hawaii travel wildfires

Maui Travel Updates

Maui Recovery

On August 8, 2023, wildfires resulted in the devastating loss of loved ones, homes, cultural and historical sites, and businesses in Lahaina, located in West Maui. We extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt aloha to all those who have been affected by this tragedy. We also urge visitors throughout Hawai‘i to be especially mindful and respectful in our island home as our community continues through this difficult time.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is continuously coordinating efforts with federal, state and county emergency management officials, as well as our community partners, visitor industry and Global Marketing Team. We are also providing updates to our travel partners — airlines, accommodations, ground transportation companies, activity providers, travel agents, and wholesalers, as well as to local, national and international media — to ensure the public is kept informed.

While some fire-affected areas remain fully closed to the public, the island of Maui and the rest of the Hawaiian Islands are open and encouraging mindful visitation.

Latest News

April 30, 2024

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Launches New Campaigns to Stimulate Meaningful Travel Demand

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has launched new targeted campaigns as part of its global marketing and visitor education efforts. The purpose of these initiatives is to reinvigorate responsible travel demand from key markets around the world to the Hawaiian Islands.


“The People. The Place. The Hawaiian Islands.” uplifts Hawai‘i’s musicians, lei makers, chefs, farmers, culturalists, fashion designers, and others in their sectors that rely on a vibrant visitor industry. In Japan, the “Beautiful Hawai‘i” and “Yappari Hawai‘i (“It’s Gotta be Hawai‘i”) campaigns are already underway with an integrated mix of digital and TV advertising, social media, earned media, partnerships and trade education to drive bookings.
 Learn more .

Mākaukau Maui - We Are Ready

With a deep commitment to our community’s well-being, West Maui is ready to return a comforting sense of stability to the lives of its residents. Reopening our doors is one step towards reducing the uncertainties that weigh on our shoulders. It also ensures our community has the jobs and financial opportunities to thrive. On the horizon is a new day. As one, Maui is moving forward – hopeful and optimistic that it can share its culture with those beyond our shores. Learn more at: https://makaukaumaui.com .  

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Board Approves Action Plan to Support Maui’s Recovery in 2024

On December 22, 2023, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Board of Directors furthered its ongoing commitment to mālama Maui and support the island’s recovery by approving an immediate six-month action plan for 2024 to help address major challenges confronting residents, small businesses, visitor industry providers, Maui’s economy, and families seeking housing. Learn more here .   The action plan is designed to fulfill tourism’s responsibilities in alliance with the leadership established by Governor Josh Green, M.D. and within the broader scope of Maui’s recovery efforts being conducted by the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and other state agencies. HTA’s full report identifying major strategies and not only short-term but also mid- and long-term recommendations is being provided to DBEDT in their role coordinating the State’s Economic Recovery Support Functions. Read the full report .

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Board Of Directors Approves $2.6 Million In Funding For Maui Marketing Recovery Plan

HTA's Board of Directors took decisive action at its monthly board meeting on August 31, 2023 to approve $2.6 million in funding to launch the Maui Marketing Recovery Plan , which is centered around a new Mālama Maui campaign with heartfelt messages shared by kama‘āina of Maui. The plan's focus is to rebuild responsible travel demand from the United States market to Maui in the wake of the devastating Lahaina wildfires. Watch the board meeting . HTA staff and board members were on Maui throughout August to meet with residents and business owners and listen to them about the challenges they now face with visitor arrivals decreasing significantly since August 8. Visitors help to support the economy, supporting local shops, local restaurants, and local activities which ultimately aids in the island’s overall recovery efforts.

For Visitors

For Businesses

For Employees

For Community

Travel trade.

Information and resources for travel advisors is available on our GoHawaii website.

Mālama Maui

NOTE: While multiple dictionary sources propose "Lāhainā" as the old pronunciation for the region, living kūpuna, mānaleo and recordings of mānaleo serve to demonstrate that the contemporary pronunciation is Lahaina. Heeding the call from the Lahaina community, HTA uses the spelling Lahaina across all platforms.

Watch CBS News

Traveling to Hawaii? Here's what to know about the Maui fires.

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi , Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: August 15, 2023 / 2:53 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Hawaii is a noted tourist destination, but after deadly wildfires wreaked havoc on Maui and other islands, it declared a state of emergency in all counties. Hawaiian officials are discouraging nonessential travel to Maui amidst the fire's destruction on that island.

Major airlines are assisting in efforts to evacuate residents and visitors from danger zones. People with trips planned to the second-largest Hawaiian island are being asked to postpone them, with airlines and accommodation providers offering travelers flexibility to rebook. 

Here's what to know if you have a vacation in Hawaii scheduled. 

What parts of Hawaii are experiencing fires?

A major blaze largely destroyed  the historic town of Lahaina, on Maui. As of Sunday officials said the Lahaina fire was 85% contained.

Fires also affected Kihei and Upcountry Maui, as well as the northwest part of the island of Hawaii, between Hapuna and Kawaihae.

Can I still go to Maui?

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is strongly discouraging nonessential travel to West Maui for the foreseeable future. Even tourists who are already there are encouraged to depart immediately, if they can. 

Thousands of residents have evacuated their homes and major roadways on the island remain closed. 

"Vacation travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged for the near future. Visitors in West Maui have largely heeded the call to leave the island. About 46,000 people have flown out of Kahului Airport since Wednesday," the Hawaii Tourism Authority said in a statement Saturday. 

On Monday, the travel authority reiterated that all non-essential travel to West Maui remains discouraged through the end of August, in line with Gov. Josh Green's latest  emergency proclamation .

Visitors with plans to visit other parts of Maui are urged to reach out to their accommodation providers to ensure they can still be hosted.

Concerns over drop in tourism

Some hosts on parts of the island that remain able to welcome tourists are concerned that guest cancellations could hamper the island's recovery from the wildfires. 

A small business owner with a condo in Kihei, on Maui's southwest shore, said that while it's safe to visit, guests have been canceling reservations into the month of November.

The host, Chandrika McLaughlin, added that it's important that tourists continue patronizing businesses like hers so that she and others retain the means to support Mauians whose lives have been uprooted by the wildfires. 

To be sure, would-be visitors to West Maui are still being asked to postpone their trips in part because federal, state and county governments are primarily focused on helping displaced residents and affected businesses. 

"Visitors with plans to stay in West Maui in the coming weeks and months are urged to consider rescheduling their travel plans for a later time when the overall situation has improved for area residents," the Tourism Authority said. 

Travel to the island of Hawaii remains unaffected, and the government said it remains safe to visit other islands.

Are commercial airlines flying to Maui?

Some are and some aren't. Many airlines are offering travel waivers that allow customers with immediate plans to travel to Maui to rebook their flights without fees, or to cancel them altogether for credit or, in some cases, a full refund. 

"With the exception of basic economy tickets, almost all U.S. airlines allow you flexibility to either reschedule your trip or cancel and get the full amount you paid back for travel credit for future trips," Scott Keyes, of travel site Going told CBS MoneyWatch. "So, you automatically have a lot of flexibility to change your plans or save flight credit for a future trip. That was not really the case pre-pandemic."

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a travel alert describing how major airlines serving Maui's Kahului Airport have adjusted their operations and implemented flexible change policies for customers.

UNITED AIRLINES

United Airlines said it's prioritizing the welfare of its employees on Maui and has scrapped commercial flights to the island. It is instead using empty passenger planes to carry Maui residents off the island.

"We've canceled today's inbound flights to Kahului Airport so our planes can fly empty to Maui and be used as passenger flights back to the mainland," the airline said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.

The airline also has  waivers  in place for United passengers who had been scheduled to fly to or from Kahului airport on Maui, as well as Honolulu airport. 

Customers who were originally scheduled to fly between August 11 and September 16, and purchased tickets before August 9 may reschedule their trips and have any change fees and fare differences waived. The new ticket must be for a flight scheduled to depart before October 1. Passengers who wish to cancel their trips altogether are entitled to full refunds. 

AMERICAN AIRLINES

For its part, American Airlines is also waiving change fees on all flights to and from Hawaiian airports, through August 18. 

ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska Air has a "flexible travel policy" in place that allows customers to change their flights at no cost through August 31 or cancel them in exchange for a travel voucher worth the cost of the flight.

Some would-be visitors to Maui said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that they wanted outright refunds from airlines, as opposed to the option of rebooking within a short time frame. Given the extent of devastation the wildfires have caused, it may be some time before travelers may want to rebook.

Southwest Airlines said it had added flights between islands and back to the mainland U.S. "to keep people and supplies moving." Some fares from Maui to the mainland U.S. are under $100. 

Hawaiian Airlines also said it's adding extra flights between Maui and Honolulu for as little as $19 "to facilitate urgent travel."

The Hawaii Tourism Authority added that "airlines are being very supportive during this emergency crisis and providing additional flights to help visitors depart from Maui. Airlines are also adjusting their travel schedules to support those visitors who had planned to arrive this week."

Will I be compensated for my hotel accommodations?

Hotels and resorts in vulnerable areas have lost power, halted service and stopped accepting guests altogether. Some are providing full refunds to scheduled guests, depending on the time of their planned stay.

They've temporarily stopped accepting new reservations, too, given the uncertainty of the situation. Hotels have pivoted from accepting guests to housing their employees and families until the fires are fully contained and travel on roadways becomes safe again. 

They are also equipped to house evacuees and first responders helping with disaster relief efforts. 

Furthermore, the Tourism Authority is asking visitors with forthcoming reservations not to try to contact their accommodation providers at this time, so as not to tie up or overburden their limited bandwidths.

"While efforts are underway to restore basic services, like power and communications, visitors are encouraged to refrain from attempting to reach West Maui accommodations for reservation adjustments until the situation improves," it said. 

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa said the hotel is "closed to arrivals and not accepting guests" for the time being. It will issue refunds including for deposits and prepayments to guests who had been scheduled to stay at the property through the weekend. 

Homesharing site Airbnb said its extenuating circumstances policy has gone into effect for parts of Hawaii, including all of Maui. It is also allowing hosts and guests to cancel their stays without penalty. Guest are entitled to full refunds for reservations in the area they don't use.  

Non-refundable reservations

In the case of non-refundable reservations, a travel insurance policy could help you recoup payments related to a trip you didn't take. 

For travelers already on Maui, some of these policies also come with medical evacuation options that can help visitors on the island get to safer ground.

Some credit card companies already have protections related to travel built-in, without requiring that you sign up for additional protections.

"Many of them automatically include travel insurance, so check and see what you're entitled to," Keyes said.

—With reporting by Elizabeth Napolitano

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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Maui fires: 6 dead, at least 271 structures impacted as Hawaii battles blazes

Coverage on this live blog has ended. Please follow our latest updates here.

What to know about the wildfires:

• At least six people have died in fires in Maui, officials said Wednesday. Some injuries have been reported, but officials did not provide a number.
• Crews continue to battle fires in Maui and the Big Island, which have been fanned in part by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm.
• The Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued 14 people including two children, who went into the ocean to escape the blazes and smoke.

At least 271 structures have been damaged, destroyed or otherwise impacted in the western Maui town of Lahaina after a devastating wildfire, Maui County officials said.

• The full extent of the damage may not be known for weeks or even months, acting Gov. Sylvia Luke said.
• Lahaina, once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, is destroyed in the fires.

Satellite images capture devastation in Lahaina from wildfires

Tim Stelloh

Phil Helsel

Satellite images captured the devastation on Maui Wednesday after a wildfire tore through Lahaina, a popular vacation destination on the island’s west coast that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii .

In one image from the company Maxar Technologies, the historic area of Banyan Court — home to the island’s oldest living banyan tree, at 150 years old — appears to have mostly been reduced to ash.

Other images showed similar devastation in and around Lahaina Square, a shopping area, and a neighborhood on the southern end of the town.

Read the full story here.

Visitors asked to leave Maui as soon as possible due to crisis

Visitors “with vehicles or any means of transportation” are being asked to leave the fire-ravaged Lahaina area and Maui as soon as possible, county officials said today .

The county made the request because officials have limited resources in what it described as a crisis.

Buses will be taking people from Sheraton Maui Resort in Kaʻanapali to Kahului Airport, the county said.

