More than 4,400 Maui residents have filed for unemployment — up from 130 before the wildfires — amid a 'mass exodus of tourists' that has locals urging visitors to return 'before it's too late'

31.08.2023 - 02:57 / insider.com / Jason Momoa

Thousands of Maui residents have filed for unemployment after wildfires devastated part of the island and tourism plummeted, leading many local business owners to urge visitors to come back.

For the week ending on August 19, 4,449 new unemployment claims were filed in Maui, according to data from Hawaii's Department of Business Economic Development & Tourism, compared to 130 claims filed the week before fires — an increase of more than 3,322%

That data appears to back up the warnings of some small business owners who previously told Insider that urging visitors to stay away from Maui would hurt the entire island.

After a wildfire destroyed much of Lahaina on August 8, killing more than 100 people with over 300 still missing, some locals and influential Hawaiians, including actor Jason Momoa, encouraged tourists to stay away from Maui to allow people to grieve and rebuild. But shortly after the initial destruction, others started speaking out to warn that if tourists canceled their trips the rest of Maui would suffer and be unable to help those who lost everything.

Richie Olsten, the director of operations at Air Maui Helicopters, told Insider those fears were already coming true due to a "mass exodus of tourists from the island." Olsten, who has lived in Maui for 60 years and flown helicopters there for nearly as long, said the only other time he has seen Maui suffer from such a severe downturn in tourism was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our whole economy is tourism," Olsten said. "If we don't get that going real quick, everyone is going to be out of work. Literally."

The lack of tourists is evident all over the island, he said. The winding road to Hana, typically filled with cars, was mostly open. Pristine beaches, usually littered with sunbathers and snorkelers, had only a handful of people. And even Mama's Fish House — the most elusive restaurant reservation on Maui — was taking walk-ins.

Olsten's company has already had to lay off much of its staff. They went from seven pilots flying anywhere from 25 to 30 tours a day before the fires, to now only one pilot flying two tours as of Wednesday. He said some businesses on the island have already opted to temporarily close down altogether, at least until the tourists come back. If the messaging doesn't change and tourists continue to stay away, his company may have to close too.

Javier Cantellops, the owner of several dive shops on Maui, previously told Insider his business was already suffering too, and that he had to refund $45,000 in three days due to cancellations after the fires.

Visitors are still being discouraged from going to West Maui, where Lahaina is located, with one family even putting up a sign in the area stating it plainly: "Tourist