In August, the historical town of Lahaina, Hawaii, was decimated in a massive wildfire that caused dozens of deaths.
Residents from fire-stricken Lahaina on Tuesday delivered a petition asking Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to delay plans to reopen a portion of West Maui to tourism starting this weekend, saying the grieving community is not ready to welcome back visitors. 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 the fire and have been coping with uncertain housing. She said many people, including herself, can’t sleep through the night.
Lahaina residents and their supporters hold signs and flags at the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu on Oct. 3, 2023, at a news conference over a petition asking Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to delay plans of reopening tourism.Green told the Hawaii News Now interview program"Spotlight Now" shortly afterward that he was"utterly sympathetic" to people's suffering.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen last week narrowed the geographic scope of this plan, saying that only the northernmost section of West Maui — a 3-mile stretch including the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua — would resume taking tourists. The rest of the region, where most of Lahaina’s evacuees are staying, would reopen at a later, unspecified date.
The governor said a lack of tourism would make it harder for the state to rebuild the elementary school that burned in the fire and provide residents with healthcare coverage.for tourists
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