Morocco In the Atlas Mountains, the McHugo brothers built a case study of how travel companies can go beyond lip service and make a.In many cases, independent contractors do have some leverage to negotiate with their hosts. What's negotiable for ICs? It depends.ASTA's list might change how commissions are paid ASTA has positioned its list as providing public recognition of suppliers who value advisors.
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