Widespread damage has been seen in Lahaina in western Maui from one of three wildfires. At least six people are dead, and western Maui does not have power or cell service.

Firefighters battling spot fires around Lahaina, no new evacuations

More than 100 Maui firefighters were battling three wildfires today, and helicopters have been making water drops and conducting searches, Maui County said .

No new evacuations were ordered in Maui, which has faced severe wind-fueled wildfires, but the damage in the western Maui town of Lahaina was called widespread.

There are three fires on Maui — the Lahaina, Pūlehu and Upcountry fires. The National Guard and other military units are assisting with helicopters doing water drops, officials said.

Firefighters in Lahaina were putting out spot fires around the community of around 12,700, the county said in a statement.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell also tweeted that she has spoken with the state’s lieutenant governor, and that the agency has authorized federal assistance to help firefighting efforts.

‘Everyone I know in Lahaina, their homes have been burned down’

Residents who have fled their homes in advance of devastating wildfires have shared their heartbreak and uncertainty with NBC affiliate KHNL of Honolulu .

“Everyone I know in Lahaina, their homes have been burned down,” Tiare Lawrence, of the community on the western edge of Maui, told the station. She said she was trying to make sure everyone in her family is safe.

Holly Zackious, of Kula, found her home was intact but told the station that others in the neighborhood were burned to the ground.

“It’s awful the amount of damage that this fire wreaked havoc,” she said. “We’re praying for Lahaina.”

Gabe Johnson, Maui County council member for the island of Lāna’i, told KHNL that those who have not been affected are coming to help others.

“We rebuild. You know, Lahaina strong,” Johnson told the station. “It’s not just an expression.”

At least 271 structures damaged or destroyed in Maui fires

Andrew Blankstein

The state’s lieutenant governor said earlier today that it could be weeks or months before the full damage of the fires on Maui is known.

Fires continue to burn both on Maui and the island of Hawaii and high-speed and erratic winds continue to make it difficult to fly aircraft to get a better sense of the totality of the damage, a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency official said.

"Widespread damage to the West Maui town, the harbor and surrounding areas are being documented," the county said in a statement.

Wildfire decimates Lahaina, once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom

Sakshi Venkatraman

A historic seaside town that once was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii has been largely reduced to ash as wildfires continued to rip through the state Wednesday. 

Hawaiians say Lahaina’s disaster leaves them mourning the loss of a place dense with Native Hawaiian history and culture — and they’re bracing for what the tragedy will mean for their communities in the long term. 

“People are worried about their loved ones, their homes, their businesses, their jobs,” said David Aiona Chang, who is Native Hawaiian and a professor of history at the University of Minnesota. “So many of the disasters that hit Hawaii hit Native Hawaiians the hardest. It’s something that we are going to be dealing with for a long time.”

Satellite imagery shows Maui fires

Aerial video shows devastation in maui.

Helicopter video from Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina shows the devastation in the community of around 12,700 on the western coast of Maui, after wildfires.

Two patients in Maui fires in critical condition, hospital says

Two of five people being cared for at Maui Memorial Medical Center following wildfires on the island were in critical condition, Maui Health said today.

The hospital is treating five people in all, and seven others have been sent to Oahu for specialty services, some of whom suffered fire-related injuries, Maui Health, a nonprofit hospital organization, said.

Two new brushfires on Hawaii's Big Island

Two new brushfires started today on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, where fires have also been burning, officials said.

Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth has said the focus should be on Maui, where devastating wildfires have occurred, causing at least six deaths.

The new fires were in the Kaʻū region, and one of those was under control, the Hawaii Fire Department said .

The Akoni Pule Highway brushfire is about 60% contained but is threatening structures, according to the Fire Department, and there are fires in the Mauna Kea Beach area. People at the Mauna Kea Resort have been told to shelter in place.

Roth in a video briefing earlier today thanked assistance from state agencies and the National Guard in dealing with brushfires on the island.

Full damage may not be known for weeks or months

It’s expected to take weeks before officials know the full scale of the damage to Maui in the wake of wildfires, Hawaii’s lieutenant governor said today.

“This is not going to be a short journey. It’s going to take weeks and maybe months to assess the full damage,” Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who is acting governor until the governor returns early from a trip, said.

She said the state will provide whatever assistance possible, and federal aid was also sent or being sent to help in the wildfires and the aftermath.

“We will rebuild,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at a news briefing.

Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with water buckets, as well as three CH-47 Chinook with 2,000 gallon water buckets, have been or were being sent to Maui today to help, said Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, adjutant general for the state.

Also sent with one of the Chinooks is an “enhanced emergency response force package,” which involves a specialized team capable of confined space search and rescue, he said.

Maui has seen winds of over 50 mph

High winds from passing Hurricane Dora may have helped fuel wildfires in Maui, and today the National Weather Service said gusts on the island have reached as high as 67 mph.

In the 48 hour period between 10 a.m. Honolulu time Monday and Wednesday morning, the highest recorded gusts were between 45 and 67 mph, according to the weather service .

Forecasters had warned of fire risk due to high winds starting Monday, and a “red flag” warning about fires had also been issued.

Biden orders ‘all available federal assets’ to help

President Joe Biden and the first lady today expressed their condolences to the people of Maui, and Biden pledged assistance from federal assets.

“Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui, and our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed,” Biden said in a statement . “We are grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who continue to run toward danger, putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives.”

Biden said he has “ordered all available Federal assets on the Islands to help with response.” The Hawaii National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy’s Third Fleet is assisting, he said.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said that the state will be submitting a request for a presidential disaster declaration once officials know the scope of the devastation. Such declarations allow increased federal aid.

Urgent care clinics in Lahaina can’t treat patients, say their structures are either damaged or destroyed

Aria Bendix

Cliff Alakai, an administrator at Maui Medical Group, said he learned on Facebook that the group's Lahaina urgent care facility was damaged.

"One of our IT people found a picture and put a circle around our clinic. It’s a two-story clinic. It looks like the second floor is heavily damaged," Alakai said.

Alakai said Maui Medical Group operates four additional outpatient clinics outside Lahaina that are open to patients, but many Lahaina residents are hesitant to leave the area because road closures would prevent them from returning home, he said. Employees who live in Lahaina have called out of work, but so far appear to be safe, he added.

“Our employees who live out there are calling to say, ‘Yeah, we’re all right. Our house burned down, but we’re fine. We got out in time,’” Alakai said.

Justin Prouty, owner of Minit Medical Urgent Care, said he assumes his Lahaina facility is no longer standing.

"All reports coming out of Lahaina are super sketchy right now. There’s just no news there, no cell service so nobody can get any information. It sounds like a couple of our employees have lost their homes," Prouty said. "I’ve had reports that places around our clinic are burned to the ground, so my guess is our clinic is too."

Avoid nonessential travel to Maui, officials urge

Doha Madani

With wildfires raging, Hawaii officials urged both residents and tourists to avoid all nonessential travel to Maui.

There were at least 2,000 people at the airport overnight either attempting to leave or waiting for new flights to come in, according to Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen.

"We made sure that we process them through this morning. We were working with our airline partners on all of that," Sniffen said. "There's another 4,000 visitors that we're expecting who want to leave the island from the west side."

Sniffen also noted that traffic on the highways will be congested as people are evacuated and certain areas of the island remain inaccessible.

Acting Gov. Luke also discouraged tourism to Maui as authorities struggle to contain the wildfires.

"This is not a safe place to be in certain parts of Maui," Luke said. "We have shelters that are overrun. We have resources that are being taxed."

Nigel Chiwaya

Helicopters able to take off for water drops as winds reduce

The Kula Fire has not been contained on Maui, but officials are hopeful that the situation will improve now that firefighters can deploy water overhead.

"I think a big thing that was hampering us yesterday is because of the high winds, we were not able to get helicopters in the air," Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. said. "It was not safe for them to do water drops. Apparently as of this morning that situation has improved."

Almost 100 firefighters have been working in shifts, including 11 who work for the state airport firefighting and rescue teams. Maui first responders were also offered assets from other local and federal partners.

The military has provided Black Hawk helicopters and a Chinook helicopter in addition to aircraft from the Hawaii National Guard, according to Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, speaking on behalf of the Department of Defense.

'Focus right now is to save lives and preserve lives'

Maui officials say that it's "impossible" at this point to quantify the structural damage from the deadly fires.

"Our main focus right now is to save lives and preserve lives," Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. said.

FEMA will assist with property assessments, Luke said.

6 deaths confirmed in Maui, mayor says

At least six people have died in the wildfires, and search-and-rescue efforts continue, Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. said.

Bissen said he's unsure of how that number might change as authorities continue to battle the flames.

"There were a lot of people putting things out on social media; we have not had a chance to yet to confirm any of that," he said. "We are still in that phase of gathering information."

More than 2,100 people have been housed in shelters.

Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth said no fatalities had been confirmed in his county.

Burn patients flown to Honolulu

Several burn patients from Maui were being treated at Straub Medical Center, the hospital said in a statement. The facility has the only specialized burn unit in Hawaii.

The Honolulu Emergency Services Department transported one woman in her 60s from Maui to the burn center, agency spokesperson Shayne Enright said. The woman was in critical condition.

The department has also received reports of multiple patients being flown from Maui to Honolulu, she said.

Maui issues water conservation advisory

Alicia Victoria Lozano

Maui's water department is asking consumers across the island to conserve water to reduce demand and extend existing supplies.

 "The Department of Water Supply urges all residents and visitors to please be mindful of their water use and especially reduce outdoor water use," it said in a statement. "The Water Department is working diligently to ensure our resources are used as efficiently as possible and we need the community to do their part."

Customers are asked to not wash cars, sidewalks or driveways, or irrigate lawns until further notice.

Hawaii governor says he expects ‘some loss of life’ in wildfire catastrophe

Marlene Lenthang

Green said Wednesday he anticipates there will be casualties as a result of the wind-fueled wildfires scorching the islands.

“Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring, but some loss of life is expected,” he said in a statement. 

Green called the severe weather a “terrible disaster,” noting the wildfires have “spread widely” because of Dora's winds and the region already had underlying drought conditions. 

“Much of Lāhainā on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced,” he said. 

Green said he anticipates submitting a request for a presidential disaster declaration in the next 36 to 48 hours once the damage extent is assessed. 

He had been on personal travel until Aug. 15 but will return to the islands Wednesday night to respond to the crisis. 

Hawaii officials to hold news conference on wildfire

Hawaii state officials will host a briefing on the wildfires and the impact of Dora at 10 a.m. local time (4 p.m. ET) Wednesday. 

Luke, who is serving as acting governor because Green is traveling, will speak, along with the Hawaii County and Maui County mayors.

Emergency proclamation issued for Maui air travel

Luke issued an emergency proclamation Wednesday to extend the state of emergency to all counties and to discourage “non-essential air travel to Maui.”

The proclamation cited ongoing wildfires in Hawaii, fanned by Dora's winds.

“This is an unprecedented disaster as an indirect result of Hurricane Dora passing just south of our islands,” Luke said. “It is truly devastating and my heart goes out to the residents of Maui and all those impacted.”

The proclamation discouraging travel will allow the state to “prioritize our scarce resources for Maui residents who desperately need assistance," she said. 

Under the proclamation, visitors to West Maui are encouraged to depart the island as soon and as safely as possible. 

Wednesday's announcement follows Tuesday’s initial emergency proclamation authorizing the activation of the National Guard and authorizing state general revenue funds to be used for relief. 

It has already been a devastating year for extreme weather

Denise Chow

It may be days or weeks before the full extent of damage from the wildfires in Hawaii is known, but the blazes add to what has already been a devastating year of weather and climate disasters.

A report released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that there were more billion-dollar disasters in the first seven months of 2023 than in any year since 1980, when the agency began tracking these events .

Scientists at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information said there have been 15 extreme weather events so far this year that each caused at least $1 billion in damage. These included severe storms, tornado outbreaks, hail, one flooding event and one winter storm.

NOAA said these climate and weather disasters caused 113 direct and indirect fatalities and resulted in more than $39.7 billion in damage from January through July.

Hawaiian Airlines offers refunds because of wildfires

Hawaiian Airlines tweeted early Wednesday that it will allow passengers to get refunds or change their travel dates because of ongoing wildfires. 

