As of June 2024, people have donated more than $193 million to Maui Strong Fund, which provides financial resources to people and businesses affected by the 2023 wildfires.
According to Maui Now, travel to Maui in December 2023 reached its highest level since the 2023 wildfires, even though overall spending trended downward.
Tourists are slowly returning to Maui after the tragic 2023 Hawaiian wildfires killed at least 101 people on the island and caused at least $4 billion in economic losses. Mindful visitors may now explore most of the island except the fire-affected areas near Lahaina.
The August 2023 wind-driven wildfires resulted in the loss of loved ones, cultural and historical sites, businesses, and private homes in Lahaina, located in West Maui. Out of respect for the town’s residents, Lahaina remains closed to the public as local and federal emergency responders continue with cleanup efforts of hazardous materials and other debris. Island visitors are prohibited from stopping on the bypass to get a closer view or take pictures.
“The data shows reason for optimism that travel to Hawaii is continuing to recover since the pandemic and since the Maui wildfires,” Governor Josh Green told Maui Now. “While the decision to reopen West Maui to visitors was difficult, the numbers show that visitor industry revenue is helping the people of Maui.”
“We are grateful for the outpouring of support for Maui from around the world, from sharing memories and offering their assistance, to asking questions about travel to Maui and the rest of the state,” states the official media site for the island of Maui. “Respectful travel to Maui is welcome and encouraged now more than ever.”
Consider Volun-Tourism To Give Back
Karee Blunt of Our Woven Journey recently spoke with Ekolu Lindsey, president of Maui Cultural Lands, about how visitors can help with Maui’s recovery effort.
“[Lindsey] suggested signing up for volunteer tourism opportunities like planting trees, a self-led beach cleanup, or pulling weeds at Haleakala Summit,” says Blunt. “He spoke about how much the island needs visitors as 85% of jobs result from tourism. Tourists are especially encouraged to visit West Maui and to visit in a mindful way, being respectful of local residents and their ongoing needs.”
Maui visitors can become part of the recovery effort by volunteering during their trip. Some ways to give back to the community include:
Feed My Sheep is a mobile food-distribution company that passes out groceries to those most in need in the community. The Pacific Whale Foundation promotes Maui beach cleanups to collect and report debris.The Hawaii Wildlife Fund has helped more than 10,000 endangered sea turtle hatchlings reach the ocean.The Blue ʻĀina Cleanup is dedicated to protecting Maui’s marine life by cleaning up the coral reefs surrounding the island.The Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge’s mission is to preserve and protect the native wildlife of this salt marsh located on the south-central coast of Maui. There are several volunteer opportunities, including the Visitor Center, greenhouse, habitat restoration, and more.The Mālama Hawaii Program organizes beach cleanups, the planting of native trees, and more. Participants can qualify for a discount or even a free night at a participating hotel by volunteering for the program. Mālama means “give back” in Hawaiian.
Choose Hotels That Respect Local Culture
Travel + Leisure readers voted the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea their favorite Hawaiian resort in 2023. The hotel offers A Wayfinder’s Journey, a private catamaran tour hosted by Hawaiian navigator Kala Baybayan Tanaka. Guests learn how Polynesians used the stars, swells, and other natural elements to navigate the waters around Maui.
The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea also offers helicopter tours to an organic fruit farm in the town of Hana. After hiking through a bamboo forest and swimming in lava caves, guests fly back to the resort and enjoy a private oceanfront dinner prepared with ingredients found during the day’s adventure.
“I visited Maui in March to mark the end of whale season, and from a tourist perspective, it was business as usual,” says Alec Sills-Trausch of Explore With Alec. “We kept to the Kihei area because we’d previously been to the Kaanapali area and wanted to see new places.
“And while I’ve only visited Maui once before, it appeared to be running at full capacity. I think the message has gotten out that while there was so much loss and destruction in Lahaina, the rest of Maui was structurally unaffected and still able to attract visitors and support tourism.”
Sills-Trausch continues, “It’s a sobering reality that you can have heartbreak and tears in one place and 20 minutes away, have people spending thousands on a vacation in the nicest resorts in the world.”
Support Local Merchants and Businesses
One of the best ways to help Maui’s recovery is to support local merchants and businesses when visiting the island. The following businesses are helping community members rebuild their lives:
Maui Nui First highlights local businesses, activities, products, services, and food and drink vendors all over Maui.Pop Up Mākeke lists favorite Maui vendors that can ship directly to buyers, wherever they are located.Kuhikuhi provides a list of Native Hawaiian-owned businesses to support with tourist dollars.The 30th annual Made in Hawaii Festival will take place at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii on August 23-25. This celebration of local food, fashion, décor, jewelry, and more helped raise more than $58,000 last year for the Maui Strong Fund. Last year’s festival featured more than 450 vendor booths and attracted more than 49,000 visitors.
Donate to the Maui Strong Fund
Whether you can visit the island or not, you can do your part to support the current and long-term rebuilding efforts of those affected by the wildfires. The Maui Strong Fund has awarded more than 100 million dollars in grants to needy people and businesses. You can read about their success stories and add to their charity coffers on their website.
