I've been visiting Disney World for over three decades, but I recently stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando in Disney World's Golden Oak neighborhood for the first time.
10.09.2023 - 22:41 / forbes.com / Josh Green
Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced last week that West Maui’s hotels and resorts would reopen to visitors as soon as October 8th.
Green cited economic recovery as the main reason for the reopening. A new government study predicted that the state would lose around $2 billion over the next two years in the aftermath of the Maui wildfire.
Concerns over Maui’s citizens re-entering the workforce were also taken into consideration, according to Mufi Hannemann, former Hawaii Mayor and now a member of the Hawaii Tourism Authority .
"We're hearing from people across the board,” Hannemann said. “People who work for car rental agencies, restaurants, small businesses, attractions and hotels want to go back to work. That’s what [Governor Green] is responding to."
Seems reasonable enough. But concerns have developed over the weekend that reopening West Maui a month from now may not provide enough time for displaced local residents, who lost their homes in the fire and are now living in hotels, to find permanent lodging.
According to Civil Beat, many residents will begin moving out of the hotels later this month and, hopefully, into various forms of long-term housing. But will they find housing for everyone in the next month?
Another local news station, KITV, cast some doubt on that with a report that included further comments from Hannemann insinuating some residents could still be living in West Maui’s hotels when visitors are welcomed back in early October.
“West Maui hotels are at about 55% capacity and there is plenty of room for visitors to join the residents living there,” the outlet reported.
In my last Hawaii Travel Update before the weekend, I offered some advice to those who plan to visit Maui in the near future. Among them was to consider that residents have suffered a great tragedy, and to behave accordingly. Flaunting your fun or overly enjoying yourself in front of people who are suffering might not be the best look.
If visitors and residents do indeed end up inhabiting the same hotels, that sets up a tricky situation. The hotels will certainly have their hands full catering to both.
Visitors may be traveling to Maui with the best intentions of supporting the local economy, but they will certainly expect some bang for their buck.
Meanwhile, displaced residents will have been homeless for nearly two months, and may find it painful to see visitors enjoying themselves.
The situation, if it comes to fruition, would seem to present a rather tough conundrum for everyone involved.
The next few weeks will be key as the government works to relocate displaced residents and find them permanent housing. Complicating this process is, of course, Maui’s overall lack of affordable housing.
Currently, Airbnbs and
I've been visiting Disney World for over three decades, but I recently stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando in Disney World's Golden Oak neighborhood for the first time.
The U.S. has added Israel to the Visa Waiver Program, the U.S. Department of State announced Wednesday. Starting November 30, Israeli citizens and nationals will be to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business without first obtaining a visitor visa for up to 90 days. Israeli citizens and nationals will only need to complete Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
The lead story this morning on one of Oahu’s most trusted news sources, Civil Beat, is about the campaign Hawaii’s tourism executives are leading to convince residents that the return of visitors is imperative for Maui’s recovery.
We’ve known for some time now that West Maui would reopen to tourists on October 8th.
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.
From just outside the burn zone in Lahaina, Jes Claydon can see the ruins of the rental home where she lived for 13 years and raised three children. Little remains recognizable beyond the jars of sea glass that stood outside the front door.
As a brand, the name Best Western is not new to the American public. Following the acquisition of WorldHotels in 2019 and a company name change to BWH Hotels, the hospitality behemoth, which dates back to 1946, has its sights set on an impressive growth strategy.
It’s been ten days since Hawaii’s governor announced that West Maui would reopen to tourists on October 8th, but the debate seems to just be heating up now.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green has been a busy man.
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.
As the plane descends to Maui’s airport in Kahului, it’s readily apparent how sharply tourism has dropped off following the massive fires a month ago: hundreds of unrented rental cars parked in a field near the runway. In the aftermath of the blaze that leveled the historic town of Lahaina and caused so much personal suffering and loss, it was understandable for Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green to advise visitors not to come to Maui. Now facing the financial devastation of an island that depends on tourism, the government changed its position and is urging visitors to come, including to the resort areas of West Maui north of Lahaina which are reopening October 8th. But should visitors listen?