The airline cited the emergency order in Maui County and the fact that “non-essential travel is being strongly discouraged.”

“We have a travel waiver in place and will allow you to receive a refund or change travel to a future date without penalty," the airline said.

Kihei in Maui is ‘clear’ and residents can return, officials say

Kihei, a census-designated area, is “clear” and residents can return home, Maui County said in an update at 6 a.m. local time (12 p.m. ET). 

Officials also said residents on Ohukai Road can return home, adding the fire in that area is “not a threat.”

However, Lahaina officers were evacuating residents in Launiupoko Estates and Punakea Loop. 

2,000 sheltering at Kahului Airport

Travel in and out of Hawaii has been disrupted because of wildfires burning on several islands, prompting 2,000 travelers from canceled flights and arrivals to shelter at Kahului Airport in Maui County, the county said just before 5 a.m. local time Wednesday. 

So far Wednesday, there have been 27 delays at the airport and two cancellations, following 45 delays and six cancellations Tuesday, according to FlightAware.com . 

Almost 100 firefighters have been on duty, including 11 from state airport rescue personnel, the county said.

Maui County plagued by power outages

More than 14,000 power outages have been reported across Maui County, according to poweroutage.us , a site that collects and monitors live data from utilities across the United States.

Hawaiian Electric, the largest supplier of electricity in the state, said Tuesday that crews are working on extensive repairs to downed power lines in West Maui and Upcountry, and warned customers to be prepared for extended outages.

"With the sustained high wind weather, we are seeing additional impacts to our electrical infrastructure at the same time the crews are making repairs so we are asking customers to please prepare for possible extended outages into the night,” spokesperson Shayna Decker said in a statement Tuesday .

Fires in Hawaii unlike other U.S. wildfires

Associated Press

Fires in Hawaii are unlike many of  those burning in the U.S. West . They tend to break out in large grasslands on the dry sides of the islands and are generally much smaller than mainland fires.

Fires were rare in Hawaii  and on other tropical islands before humans arrived, and native ecosystems evolved without them. This means great environmental damage can occur when fires erupt. For example, fires remove vegetation. When a fire is followed by heavy rainfall, the rain can carry loose soil into the ocean, where it can smother coral reefs.

A  major fire in the Big Island in 2021  burned homes and forced thousands to evacuate.

The island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located, also was dealing with power outages, downed power lines and traffic problems, said Adam Weintraub, communication director for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Hawaii under red flag warning

All the Hawaiian islands are under a red flag warning through 6 p.m. local time Wednesday. 

A red flag warning is an alert issued by the weather service when a combination of very low humidity, warm temperatures and strong winds are expected to combine to cause fires to spread rapidly. The warning serves as a signal to officials and fire managers to be on the lookout for potential wildfires in the area.

The warning is for leeward areas, meaning land that faces away from the wind usually sheltered by hills and mountains, due to strong winds and low humidity, the agency in Honolulu said in a morning advisory . 

“Very dry fuels combined with strong and gusty easterly winds and low humidities will produce critical fire weather conditions through the afternoon hours,” the advisory said. 

East winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts from 40 to 50 mph are forecast, along with humidity levels at 40-45% through the afternoon.

“Any fires that develops will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended,” the agency warned. 

Schools closed in Maui on Wednesday

Schools were shuttered Wednesday due to spreading brush fires and evacuations in Maui. 

Closures in West Maui: Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena Elementary, King Kamehameha III Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate, Lahainaluna High.

Closures in South Maui: Kihei Elementary, Lokelani Intermediate, Kamali‘i Elementary and Kūlanihāko‘i High.

In Upcountry Maui, King Kekaulike High was closed and in Central Maui, Maui High was being used as an evacuation shelter. 

Coast Guard rescues 12 Hawaii residents who fled into water

Twelve people were rescued overnight Tuesday by the Coast Guard after entering the ocean to escape blazes burning in West Maui, a Coast Guard spokesperson said.

All were in stable condition when recovered. 

“The Coast Guard has been responding to impacted areas where residents are entering the ocean due to smoke and fire conditions,” Maui County said in a  public notice . “Individuals were transported by the Coast Guard to safe areas.”

The U.S. Coast Guard tweeted that a dozen people were rescued near Lahaina by a 45-foot response boat from the Coast Guard’s Maui Station.

"The USCG continues the joint response with federal and state partners while the USCG Cutter Kimball is en route to Maui to enhance efforts," it said.

Wildfires continue to burn across Big Island and Maui on Wednesday.

Winds strengthened by hurricane helped fuel devastating fires

Strong winds driven by Dora, which has been churning over the central Pacific Ocean and moving west, helped whip up wildfires that spread quickly in Hawaii.

The weather service Tuesday warned that 45 mph winds and gusts up to 60 mph could create "high fire danger with rapid spread."

The winds strengthened by the hurricane exacerbated multiple fires in Maui and hampered efforts to put the blazes out, the Associated Press reported. Helicopter crews were unable to dump water on the fires to help contain the spread, and downed trees and power lines blocked some road access.

Dora was passing more than 500 miles south of Hawaii, and was not expected to make landfall on the island chain. The Category 4 storm is not thought to be directly responsible for the wildfires, but rather added to dry and windy conditions that heighten the risk of such blazes.

Hundreds evacuated, homes destroyed

In the Kula area of Maui, 80 people were evacuated from 40 homes, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said Tuesday .

He said at least two homes were destroyed in a fire that engulfed about 1,100 acres.

He noted that fierce winds were the biggest challenge in confronting the blazes, as the wind conditions are unsafe for helicopters to do water drops.

Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth said that about 400 homes in four communities in the northern part of the island were evacuated Tuesday. He said one roof had caught fire.

Where the blazes are

Two brush fires were burning Tuesday in the Big Island in North and South Kohala, Hawai’i County officials said. 

“A mandatory evacuation was called for in the Kohala Ranch area, and 2 residents have taken shelter at Hisaoka Gymnasium,” the county said in a public notice Tuesday.

Evacuation shelters were opened at Hisaoka Gym in Kapaʻau and the Waimea Community Center in Waimea, officials said.

Wildfires are also burning in Maui, with the biggest blaze believed to be in Lahaina .

An emergency proclamation was issued Tuesday by Lt. Gov Sylvia Luke, activating the Hawaii National Guard. 

Evacuations in Big Island and Maui

Evacuations are underway in Big Island and Maui amid wildfires that are raging across the area, fueled by winds associated with Dora . 

No fatalities reported in wildfire

Officials were not aware of any deaths and knew of only one injury, a firefighter who was in stable condition at a hospital after experiencing smoke inhalation, Maui County spokesperson Mahina Martin said in a phone interview early Wednesday.

There’s no count available for the number of structures affected by the fires or the number of people affected by evacuations, but she said there are four shelters open, with more than 1,000 people at the largest.

“This is so unprecedented,” she said, noting that multiple districts were affected. An emergency in the night is terrifying, she said, and the darkness makes it hard to gauge the extent of the damage.

Bus routes suspended because of fires

Several transportation services were disrupted Wednesday due to wildfires burning in Maui. 

The Lahaina Islander Route #20, Lahaina Villager Route #23, Kaanapali Islander Route #25, and West Maui Islander Route #28 were suspended until further notice, the county said in a public notice .

Maui Bus ADA Paratransit Service and MEO Human Service Transportation trips to and from and within West Maui were also suspended. 

“All Maui Bus Commuter Services will be suspended until further notice,” the county said.

911 service down in Maui’s west side

First responders faced a hurdle in grappling with wildfires burning in Maui as 911 service went down early Wednesday.

Maui County said on social media the service was unavailable in the island’s west side at 12 a.m. local time (6 a.m. ET).

Locals are urged to call the Lahaina Police Department directly in case of an emergency.

What it’s like visiting Maui after the fires — and is now the right time to head to Hawaii?

Hawaii wants you to visit.

Despite what you may have heard in the aftermath of the devastating Maui wildfires, Hawaii needs tourists to return. That's the message not just from those running tourism boards but from those who live there.

I've just returned from a trip to Oahu and Maui to see firsthand what it's like as the people of Hawaii recover from what state leaders call the worst natural disaster in its history.

At least 97 people were killed , and nearly the entire historic port of Lahaina burned to the ground, but despite the horrific disaster on that part of the island, most of Maui is physically untouched. Emotionally, of course, the disaster has impacted the entire island. However, at this point, tourism workers, local residents and Hawaiian officials all told me they need tourists to return to stabilize the already-battered economy of Maui and the wider Hawaiian Islands. While you can never put a price on the destruction the fire brought to people and lives, analysts estimate the fires caused a loss of between $4 and $6 billion to the state's economy.

On the ground, I found Maui little changed outside of the devastated Lahaina region, with the major caveat that tourists should stay out of fire-burned areas.

Visitors are welcome in Hawaii, including Maui

"The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is supporting residents who work in the hospitality industry and business owners who rely on visitors by encouraging mindful visitation to the island," Ilihia Gionson, public affairs officer at the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, said. "The best way to support Maui's recovery is for travelers to continue with their Maui vacations — don't cancel those trips."

Jeremy Kaialiilii, who helped deliver relief supplies to impacted families through his Epic Ministry church group, said he and other locals want people to come back, but just to be respectful. He told me that the Wailea area is eager for people to return. He also said the fires have made the community stronger. "I think the community is coming back together."

"Please come still," Noa Kamalu said during our November 2023 visit. He works doing ocean activities at one of the major resorts in Wailea, and he was born and raised on the North Shore of Maui. He continued, "We want you here. Just respect the area and where you are going ... our island does need tourism, and when people were saying 'don't come, don't come,' a lot of [us] were like, 'No, we need you to come.' Our island survives off tourism."

The truth is that there were indeed mixed messages regarding tourism in the aftermath of the fires and not just referencing immediate visits. Some locals said that visitors should stay away to respect the people who had lost so much. However, that message got spread a little too well or persisted perhaps too long for some small businesses and residents who rely on tourism dollars for their income.

Tourism is down for much of Hawaii , according to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

It's especially bad in Maui. According to the most recent statistics from the Hawaii Bureau of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, "In October 2023, there were 132,909 visitors on Maui, down significantly compared to October 2022 (-42.3%) and October 2019 (-44.2%)."

Visitor spending was down more than $100 million from last year and down 14% from pre-pandemic 2019.

Avoid the Lahaina area altogether

There have been problems with disaster tourism in Lahaina, unfortunately.

Kamalu said a lot of tourists are "being real nosy. They're not giving the people the space that they would want. A lot of the local residents just want them to make their way through Lahaina, if they're going to Kaanapali, to their hotels, they don't want them to stop because it's real hard for some of the people there still, and they are having a hard time just getting to their houses as well."

"Some people take it too far, Kamalu added, "They are getting out of their cars and walking into the areas where they're not supposed to be, or locals are trying to get in and out of Lahaina fast 'cause they have work, or they have things going on, and people are going real slow cause they just want to see things and keep pushing through. A lot of people are complaining about the traffic now in Lahaina just because people want to stop and check out what happened. Just try to give them their space."

"Try to leave Lahaina Town alone for just a little while," Kamalu continued. "... just to let them figure out what they need to do to help get things back up and going and putting things in motion to start rebuilding our Lahaina Town and all the houses that were burnt down."

My advice if you are planning a trip to Maui? Avoid the Lahaina area altogether.

Even though there are some hotels open again in Kaanapali, staying there would not be my first choice or recommendation at the moment. There have been protests over housing in West Maui, with locals saying displaced residents should get priority in places like Kaanapali. Indeed some local residents are still being housed in resorts in the area .

Gionson with the Hawai'i Tourism Authority echoed those statements. After saying that visitation is welcomed and encouraged, he also said, "We are asking for respectful, compassionate, responsible travel ... this includes staying away from the fire-affected area of Lahaina Town out of respect for the survivors and practicing patience and compassion with all."

Kaialiilii said the incidents that occurred in Lahaina with people walking and taking pictures, "... that's just a fraction with everyone else being respectful."

How else to be a good visitor to Maui

The most obvious thing is that visitors should not be taking photos of memorials or of fire damage, and taking selfies with anything of that nature is obviously a terrible idea.

Gionson suggested one way that visitors can express aloha is by refraining from asking local residents about what they have been through: "... a well-intentioned question may be unwelcome to a disaster survivor.

