Travel in county Maui

Spurring controversy locally but undoubtedly a necessary step for the economy, the reopening of iconic hotels in West Maui is underway, with different dates set for each hotel.

Two months after wildfires on the western shores of Maui killed 97 people, destroyed the historic town of Lahaina and burned more than 2,100 acres, a state order discouraging travel to the area was lifted on Sunday. But whether local hotels and businesses plan to welcome visitors remains uncertain.

Tourism is slowly coming back to Maui as the Hawaiian government starts to lift travel restrictions to the western region, two months after devastating wildfires that left nearly 100 dead and displaced thousands of people.

Hawaiians have delivered a petition asking to delay tourism reopening following the summer wildfires.

The mayor of the Hawaiian island of Maui detailed the phased reopening of West Maui set to begin this weekend following the devastating fires this summer.

The Hawaiian Islands in general, and Maui in particular, have been remarkably resilient over the last four years. First, Covid shut the islands down, and this quick action slowed the spread of illness to locals. When visitors were welcomed back, the proverbial floodgates opened, and talk of over-tourism began almost immediately. That delicate balance played out across all the islands over the next couple of years. Then, the town of Lahaina, Maui’s historical heart and soul, was destroyed by fire just last month, effectively shutting down tourism for several weeks. While the governor will officially welcome visitors back to all parts of the island (except Lahaina) on October 8th, the return will be understandably slow. Many travelers are reluctant to travel to Maui for fear of getting in the way of cleanup efforts and, more psychologically, visiting for pleasure while so many locals are suffering.

There’s something about Sedona. The towering red rocks, twisted juniper trees and mind-bendingly beautiful landscape inspire awe, no doubt. But Sedona also envelops you in a feeling that is hard to explain. For many people, myself included, Sedona is a place of otherworldly calm, where something happens that is difficult to rationalize. It’s a vibe, a feeling of heightened self-awareness that is consistently experienced at energy vortex sites such as this one, where a concentration of the earth’s energy is said to enhance emotional and spiritual alignment.

Kia Karjalainen and her sister were vacationing in Greece when things took an unexpected turn. “We were in our hotel room, and I suddenly said to my sister, ‘It really, really smells of smoke. Is something burning?’”

There’s something about Sedona. The towering red rocks, twisted juniper trees and mind-bendingly beautiful landscape inspire awe, no doubt. But Sedona also envelops you in a feeling that is hard to explain. For many people, myself included, Sedona is a place of otherworldly calm, where something happens that is difficult to rationalize. It’s a vibe, a feeling of heightened self-awareness that is consistently experienced at energy vortex sites such as this one, where a concentration of the earth’s energy is said to enhance emotional and spiritual alignment.

As TPG has previously reported, and you likely know all too well, the Maui wildfires caused significant damage to Lahaina, with more than 2,400 residences destroyed and far too many lives lost. Recovery efforts are still ongoing. And now, the community must deal with the reality of economic recovery while also rebuilding homes and businesses and managing the emotional toll.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, September 26. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast! 

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, September 15. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Maui’s tourism recovery has been moving at a sluggish pace since the wildfires devastated the island’s western region in early August. One factor: Tourists have been slow to return out of sensitivity to locals.

This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Samantha Meany, a TikTok content creator, and lifelong Taylor Swift fan from Raleigh, North Carolina. It's been edited for length and clarity. Meany's trip took place in the first week of August, shortly before the wildfires broke out on Maui.

Hawaii will reopen most of West Maui to tourists starting on October 8, Governor Josh Green announced on Friday. Only Lahaina will be remained closed to the public. Tourists will be able to visit Kā‘anapali, Nāpili, Honokōwai, and Kapalua.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced last week that West Maui’s hotels and resorts would reopen to visitors as soon as October 8th.

After the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority initially asked all tourists to leave the island of Maui, Governor Josh Green invited visitors back to the island just two weeks later, citing the need for economic recovery.

Hawaiian Airlines recently unveiled reimagined cabins that will be featured on its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners when the aircraft enter service in early 2024, complete with tip-to-tail interior upgrades, including the Honolulu-based carrier’s new business-class Leihōkū Suites, revamped economy seats, and an interior design inspired by the islands. Now the tickets for the first flights are on sale.

Traditionally, Alaska cruises have been seven days in length—either a weeklong loop of the Inside Passage roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver, or a similar transit across the Gulf of Alaska sailing one way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier.

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler said tourists should keep visiting Maui, during the band's first The Farewell Tour concert in Philadelphia on Saturday.