"Visitors can also malama (care for) the people of Maui by shopping at locally-owned businesses, eating at local restaurants and enjoying the many great activities and attractions throughout the rest of the island," Gionson said.

If you want to give back even more, there are an abundance of incredible volunteer opportunities in Hawaii. Why not spend a day of your trip working on a local farm or helping at a local food bank? You can volunteer to donate time (or money) at Mauinuistrong.info.

Try other parts of Maui, but don't skip the island

Kamalu suggested that visitors head to other parts of Maui. "Just because our Lahaina side is going through a rough time, we wanted people to come to the South side. We are open. We have a lot of rooms down here."

Indeed, that's one of the things I did during my stay. I spent several days in Wailea before a trip to Hana.

There is plenty to see and do in Maui without going near the Lahaina area. I spent several glorious nights at the Andaz Maui (review coming soon). Just down the coast is the Four Seasons Maui, where they filmed the first season of HBO's "White Lotus." With a plethora of resorts spread around the island, this is a good time to explore places that are a little more off-the-beaten-path.

In fact, my brother and I took a small plane to Hana, which is world-famous for the treacherous but beautiful Road to Hana. The Hana-Maui Resort is a World of Hyatt property and is simply gorgeous — more to come on my time in Hana, too.

And don't sleep on the North Shore, where it's less touristy and more rugged.

Bottom line

After my recent trip to Maui and Oahu, I can report that Hawaii is fully open for business outside of the area of the island that was directly impacted by the fire. Now may be a great time to visit as the number of tourists is down.

You'll find not only fewer crowds right now, but prices have moderated some since the height of the return-to-travel boom after pandemic-related restrictions were lifted. It's very important that visitors are respectful and avoid areas most affected by the fires. Don't be "that guy" who tries to do disaster tourism.

GoHawaii.com is the official travel site of the Hawaiian Islands and can be a great resource for those planning a trip. You can also visit Maui County's comprehensive website with information on volunteering and donating at www.mauinuistrong.info.

Kaialiilii had a great message — he has lots of hope for the recovery and the rebuilding processes. "Pray for everybody," he said. "Everyone is going to bounce back from this. Maui is still Maui ... the island is filled with a whole bunch of Aloha and love still."

"We still want you here," Kamalu shared. "We want everyone here. "

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Is it safe to visit Hawaii right now? What travelers should know about the Maui wildfires

Tourists are being asked stay away from West Maui amid historic wildfires that have claimed at least 96 lives.

"Visitors in West Maui have largely heeded the call to leave the island, and hotels and other accommodations are needed for displaced residents and emergency workers," said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green in an emergency proclamation Sunday strongly discouraging nonessential travel to West Maul.

Previous proclamations expanded the essential travel zone to all of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, where fires have also been burning in the northwest. A state of emergency remains in effect for the entire state.

Hawaii's tourism arm is encouraging travelers with trips planned to impacted areas to reschedule their trips if possible. 

Is it safe to travel to Hawaii now?

For now, only essential travel is advised for West Maui.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

“In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses,” Hawai’i Tourism Authority said in a statement. 

Maui’s Kahului Airport remains open, but travelers are advised to check with their airlines for possible schedule changes.

Death toll is climbing: How to help victims in the Maui wildfires in Hawaii

Is it safe to travel to other areas of Hawaii right now?

Travel to other parts of the Big Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Lanai remains safe.

Prominent Hawai’i hotel chain Outrigger is inviting guests with upcoming Maui reservations to rebook at one of their properties on neighboring islands.

Can I get a refund for my trip?

Travelers should check with their specific hotels and airlines for special waivers amid the wildfires.

Air Canada , Alaska Airlines , American Airlines , Delta Air Lines , Hawaiian Airlines , Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are all offering penalty-free assistance with Maui travel, though dates vary.

Vacation rentals can sometimes be trickier to navigate when emergencies arise, but Vrbo's parent company Expedia Groups says, "For bookings in Maui and portions of the Big Island with a stay date between Aug. 9-16, Vrbo has waived host penalties for cancellations, which means hosts can cancel and refund their guests without worrying about how it will affect their listing performance in a future guest’s searches."

Both guests and hosts can cancel Airbnb stays without penalty in Maui and other areas of Hawaii as part of the company's Extenuating Circumstances Policy , which covers declared emergencies and other unforeseen events. Guests are eligible for full refunds under the policy.

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Hawaii Gov. Says Travelers Can Visit Unaffected Parts of Maui, Rest of State, Amid Wildfire Recovery

"What we’re saying now is travel should not be to West Maui. But the other parts of Maui are safe,” Gov. Josh Green said during a press conference this week.

Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

As Hawai’i continues to rebuild from the devastating and deadly wildfires that swept through the western region of Maui, the state’s leadership is encouraging travel to the other islands and even parts of Maui that were not affected by the wildfires.  In a news conference this week, Hawaii’s Gov. Josh Green and its tourism board advised travelers that they're still welcome to visit the other islands of Hawaii. “Like we saw in the pandemic, decisions we made can affect everyone across the islands. So what we’re saying now is travel should not be to West Maui. But the other parts of Maui are safe,” Green said at the press event.

Green added that the rest of the state is safe for visiting, and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority advised visitors to follow the procedures provided by the Governor as well.  The Tourism Authority advised that visitors should not visit Lāhainā “as the search and recovery efforts continue”, but did encourage travelers to visit the following areas of Maui including:

The State of Hawaii has set up the Maui Strong website which provides the latest news updates and resources for those affected by the wildfires. Tourists should monitor official government websites and check with their airline for the latest updates on traveling throughout Hawaii.  

Travel + Leisure has also compiled a list of additional relief organizations to donate to. Following the wildfires tragic devastation, there was a vocal push on social media from celebrities and organizations encouraging people not to visit Maui. The newly updated guidance from the state provides clarification that visitors are welcome to certain areas of Maui, and the other islands.  In a report “Benefits of Hawaii’s Tourism Economy,” the Tourism Authority shared that over 10 million people visited Hawaii, and spent $17.75 billion in 2019. This brought in over $2 billion in state tax revenue for the state.  

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What to do if you have plans to travel to Hawaii amid the wildfires

The ongoing wildfires in Hawaii have prompted local officials to ask tourists not to visit some areas, despite it being a destination state during the peak of summer travel season.

The wildfires have become the deadliest in modern U.S. history with the death toll at 99 and counting and have forced more than 11,000 people to evacuate. Local officials issued a state of emergency in the counties of Maui and Hawai'i on Aug. 8.

Josh Green, the governor of Hawaii, said in a recent release that accommodations usually available for tourists have been repurposed to aid displaced residents and emergency workers.

"All nonessential travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged for the duration of this proclamation," he said. "Visitors in West Maui have largely heeded the call to leave the island, and hotels and other accommodations are needed for displaced residents and emergency workers."

Which islands in Hawaii are affected by the wildfires?

West Maui, specifically the town of Lahaina, has been the hardest hit area and hotels there have temporarily stopped accepting tourist bookings, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority .

For travel plans involving Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea and Mākena, the HTA recommends contacting hotels and other scheduled accommodations to confirm they are still able to offer their services.

"Travel to the other Hawaiian Islands, like Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, is not affected at this time," the HTA's website says.

If you have a hotel reservation in Maui, can you cancel?

"While efforts are underway to fully restore electrical power, municipal water and communications, visitors are encouraged to refrain from attempting to reach West Maui accommodations for reservation adjustments until the situation stabilizes," the HTA recommends.

How to cancel your flights to Maui

American, Delta, Southwest and United are among six major airlines that have issued guidance for flexible cancellations or reschedulings due to the wildfires. More information is available here.

When is it safe to visit Hawaii again?

There is currently no time table for when the wildfires will end or for when local officials will lift the state of emergency and travel restrictions.

The current guidance prioritizes the needs of locals and requests tourists to amend their travel plans.

How to help those affected by the Hawaii wildfires right now

There's an array of organizations pouring resources into the affected areas as their availability allows. Here's more information on them and how to make a donation.

Randi Richardson is a reporter for NBC News' TODAY.com based in Brooklyn.

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Effects from Maui fires felt deeply across islands

by: Nicole Napuunoa , Elizabeth 'Ufi , Max Rodriguez , Lucy Lopez

Posted: Aug 8, 2023 / 05:45 AM HST

Updated: Aug 9, 2023 / 10:37 PM HST

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Maui officials said Wednesday that though weather conditions have improved, there are no changes in containment of the Lahaina, Pulehu and Upcountry fires that have been raging since Tuesday.

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On Tuesday, an emergency proclamation was issued in response to the fires and that proclamation was extended Wednesday morning.

The National Guard said they have deployed Chinooks that are actively assisting in fighting the fires. Guardsmen are also on Maui, assisting with traffic control, security, and search and rescue.

According to an early morning update on Wednesday, emergency services officials said they are treating three burn victims from Maui who have been sent to Oahu. More patients are expected to be flown out.

Active evacuations in effect for residents in these areas:

• Lahaina area: Wahikuli subdivision
• Kula area: Holopuni and Pulehu roads
• Subdivisions north and south of Lipoa Parkway down to Maui Meadows
• Kaanapali area: Kualapa Loop, Puu Anoano Street, Hakui Loop, Wekiu Place, Kaanapali Golf Estates

Kula residents, north of Ohukai Road, were allowed to return home Wednesday morning.

For those searching for loved ones, the American Red Cross is acting as a clearinghouse for reconnecting those who are missing. Anyone searching for loved ones is asked to call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

For those leaving Maui for Oahu, the convention center will be setup as a shelter for those that need the assistance.

For the latest visuals being sent in from Maui, click here .

Open shelters:

• Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center — located in Pukalani
• Maui High School — located in Kahului
• Maui Preparatory Academy — located in Lahaina
• War Memorial Center — located in Wailuku

Lahaina Civic Center and Kihei Community Center were used as evacuation sites, however evacuees were moved to other shelters as a precautionary measure.

Maui County is reminding evacuees that shelters do not provide bedding, toiletries and personal care items.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 2,000 people sought services at shelters, according to the American Red Cross who is staffing the shelters.

Those wanting to assist by donating to shelters, may do so at War Memorial. It will be open for drop-offs Wednesday and Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Among the items being accepted are: non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene items and blankets. Officials are asking that donations not be dropped off at fire stations.

The airport is also acting as a shelter for visitors who can’t get to their hotel. Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke told KHON2 that there are 2,000 sheltering in the airport.

Active road closures:

• No traffic, except emergency personnel, is being allowed into West Maui
• Honoapiilani Highway remains open outbound only — closed at Maalaea to Lahaina bound traffic
• Kahekili Highway closed at Waihee to Lahaina bound traffic
• Pulehu Road closed between Omaopio Road and Kula Highway
• Lahainaluna Road is closed between Honoapiilani Highway and the Lahaina Bypass
• Haleakala Highway between Kulalani Drive and Kualono Place and between Kula Highway and L. Kimo Drive
• Kealaloa Road is closed from Hanamu Road to Haleakala Highway

“One thing we want to make sure is that if you’re ordered to evacuate — evacuate, road closures are fast-moving depending on the necessity of it as our fire crews and our police officers deem necessary in both locations of upcountry and west Maui,” said spokesperson Mahina Martin.

She added residents should only evacuate when ordered to leave. If you are not in the immediate danger area, you’re asked to shelter in place.

Active school closures:

Due to unsafe conditions, all HIDOE public schools on Maui will be closed on Wednesday with the exception of Hana High and Elementary which will remain open.

According to the HIDEO, student boarders at Lahainaluna High School were transported to Maui High School Tuesday evening to be picked up by family members or on-island emergency contacts.

Kamehameha Schools Maui will also be closed due to the fire. Officials said “there is no immediate danger to the campus” but cited air quality as a deciding factor.

Suspended Maui bus and Human Service Transportation services:

• Lahaina Islander Route #20
• Lahaina Villager Route #23
• Kaanapali Islander Route #25
• West Maui Islander Route #28
• Maui Bus ADA Paratransit Service
• MEO Human Service Transportation trips to/from and within the West Maui
• All Maui Bus Commuter Services

Maui County said bus riders can check the Maui Bus app for the latest updates.

While all other bus services are planned to run as scheduled, commuters may experience delays.

Impacts on businesses:

Central Pacific Bank announced its Lahaina Branch will be closed on Wednesday. Bank of Hawaii’s Lahaina and Kahanu branches are closed until further notice. Central Pacific Bank closed their Lahaina and Kihei branches.

Kaiser Permanente clinics in Lahaina and Kihei are closed. Members will be contacted to reschedule appointments.

Haleakalā National Park announced it is closed until conditions improve due to blocked road access due to the fires and winds. Camping reservations are canceled as well as sunrise reservations on Wednesday.

All public libraries on Maui are closed.

Catholic Charities announced they’re closing their Maui office for the remainder of the week.

Young Brothers have delayed its “combo sailing” to Kaumalapau/Kaunakakai until Wednesday morning. It will arrive Wednesday night and they will then attempt to enter Kaumalapau on Thursday.

Previously in Kula

Maui fire crews had batted a brush fire all night long in the upcountry area of Kula.

Crews were focusing on battling the fire up in Kula and strong winds did not help those efforts — with 80 miles per hour winds at times. Due to the wind conditions, all firefighting efforts are being done on the ground.

Residents in Kula were ordered to evacuate their homes early Tuesday as a brushfire burned near the 200 subdivision off Aulii Drive.

Evacuations occurred at:

• Lahainaluna Road
• Hale Mahaolu
• Kelawea Mauka
• Lahaina Bypass.

MFD remained at the site of the fire that burned an estimated 675 acres of pastureland and gulches, including two structures, in the Olinda area.

Strong winds impacting power outages

Upcountry residents are asked to conserve water due to power outages affecting water access in some areas.

We had power outages because of that so that caused several road closures. Also upcountry there were downed trees which also had impact on our power. Also caused road closures — school closures. The important thing about that is letting our people know to not to go near any downed power lines assume that they’re all energized.” Maui Mayor Richard Bissen

Power outages were also affecting the island in the Lahaina area. HECO said power was restored to some parts but was still working on restoring power to parts of West Maui and Olinda-Piiholo.

The mayor said crews are working to restore power as quickly as possible — in the meantime, they ask residents to conserve water as electricity is needed to pump the water into homes.

Officials also ask drivers to be careful as lots of debris has been seen on the roadway.

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Hawaii Travel Discouraged Amid Fires: How to Change Your Plans

Sean Cudahy is a freelance reporter specializing in coverage of airlines, travel, loyalty programs and public policy. A journalist of nine years, Sean most recently served as a general assignment reporter at The Points Guy, following an eight-year run as a local television news reporter. He lives with his wife and their French Bulldog outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

Giselle M. Cancio is an editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.

She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.

She is based in Miami.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Wildfires in Hawaii continue to cause devastation, displacing thousands of residents, destroying property, closing roads and, tragically, leading to the deaths of dozens of people on the island of Maui.

The situation has also prompted the evacuation of many tourists from the island while leaving uncertainty for those planning trips in the coming days and weeks.

President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for the state on Thursday.

As firefighters and other emergency responders continue to help with the catastrophic damage, state officials strongly discourage nonessential travel to Maui.

(Image courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority)

This could affect travel in the coming weeks.

Flexible airline policies in place

To assist with the evacuation efforts, airlines have been selling steeply discounted tickets to help travelers and residents more easily depart.

Numerous airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines , Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines , have sold $19 one-way tickets from Maui to cities on other islands, including Honolulu.

Airlines have also issued travel alerts, which typically allow even customers with restrictive tickets, such as basic economy, to make changes, cancel or get a refund. Airlines frequently take this step when there’s a natural disaster and travel is complicated or discouraged.

Southwest, for instance, says customers with reservations with trips to, from or through Kahului (Maui) and Hilo (Hawaii Island), Honolulu (Oahu), Kona (Hawaii Island), and Lihue (Kauai) can alter plans, rebook or travel standby within 14 days of the original flight date without any extra charges.

Other airlines have travel advisories in place, too, making change policies more flexible.

Keep an eye on your airline’s website for updated alerts if you have plans to travel to Maui in the upcoming days. Check your reservation online or in the airline’s app to see if your trip is affected. You may be able to make a change online without waiting to speak with a customer service agent over the phone.

When will Maui be open again?

As emergency responders continue to contain the wildfires in Maui, it’s still unclear when the island will be safe again for tourists to visit.

Some hotels on Maui have temporarily shuttered operations and will remain closed for the coming days.

For instance, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa has an advisory on its website that states it’s closed to arrivals and not accepting guests through Aug. 17. It’s refunding deposits and prepayments for even those guests who made nonrefundable reservations.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority encourages any travelers with plans to visit Maui in the next few weeks to check with their airlines and hotels about the travel status.

“In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses,” the agency said in an advisory on its website.

Can you use travel insurance for Hawaii wildfires?

Travelers planning to visit Maui in the coming weeks may wonder whether travel insurance might help.

Generally, travel insurance policies will not cover cancellations or evacuation costs related to a natural disaster if the customer purchases the policy after the disaster begins.

However, if you have a policy purchased before the wildfires began, then you may be able to recoup losses related to trip cancellation, interruption, or — for those who have been on Maui this week and had to leave suddenly — emergency evacuation.

Travel insurance can help you recoup prepaid expenses such as flights or hotel costs if the emergency prevented you from moving forward with your trip.

If you're a traveler without a travel insurance plan with an upcoming trip to Maui, it’s a good time to check if the credit card you used to book your trip offers trip protection benefits . This might be of help if you end up needing to cancel.

» Learn more: How do travel insurance claims work?

The bottom line

The situation in Maui will likely remain fluid for weeks as the community and officials deal with the aftermath of this week’s wildfires.

If you have travel planned to the island within the coming weeks, closely monitor updates from your airline, hotel and the Hawaii Tourism Authority to make the best decision.

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The Lahaina fire worsened Maui’s housing shortage. Now officials eye limiting tourist Airbnb rentals

Papakea Resort is seen on Monday, June 24, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The mayor of Maui County in Hawaii wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation properties from renting to visitors. Instead, he wants the units rented long-term to people who live on Maui to address a chronic housing shortage that intensified after last August’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Jeremy Stice, who manages more than 40 vacation rental properties, poses for a portrait at The Ridge Villas on Monday, June 24, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The mayor of Maui County in Hawaii wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation properties from renting to visitors. Instead, he wants the units rented long-term to people who live on Maui to address a chronic housing shortage that intensified after last August’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Maui Eldorado is seen on Monday, June 24, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii.The mayor of Maui County in Hawaii wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation properties from renting to visitors. Instead, he wants the units rented long-term to people who live on Maui to address a chronic housing shortage that intensified after last August’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Jeremy Stice, who manages more than 40 vacation rental properties, talks about the short-term rentals along the coast at The Ridge Villas on Monday, June 24, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The mayor of Maui County in Hawaii wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation properties from renting to visitors. Instead, he wants the units rented long-term to people who live on Maui to address a chronic housing shortage that intensified after last August’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Maui Eldorado isseen on Monday, June 24, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The mayor of Maui County in Hawaii wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation properties from renting to visitors. Instead, he wants the units rented long-term to people who live on Maui to address a chronic housing shortage that intensified after last August’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Papakea Resort stands on Monday, June 24, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The mayor of Maui County in Hawaii wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation properties from renting to visitors. Instead, he wants the units rented long-term to people who live on Maui to address a chronic housing shortage that intensified after last August’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Jeremy Stice, who manages more than 40 vacation rental properties, walks around The Ridge Villas on Monday, June 24, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The Ridge Villas with 142 units for short-term rental is part of the 101 properties that the County of Maui may begin phasing out as early as 2025. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

FILE - The aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, is viewed Aug. 17, 2023. The mayor of Maui County wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation rentals from renting to visitors. Instead, he wants the units rented long-term to people who live on Maui to address a chronic housing shortage that intensified after last August’s deadly wildfire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

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HONOLULU (AP) — Alicia Humiston bought her condo in Lahaina after she visited Maui and fell for its rainforests, lava fields and the whales that gather offshore. She travels there about three times a year and rents out her unit for short periods when she’s not in Hawaii.

“Maui was my dream place,” she said in a phone interview from her home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

But now Maui’s mayor wants to make it impossible for Humiston and thousands of other condo owners to rent their properties to tourists. Instead, he wants them rented long-term to Maui locals to address a chronic housing shortage that reached a new crisis point after last August’s deadly wildfire burned the homes of 12,000 residents.

The mayor’s proposal faces multiple legislative and bureaucratic hurdles, starting Tuesday with a Maui Planning Commission meeting. Yet it has inflamed an already-heated debate about the future of one of the world’s best-known travel destinations: Will Maui continue to cater to tourists, who power the local economy? Or will it curb tourism to address persistent complaints that visitors are overwhelming the island’s beaches and roads and making housing unaffordable?

About one-third of Maui’s visitors use vacation rentals. They tend to cost less than hotels and are easy to reserve on websites like Airbnb and VRBO. Many have kitchens, so families can prepare their own food.

They have also become a source of strife , particularly after last year’s conflagration in Lahaina — the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century. The fire tore through the historic town, killing at least 101 people and leaving nothing but rubble and ash for blocks. Thousands of displaced locals were temporarily housed in hotels usually reserved for tourists, and most survivors still lack stable housing.

Even before the fire, University of Hawaii researchers say so many property owners were renting to tourists — and so few new dwellings were being built — that Maui County suffered a net loss of housing since 2019.

An analysis of property tax records shows 85% of Maui County’s condos are owned by out-of-state residents, said Justin Tyndall, an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Transitioning them would boost Maui’s residential housing stock by 13%, which Tyndall said would almost certainly lead to lower buying prices and rents.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen believes that under his proposal, those lower rents would keep locals on Maui because absentee landlords would be forced to either sell their units or convert them to long-term rentals.

There are 7,000 condo units in apartment zones, including 2,200 in West Maui near the Lahaina burn zone, and they account for about half of Maui’s legally operated short-term rentals. If enacted, the change would take effect in West Maui no later than July 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026 elsewhere.

“We understand that there’s going to be a give and take. So the question is, what is most important?” Bissen said at a news conference last month. “My priority is housing our local residents - especially now.”

Humiston, president of the Hawaii Rental By Owner Awareness Association, which opposes the bill, won’t sell her one-bedroom, oceanfront condo that she bought two decades ago if the bill became law. She also doesn’t plan to rent it long-term.

“It would take my ability to use my property. And I bought it for my use,” she said. “I love it there.”

Some warn that reducing the supply of lodging for visitors will ruin the tourism industry Maui’s economy depends on, though backers of the mayor’s bill say many vacation rentals will remain and hotels will have empty rooms visitors can stay in.

Hawaii economist Paul Brewbaker calculates that changing the rules for the affected units, which account for one-third of Maui’s visitor accommodations, would result in 33% fewer tourists and cost Maui 14,000 jobs. He called it a “slow-motion train-wreck” that would lead to an “economic crash and burn.”

Maui County Chair Alice Lee said that while housing for residents is a real concern, the council must also consider legal challenges from property owners and the potential hit on tax revenue.

The county collects $500 million in real property taxes annually and more than 40% comes from short-term rentals, which are taxed at a higher rate than owner-occupied residences, she said.

“We are being sued by over 600 people regarding the fire. We have that many lawsuits pending. Do we really want to put ourselves in a position to invite thousands more?” Lee said. “I really don’t think so, because my main concern right now, at this very moment, is to pay the bills and keep the lights on.”

The county has budgeted $300,000 to study the bill’s impact on tax revenue and businesses like landscaping and cleaning services.

Jeremy Stice, a real estate agent who was born and raised on Maui, and his wife have spent 12 years building a company that today manages more than 40 vacation rental properties, mostly for other owners. About half of them would be affected by the measure, said Stice, who is also president of the Maui Vacation Rental Association.

Stice isn’t sure local residents would buy — or could afford — short-term rental units even if they do become available for permanent housing.

For example, a studio in Papakea, one of the targeted condo complexes, would sell for about $600,000, he said. A 30-year-fixed mortgage at current interest rates, plus the homeowner association fees, would total about $5,000 a month for a small space, he said.

If locals don’t buy them, and tourists don’t rent them, it’s possible the units would sit mostly empty as second homes for wealthy absentee owners — an even worse outcome.

To prevent that, the county should raise taxes on second homes, create incentives to promote long-term rentals and prioritize new housing construction, said Matt Jachowski, a Maui housing data consultant.

“The only way out of this housing crisis is to do everything — to do everything in our power to add more resident housing,” he said.

• ENVIRONMENT

Wildfires can move shockingly fast. Here’s how they start—and how to stop them.

In the past two decades, the number of Americans at risk of experiencing a wildfire has doubled. Learn what you need to do if one is near you.

In the wake of Maui's deadly wildfires—where many died, and a historic town once known as the capital of Hawaii's monarchy was destroyed—residents and tourists are reeling from the damage.  

The fires that burned through the island were worsened by intense winds from a nearby hurricane and drought conditions. Some experts have also said invasive grasses not native to the island created more flammable conditions that fed the fire's flames. Hawaii is not historically known for wildfires, but—like many parts of the world—is seeing more intense fires because of climate change and mismanaged land.  

Wildfires can burn millions of acres of land at shockingly fast speeds, consuming everything in their paths. These rolling flames travel up to 14 miles an hour, which converts to about a four-minute-mile pace, and can overtake the average human in minutes.

Destruction caused by wildfires in the United States has significantly increased in the last two decades. An average of 72,400 wildfires cleared an average of 7 million acres   of U.S. land each year since 2000, double the number of acres   scorched by wildfires in the 1990s. In 2015, the largest wildfire season recorded in U.S. history burned more than 10 million acres of land.

Because much of the U.S. is expected to get hotter and drier with climate change, wildfire risk is generally expected to rise . At the same time, as the population in the United States rises and people increasingly move into rural and wilderness areas, more homes and other structures are likely to be placed in harm’s way.  

That’s why it’s critical to understand how wildfires get started, how to stop them, and what to do when they occur.

Fuel their curiosity with your gift

How wildfires start.

Though they are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as natural disasters , only 10 to 15 percent of wildfires occur on their own in nature. The other 85 to 90 percent result from human causes , including unattended camp and debris fires, discarded cigarettes, and arson.

Naturally occurring wildfires can spark during dry weather and droughts. In these conditions, normally green vegetation becomes bone-dry, flammable fuel; strong winds spread fire quickly; and warm temperatures encourage combustion. With these ingredients, the only thing missing is a spark—in the form of lightning , arson, a downed power line, or a burning campfire or cigarette—to wreak havoc.

See photos of wildfires

Natural or man-made, three conditions must be present for a wildfire to burn: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Firefighters call these three elements the fire triangle.

Fuel is any flammable material surrounding a fire, including trees, grasses, brush, even homes. The greater an area's fuel load, the more intense the fire is likely to be. The most wildfire-prone state is California, which lost 2,569,386 acres   of land to 7,396 wildfires in 2021.

Air supplies the oxygen a fire needs to burn. California wildfires are often made worse by the hot, dry Santa Ana winds , which can carry a spark for miles. In Hawaii, Hurricane Dorian's winds helped feed the flames burning on Maui.  

Heat sources   help spark the wildfire and bring fuel to temperatures hot enough to ignite. Lightning, burning campfires or cigarettes, and even the sun can all provide sufficient heat to spark a wildfire.

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What was lost in Lahaina, a glittering jewel of the Hawaiian Kingdom

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How animals are adapting to the rise of wildfires

Violent infernos are most common in the western states, where heat, drought, and frequent thunderstorms create ripe conditions. Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and California experience some of the worst conflagrations. Wildfires also occur around the world and in most of the 50 states.

How they are stopped

Firefighters battle blazes by depriving them of one or more of the fire triangle fundamentals. One traditional method is to douse existing fires with water and spray fire retardants. Firefighters also sometimes work in teams, often called hotshots , to clear vegetation from the land around a fire to contain and eventually starve it of fuel. The resulting tracts of land are called firebreaks .

Firefighters may also employ controlled burning, creating backfires , to stop a wildfire. This method involves fighting fire with fire. These prescribed—and controlled—fires remove undergrowth, brush, and litter from a forest, depriving an otherwise raging wildfire of fuel.

Benefits of wildfires

Although they can be dangerous to humans, naturally occurring wildfires play an integral role in nature . By burning dead or decaying matter, they can return otherwise trapped nutrients to the soil. They also act as a disinfectant, removing disease-ridden plants and harmful insects from an ecosystem.

High winds and hot temperatures fanned a 1996 wildfire in the foothills around Boise, Idaho, into an inferno that burned for seven days. When it was finally extinguished, the outbreak—dubbed the Eighth Street Fire—had scorched some 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) and stripped bare two of the region's major watersheds.

Wildfires thin forest canopies and undergrowth, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and a new generation of seedlings to grow. In fact, some species of trees, like sequoias , rely on fire for their seeds to even open.

In Hawaii, however, invasive grasses not native to the state may have worsened Maui's fires. This flammable grass now covers about a quarter of Hawaii's total land area, and the average area burned by wildfires has grown 400 percent in the past 100 years, according to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization .

What to do in a wildfire

Wildfires devastate anything in their path. And while they are difficult to stop, there are many steps people can take before, during, and after wildfires to limit their damage.

• If you know a wildfire is traveling toward your area, the best thing to do is leave. Immediately.
• If you live in a fire-prone area, it's best to prepare ahead of time. Have an evacuation plan in mind and a “go bag” with emergency supplies already packed during fire season.
• Trim brush, weeds, and other potential fuels on your property, especially around your home.
• Put away grills, propane tanks, or other flammable materials that may be in your yard.
• Close all doors and windows and fill sinks, tubs, and other containers with water to discourage fire.
• Shut off natural gas, propane, or fuel oil supplies.
• When you purchase a home in a wildfire-prone area, avoid neighborhoods on slopes that are steep or barren, suggests the California Chaparral Institute . Although some people fear that houses near shrubs are more likely to burn, that’s not necessarily the case, the institute says. Rather, a landscape without vegetation can be the perfect runway for winds to bring embers, which are one of the biggest threats to homes during a wildfire.
• Wetting your roof may help reduce the risk of airborne embers catching, says the California Chaparral Institute. In fact, some people in fire-prone areas even install rooftop sprinklers for that purpose.
• If you cannot leave as a fire approaches, dial 911. Then don an N95 respirator to help reduce smoke and particle inhalation.
• Listen for emergency alerts.
• Stay inside. Go to the safest building or room with the lowest smoke levels. Crouch low for the best air. If you don't have a mask, breathe through a wet cloth.
• If you are caught outside, try to find a body of water to crouch in. If you can't, find a depression with the least vegetation and lie low, covering yourself with wet blankets, clothes, or soil if possible.
• Do not return until instructed to do so.
• Listen to authorities before drinking water from the area.
• Avoid items that are hot, smoky, or charred.
• Text friends and family, but don’t call. Lines may be busy.
• Wear a dust mask and document property damage.
• Beware of the risk of flooding, since trees and protective vegetation might have been removed, exposing loose soil.

Related Topics

• FIRE FIGHTING
• NATURAL DISASTERS
• INVASIVE SPECIES

Wildfire smoke affects birds too. Here’s how you can help.

This bird survived Maui’s fires—but it could soon vanish

‘Society of the Snow’ is based on a true story. Here’s what really happened.

This deadly fungus is hitchhiking its way across the world

What the Air Quality Index measures—and what to do when it’s code red

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Hawaii wildfire death toll rises to 102 after woman dies from fire injuries months later

H awaii's deadly wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes and displaced thousands of people, and now the death toll has risen to 102 following a woman's demise.

Claudette Heermance succumbed to the fatal injuries in the fire on March 28 in hospice care in Honolulu. The information came from a medical examiner's office which confirmed the death to Maui Police Department officials.

While her death is not just due to the burns she incurred during the wildfire , other factors contributed to her death including cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease, and pressure ulcers.

READ MORE: Hawaii wildfires: '20 bodies being found a day' with fears death toll of 96 could triple

The 68-year-old woman suffered burns on 20 percent of her body, and her case was complicated by multiple other conditions, said Dr. Masahiko Kobayashi, the Honolulu medical examiner.

On the day, she was immediately taken to Maui's hospital but was flown to Oahu the very next day for her burns treatment. However, she was admitted to hospice care four months later.

The wildfire death toll was confirmed to be 101 in February and has now reached 102 following Claudette's death. The affected victims were aged between 7 to 97 and more than two-thirds were in their 60s or older.

The wildfires in Lahaina and Kula on Hawaii Island on 8 August were fanned by Hurricane Dora, resulting in 1,700 structures burned and 3,000 buildings destroyed in Lahaina.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US .

Looking at the unprecedented damage, Gov. Josh Green said: "This is the largest natural disaster we’ve ever experienced. It’s going to take an incredible amount of time to recover from."

In Kula, approx. 544 structures were exposed with 96 per cent of them being residential properties, and 2,200 structures were damaged with 86 per cent residential areas in West Maui.

Josh added, "The losses approach $6 billion. We ask for a lot of understanding about traveling into the (historic area of Lahaina town), and the reason for that is the health consequences.

"We have to go with caution. There are heavy metals there. The recommendations are to avoid structures because they could still fall on people. And we’ve lost so much life already."

Former US President Barack Obama - who was born in Hawaii expressed his deepest sorrow at the impact of the blaze. He posted on X (formerly Twitter): "It's tough to see some of the images coming out of Hawaii — a place that's so special to so many of us.

"Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down."

Richard Olsten, a helicopter pilot was deeply disturbed and shocked to see the destruction caused by the Hawaii wildfires, and said "It's horrifying. I've flown here 52 years and I've never seen anything come close to that. We had tears in our eyes."

Amidst the devastating wildfires, only the town's lighthouse survived, while the majority of the buildings, including Hawaii's oldest hotel, the 122-year-old Pioneer Inn, were destroyed.

Maui officials highlight steps toward rebuilding as 1-year mark of deadly wildfire approaches

Maui officials are highlighting some steps toward rebuilding nearly a year after a deadly wildfire destroyed much of Lahaina

LAHAINA, Hawaii — Nearly a year after wind-whipped flames raced through Kim Ball’s Hawaii community, the empty lot where his house once stood is a symbol of some of the progress being made toward rebuilding after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than century destroyed thousands of homes and killed 102 people in Lahaina.

“Welcome to the neighborhood,” Ball said Wednesday as he greeted a van full of Hawaii reporters invited by Maui County officials to tour certain fire-ravaged sites .

The gravel covering lots on his street in Lahaina indicate which properties have been cleared of debris and toxic ash in the months since the Aug. 8, 2023, blaze. On the lots along Komo Mai Street, there are pockets of green poking up through still visible charred vegetation.

Speaking over the noise from heavy equipment working across the street, Ball described how he was able to get a building permit quickly, partly because his home was only about 5 years old and his contractor still had the plans.

Ball wants to rebuild the same house from those plans.

“We may change the color of the paint,” he said.

Nearby on Malanai Street, some walls were already up on Gene Milne’s property. His is the first to start construction because his previous home was not yet fully completed and had open permits.

When he evacuated, he was living in an accessory dwelling, known locally as an “ohana unit,” borrowing the Hawaiian word for family. The main home was about 70% done.

“I was in complete denial that the fire would ever get to my home,” he recalled. “Sure enough, when I came back a couple days later it was gone.”

It’s “extremely healing,” he said, to be on the site and see the walls go up for what will be the new ohana unit. Using insurance money to rebuild, he’s “looking forward to that day where I can have a cocktail on the lanai, enjoy Maui — home.”

The construction underway at Milne’s property is “a milestone for us,” said Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. “I think the rest of the community can use this as sort of a jumping off point, and say, ‘If they can do it, we can do it, too.’”

Even though it’s been nearly a year, rebuilding Lahaina will be long and complicated. It’s unclear when people displaced by the fire will be able to move back and whether they’ll be able to afford to do so . The county has approved 23 residential building permits so far and 70 are under review, officials said.

“We’re not focused on the speed — we’re focused on the safety,” Bissen said.

Other stops of the tour included work underway at a former outlet mall that had been a popular shopping destination for both tourists and locals, and a beloved, giant 151-year-old banyan tree , now drastically greener with new growth thanks to the preservation efforts of arborists.

They cared for the sprawling tree with alfalfa and other nutrients — “mainly just water,” said Tim Griffith, an arborist who is helping care for the tree along Lahaina’s historic Front Street. “Trees are ... going to heal themselves, especially when they’re stressed.”

Wildfires can happen anytime, anywhere. Here’s how to prepare yourself

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii’s wildfire season runs all year long, but fire managers say the hotter and drier months of summer create greater risk, especially for some communities.

Fire departments across the state and other emergency management agencies are urging the public to take action now and prepare for wildfires by protecting their home and educating their families.

”The projection is for a drier summer. We’ve gotten a whole bunch of rain in the month of May, so it’s still relatively moist out there. But it will take a couple of months for us to reach those drought conditions and with that additional vegetation that’s going to grow as a result of all that rain, there will be more fuel for fires to burn,” said Hiro Toiya, Director of the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management.

Toiya says families should take the time to prepare an emergency kit that has supplies and food to last at least fourteen days. Similar to a hurricane preparedness kit, it should have batteries, copies of important documents and other supplies to get you and your loved ones through an emergency.

”We’re so reliant on our cell phones now that we probably don’t remember phone numbers for a lot of people that we should have numbers for. So having those written down on a piece of paper as part of your emergency go bag, that would be really valuable,” added Toiya.

The Honolulu Fire Department says preparing your home and surrounding property can make a big difference if a major wildfire burns in your neighborhood.

”You should have 30 feet of defensible space surrounding your home or building. Homeowners should cut grass no more than 4 inches in height, cut tree branches 6 feet and below to avoid ‘ladder fuels’,” said Carl Otsuka, Fire Inspector for the Honolulu Fire Department.

According to HFD, 99% of wildfires in Hawaii are started by people, mostly by accident.

There is a lot you can do to prevent wild land fires. Learn more by clicking here.

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Hawaii Wildfire Maui Officials Begin to Formally Identify the Dead

Families have been waiting for official news about their loved ones since the wildfires, which killed more than 100 people.

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Tim Arango ,  Adeel Hassan and Victoria Kim

Here is the latest on the Hawaii wildfire.

On Tuesday evening, officials in Hawaii released the first few names of people killed by wildfires in Maui, more than a week after the fast-moving blazes killed at least 106 people and leveled the historic town of Lahaina.

Robert Dyckman, 74 and Buddy Jantoc, 79, both of Lahaina, were among those who died, the County of Maui said in a news release . Three more people have been identified, but their names are being withheld pending notification of family, according to officials.

Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii said in a television interview the overall toll could still rise significantly.

With the survey of the burn areas about one-third complete, officials were still working to identify the remains of those who had died, a process that has been painstakingly slow, requiring forensic experts and DNA samples, because of the severity of the burns.

President Biden and the first lady will visit the site of the disaster “in the coming weeks,” the governor said, explaining that the president did not want to interfere with recovery efforts. Mr. Biden said earlier Tuesday that he would travel to Hawaii “as soon as we can.”

The president’s announcement came after Republican criticism that he was not doing enough following the deadly blaze.

The fire is one of the worst natural disasters in Hawaii’s history, and the nation’s deadliest wildfire since a blaze in northeast Minnesota killed hundreds of people in 1918.

Lahaina, once the royal capital of Hawaii , was devastated, and some residents there ran into the ocean to avoid the heat and flames. Survivors described fleeing for their lives from a fast-moving “total inferno.”

The Maui Emergency Management Agency estimated that it would cost $5.52 billion to rebuild in Maui County.

Members of the mortuary response teams with the federal Department of Health and Human Services are in Lahaina, helping to support the local officials with victim identifications and processing remains.

Adeel Hassan

Natural disaster sites have been politically fraught for presidents.

Within 24 hours of wildfires sweeping across West Maui, President Biden issued a statement offering condolences and the next day approved a disaster declaration to allow a stream of federal aid to shore up recovery efforts.

While his administration and the government mobilized, Mr. Biden was publicly silent on the Hawaii wildfires for the next four days, which included a scheduled vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Del. “No comment,” the president responded on Aug. 13, when he was asked by reporters about the rising death toll on Maui. The response came as many Maui residents were complaining that government aid was scant.

Mr. Biden is hardly the first president to draw ire for his response to a natural disaster. Every modern president has had to respond to some type of national tragedy. While their words and travels to the scene can be platforms to showcase competence and compassion, the visits have also often turned into political fiascos, especially in an era of hyperpolarization and nonstop news cycles.

Mr. Biden is visiting Hawaii, and in recent public appearances he called out the logistical challenges of visiting disaster zones. Presidential visits require creating a mobile White House — replete with a sprawling entourage of staff and a fleet of aircraft and vehicles carrying communications and military equipment — adjacent to a recovery scene.

And natural disasters aren’t the only setting where the public expects a response from the White House. Just in Mr. Biden’s tenure, he has visited the sites of mass shootings including Buffalo, N.Y. and Uvalde, Texas. He has also been criticized for not visiting East Palestine, Ohio, where a freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed earlier this year.

During President Donald J. Trump ’s first year in office in 2017, he visited Texas and Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in August and September. And his visit to Puerto Rico in after Hurricane Maria that October drew criticism after he tossed rolls of paper towels into a crowd that had gathered to see him at a church outside San Juan, the island’s capital. He also said that some Puerto Ricans were not doing enough to help themselves.

Only a year earlier, President Barack Obama was criticized for continuing his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard while Louisiana was suffering from its worst flood since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A Louisiana newspaper published an editorial with the headline: “Vacation or not, a hurting Louisiana needs you now, President Obama.”

It was President George W. Bush’s administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 that was widely criticized . In the aftermath of the flooding, Mr. Bush traveled to Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to survey the damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. When he returned to New Orleans a year later, he was greeted by detractors and a large banner that read “Bush Failure” as his motorcade drove past.

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Peter Baker

Peter Baker covers the White House and reported from Washington.

Biden will visit Maui on Monday to view the wildfire damage.

President Biden will travel to the Hawaiian island of Maui on Monday to view the damage from raging wildfires that devastated much of a coastal town and killed more than 100 people, the White House announced on Wednesday.

Mr. Biden had signaled a day earlier that he would visit “as soon as we can,” and the White House statement formalized the timing. Jill Biden, the first lady, will accompany the president, who will meet with emergency workers, survivors, and federal, state and local officials.

“I remain committed to delivering everything the people of Hawai’i need as they recover from this disaster,” Mr. Biden wrote on X , the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

While Mr. Biden offered condolences and vowed assistance last week, Republicans criticized him for not addressing the disaster for the next several days and distributed images of him relaxing over the weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Del. “Heartless Joe,” read the banner headline of The New York Post on Tuesday, before Mr. Biden said in a speech later in the day in Milwaukee that he wanted to visit but did not want to get in the way of response operations.

Former President Donald J. Trump, whose own response to disasters in Puerto Rico was widely criticized, took a shot at Mr. Biden on Monday. “It is a disgraceful thing that Joe Biden refuses to help or comment on the tragedy in Maui,” Mr. Trump said in a video posted online shortly before he was indicted in Georgia on racketeering and conspiracy charges for trying to overturn the 2020 election results.

White House officials dismissed the criticism, saying that Mr. Biden has been paying close attention to the situation in Hawaii and speaking with Gov. Josh Green, Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz. He was briefed at the White House on Wednesday by Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, after she returned from Hawaii.

“As he always does, President Biden directed me to move quickly and push as many resources into the area as possible,” Ms. Criswell told reporters at the White House after her meeting. “The president, FEMA and the entire federal family will be there to support Hawaii as long as we are needed,” she added.

Ms. Criswell said the fires required a “really difficult search operation” that has challenged emergency efforts. Trained dogs searching for survivors have needed frequent rest because of the heat, she noted, and additional canine teams have been brought to the island.

The president’s aides said Governor Green had advised that next week would be a more opportune time for a visit because it would be less disruptive to search and recovery efforts. Mr. Biden plans to be in Lake Tahoe next week for vacation but will break away for the day trip to Maui.

White House officials made a point of citing the fires in Hawaii to promote the president’s efforts to combat climate change on the one-year anniversary of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included the largest government investment in clean energy programs.

“To stop these disasters from getting even worse, we have to cut the carbon pollution that is causing the climate crisis,” said John D. Podesta, a senior adviser to the president focused on clean energy.

Buddy Jantoc, 79, an easygoing musician, is among the first victims formally identified.

One of the first victims to be identified Hawaiian officials was Buddy Jantoc, 79, whose family described him as a musician who once toured on the mainland with the likes of Carlos Santana before settling into a more laid-back life on Maui, where he lived at a complex for lower-income seniors and played bass guitar at hula competitions.

Family members said they started to panic when they could not reach Mr. Jantoc in the days after the fire tore through Lahaina. He was the kind of grandfather, they said, who always checked in after a heavy rain or storm to assure his family his house was OK, and not to worry. Even if he was onstage performing, he would answer texts from his family.

So as days passed with no word from Mr. Jantoc and no answers from the Hale Mahaolu independent living complex in Lahaina where he had lived, his family started to fear the worst.

“I had a bad feeling,” his oldest granddaughter, Keshia Alakai, said.

On Saturday, two police officers showed up to say that Mr. Jantoc’s body had been found in his home. Several other residents of the same senior-living complex have been reported missing by relatives, but their fates were still unknown on Tuesday.

Mr. Jantoc was legally blind and had difficulty hearing and walking. His relatives said they were desperate to know whether anyone had tried to help him evacuate, or whether he had been warned about the fire.

“I’m hoping he was asleep,” said Shari Jantoc, his daughter-in-law. “I hope to God he did not suffer.”

Mr. Jantoc’s family described him as an easygoing man — “Mr. Aloha” — who wore his hair long and always wore his signature visor. They said he had performed with notable musicians including the percussionist Pete Escovedo and the guitarist George Benson, but rarely discussed his musical past unless prompted.

“I’d literally have to ask him, Who you played with? He’d say, do you know Santana?” Ms. Jantoc said.

Relatives said Mr. Jantoc had struggled to afford the soaring housing costs on Maui and had been thrilled when a spot in the senior-living complex opened up about five years ago. Apartments there are income-restricted , and rents are held to 30 percent of residents’ income, according to the complex’s website. Officials from the complex did not return phone messages on Tuesday.

Mr. Jantoc’s granddaughter, Ms. Alakai, said his apartment resembled a music store, crammed with guitars, a drum set and other instruments.

“I don’t even think there was a sofa in there,” she said.

She has been listening to old voice mail messages from her grandfather, and remembering how he would shake his head at the traffic and hectic pace of life on Oahu, where most of his family lives, or call to tell her to gas up her car if he saw a news report about a gasoline sale somewhere around Honolulu.

Now, she said the family is trying to arrange for his remains to be released for cremation, and agonizing over how he might have spent his last moments, and whether he could have been saved.

“For him to be taken away from us in the way he was taken — how he was suffering through it all?” Ms. Alakai said. “Was he there before anyone even looked? What pain he felt — that’s what is eating up at me. I’m just asking why.”

Victoria Kim

The death toll in the Maui wildfires has increased to 106, the County of Maui said Tuesday evening.

Ernesto Londoño

Officials in Hawaii released the first names of people killed by wildfires in Maui on Tuesday evening, more a week after the fast-moving blaze killed at least 106 people and leveled the historic town of Lahaina. Robert Dyckman, 74 and Buddy Jantoc, 79, both of Lahaina, were among the killed, the County of Maui said in a news release .

Reporting from Kahului and Lahaina, Hawaii

First, a ferocious fire. Now a slow, grim search for the dead.

DNA specialists who have been working with Ukrainian investigators to document suspected Russian war crimes. Veterans of the post-Sept. 11 search at ground zero. Anthropologists who were enlisted to examine human remains after the California wildfire that until last week was America’s deadliest in more than a century.

They are among the experts who have been arriving in Maui this week to join the painstaking process of recovering and identifying more than 100 people who perished last week in the historic Hawaii town of Lahaina.

“Over the course of the next 10 days, this number could double,” Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii said on Monday in an interview on CNN. “I don’t want to really guess at a number because our people are working so hard right now.”

Many of the people being called on to help played similar roles in the aftermath of the Camp fire, the 2018 disaster in Northern California that killed 85 people and reduced to ash the town of Paradise, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Kim Gin, the former Sacramento County coroner who led the effort to identify the remains of victims of the Camp fire, flew into Maui on Monday. Forensic anthropologists from California State University, Chico, who assisted at the Camp fire were scrambling this week to arrange travel to Hawaii.

And scientists with ANDE, a company based in Colorado that uses rapid DNA technology — which processes results in less than two hours with a device the size of a laser printer — have been on the ground in Hawaii for days, and more technicians were on their way.

Also in Lahaina are rescuers who worked in the rubble of the World Trade Center after Sept. 11, Maui’s police chief, John Pelletier, said. Twenty cadaver dogs are working with search teams, along with a specialized mortuary unit from the federal government that arrived with a 22-ton mobile morgue that includes examination tables, lab equipment and X-ray machines.

With families facing an agonizing wait for word on missing loved ones, the final death toll from the Aug. 8 fire is likely to continue climbing, and the full scope of human loss may not be known for weeks, or perhaps months.

“I understand people want numbers,” Chief Pelletier said at a news conference on Monday. “It’s not a numbers game.”

As of Wednesday morning in Hawaii, the authorities had publicly identified two of the 110 people who have been confirmed dead, and the search for more victims was continuing. Robert Dyckman, 74, and Buddy Jantoc , 79, both of Lahaina, were among those killed, Maui County said in a news release on Tuesday evening.

Before officials publicly released his name, the family of Mr. Jantoc had identified him as having perished. As days passed with no word from Mr. Jantoc, his family had begun to fear the worst. His relatives started to panic, because he was the kind of grandfather who always checked in after a heavy rain or storm to assure everyone he was OK.

On Saturday, two police officers showed up to notify the family that they had found his body in his home, said Keshia Alakai, his oldest granddaughter.

“I hope to God he did not suffer,” she said, describing her grandfather as a musician who once toured the mainland with Carlos Santana before settling into a more laid-back lifestyle on Maui.

The authorities said on Wednesday that they had searched 38 percent of the burn zone in Lahaina, which runs from the hillsides to the Pacific Ocean, and the area was closed to the public while teams searched for remains, even as residents grew increasingly frustrated about not being able to return to Lahaina to check on their properties.

Chief Pelletier said one person had been arrested on a trespassing charge, and he had a message for others who might try to enter the area illegally. “It’s not just ash on your clothing when you take it off,” he said. “It’s our loved ones.”

The police have asked family members of the missing to submit DNA swabs at a community center in Maui for comparisons to recovered remains. Chief Pelletier asked relatives who are out of state to provide DNA to their local law enforcement agencies.

The numbers so far speak to how careful and slow the process is. Of the confirmed victims, five have been identified, though only two of their names have been made public. Examiners have been able to extract DNA profiles from 13 victims, and so far have received 41 DNA samples from family members of the missing.

ANDE, whose technology was funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security, is often used by law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes and crack cold cases. For the last year, the company has been involved in the war in Ukraine, training the police there to examine victims of suspected war crimes and collect evidence that could be used at trials at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Its technology was also used when 34 people died in a fire on a dive boat off Santa Barbara, Calif., in 2019, and to process remains from the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant a few months later.

“The challenge, of course, is the remains you process and the family samples don’t always coincide,” said Stephen Meer, the chief information officer of ANDE, which is processing samples of remains as they are collected by search teams in Lahaina. “If you are missing someone, get your family reference sample in.”

Mr. Meer said he was confident that most of the victims would eventually be identified by DNA — during the Camp fire, close to 90 percent of those who perished were identified with ANDE’s tests — but he added, “I can’t imagine it would be for all.”

As recovery teams search for human remains, others have been looking for lost and dead pets. “People are desperately searching for pets,” said Lisa Labrecque, the chief executive of the Maui Humane Society.

Ms. Labrecque estimated that 3,000 animals had been lost, and she said that her organization had received 367 reports of missing pets. She said her teams had been rescuing injured or displaced animals each day. They have recovered 57 live animals, 12 of which are hospitalized. They have been able to reunite eight animals with their owners.

To make space, the Humane Society has been sending animals that had been living in its shelters before the fire to the mainland. So far, more than 150 cats and kittens have been flown out, and 100 dogs are waiting to travel.

As search teams with cadaver dogs continue their slow process of sorting through the rubble of Lahaina, anthropologists — who often play a pivotal role in processing mass casualty scenes — were being dispatched to help in identifying human remains that might be just shards of bone. “We know what burned human remains look like and can differentiate them from an animal or something someone might have had in a kitchen,” said Marin Pilloud, a professor of anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Ms. Pilloud was involved in recovering remains after the Camp fire. The process was methodical: Working from a list of the missing and any information about where those people might have been at the time of the fire, she joined teams that would conduct searches at specific addresses.

“One step was to see if they were in fact trapped in their house,” she said. “So we would sift through all the debris of the house and try to identify if there were remains there.”

She said that in the moonscape left by a fire as destructive as the one that wiped out Lahaina, many items collected in an ashcan could appear to be human remains.

“Like drywall of the house can sometimes curl up in a way that looks like bone,” she said. “Insulation can sometimes melt in ways that look like bone.”

She added, “We are trained in these sort of archaeological recovery efforts, so we can systematically go through and try to identify if there are remains there.”

Jack Healy and Eileen Sullivan contributed reporting.

President Biden will visit Maui “in the coming weeks,” Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii said. The president did not want to interfere with the recovery efforts, the governor said, adding that they would work out a time for his visit “when the heartbreaking work is done on the ground finding those we’ve lost.”

Jacey Fortin

“I spoke to the president this morning,” Governor Green said. “We speak often. He and Jill Biden extend their absolute love and heartfelt regrets about the tragedy that’s occurred.”

The death toll has risen to 101, Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii said in a news briefing on Tuesday evening.

Governor Green added that hundreds of FEMA and National Guard officials were helping with relief efforts.

He said that hundreds of people who were displaced by the fires were being housed in hotel rooms, and he emphasized the importance of keeping the land in the control of the people who live there.

“This is the people’s land,” Mr. Green said, “and the people will decide what to do with Lahaina.”

Eileen Sullivan

Members of the mortuary response teams with the federal Department of Health and Human Services are in Lahaina, helping to support the local officials with victim identifications and processing remains. One of the department’s portable morgue units has landed in Hawaii, according to Jonathan Green, the deputy assistant secretary and director of the office of response at Health and Human Services. He said the unit weighed more than 22 tons and had supplies and equipment that included mortuary examination tables, lab equipment and X-ray units.

Judson Jones

Forecasters in Hawaii were quick to say on Monday night that they were not expecting winds to be nearly as strong as those experienced when Hurricane Dora passed well south of Hawaii last week. However, like last week, Tropical Storm Greg will pass south of the islands, enhancing the typical trade winds to a strong breeze through Thursday.

Peter Eavis

S&P Global on Tuesday downgraded the credit rating of Hawaiian Electric, the main provider of electricity in Hawaii , saying lawsuits brought by those harmed by the Maui fires could weaken the company financially. Hawaiian Electric’s rating was cut to BB-, a junk rating that could push up its cost of borrowing. Lawyers for residents of Lahaina say the fires there were likely started by the company’s equipment as high winds hit Maui.

Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. of Maui County said that 20 cadaver dogs were helping dozens of personnel teams find the bodies of the deceased. As of Tuesday, most of the burned areas have yet to be searched.

“We’d like to get to approximately 85 to 90 percent by this weekend,” said Chief John Pelletier of the Maui Police Department. “No guarantees that we do.” After that, he said, search teams would turn more of their attention to recovering bodies from buildings with multiple stories — a complicated endeavor that he said could take several more days.

Finding the remains of the people who died in the fires is one step; identifying them is another. Fingerprints have already helped to identify a few of the deceased, but officials will have to use DNA to identify many more, according to Chief John Pelletier of the Maui Police Department. Each of their names will be made public only after their families are notified.

Shares in Hawaiian Electric closed down more than 30 percent on Tuesday, continuing a slide that has so far wiped 60 percent off the utility’s stock market value. Investors fear that Hawaii’s main power provider will have to pay out large sums to settle lawsuits filed by owners of buildings destroyed in the Lahaina fire.

Kevin Yamamura

Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii has cautioned that the official death toll of 99 people killed could go up significantly. “Over the course of the next 10 days, this number could double,” he said in an interview Monday with CNN. “I don’t want to really guess at a number because our people are working so hard right now.”

Officials have 13 DNA profiles of the deceased and 41 DNA samples provided by family members searching for missing loved ones, Maui County officials said on Tuesday. Nearly a third of the area had been searched by Tuesday morning. Members of a federal mortuary identification team are also on the ground, helping local officials identify and process human remains.

Maui County officials said on Tuesday that they have identified a fourth person out of the 99 who were confirmed to have died in the blaze that ravaged centuries-old Lahaina. The county was expected to begin releasing names of deceased victims on Tuesday.

FEMA has made nearly $2 million in payments to about 1,200 survivors as of Tuesday, an agency official said. About 3,400 people have applied for assistance, said Keith Turi, the deputy associate administrator for response and recovery. He said the agency estimated that many more people would be eligible to apply.

Reid J. Epstein and Shawn Hubler

Reid J. Epstein was traveling with President Biden in Milwaukee and Shawn Hubler reported from Sacramento

After deadly wildfires, Biden says he will visit Hawaii.

President Biden said on Tuesday that he would travel to Hawaii to inspect damage on Maui after deadly wildfires ripped through the island, killing at least 99 people and devastating an entire coastal town .

“My wife, Jill, and I are going to travel to Hawaii as soon as we can,” Mr. Biden said in a speech focused on the economy at a wind and electric power manufacturing plant in Milwaukee. “That’s what I’ve been talking to the governor about but I don’t want to get in the way.”

Mr. Biden had not addressed the Maui wildfires since last week, when he declared a federal emergency and issued a statement with condolences for the families of those who died. His relative silence had drawn criticism from Republicans, which led to pushback from the White House .

Mr. Biden spoke with Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii and Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, during his flight to Milwaukee, White House officials said.

The governor, a Democrat, thanked Mr. Biden on Tuesday for the federal government’s support in the Maui crisis.

“Mahalo for having our backs in this time of need with the full force of the federal government,” Mr. Green wrote on Facebook over a posting of the White House announcement.

Frustrated residents of West Maui have complained that victims were receiving less disaster aid from the government than from their own ad hoc volunteer network.

In recent days, however, hundreds of FEMA workers have been on the ground in Maui, including Ms. Criswell. The governor has also been in regular contact with the White House.

By Monday afternoon, more than 3,000 people had registered with FEMA for federal assistance, according to Jeremy Greenberg, the director of the agency’s operations division.

FEMA is typically the first agency to face intense scrutiny after disasters, but while it plays a critical role in disaster response, its mission is to support states with funding and other resources, not to be the first on the scene.

Maui is still reeling from the deadliest wildfire in the nation in more than a century.

Recovery teams with cadaver dogs are searching for bodies in the ruins of incinerated cars, houses, businesses and historic landmarks and painstakingly working to identify the dead and notify their families. Only about one-third of the burn area has been searched, and the toll is expected to rise substantially.

The fire devastated much of the west side of the island, including Lahaina, a coastal community of 13,000 that was once the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom, and wiped out more than 2,000 structures, the vast majority of them residential.

Mr. Biden said in his remarks Tuesday that he wanted to ensure that his visit didn’t disrupt recovery efforts before ticking through the assistance the federal government has begun to provide, including supplies, one-time cash payments and additional personnel to help aid firefighters and relieve first responders.

The fire’s stunning toll — abetted by hurricane-driven winds and drought-parched grasslands — has raised questions about whether Hawaii’s management of electrical infrastructure should have been more aggressive. Although an official cause for the fire has yet to be determined, witnesses have posted photos of a downed power line in an area of Lahaina where the authorities reported a critical flare-up, and the fire has already prompted lawsuits against Maui’s dominant utility.

Lawyers for Lahaina residents suing Hawaiian Electric have contended that its equipment was inadequate to withstand the winds, and that the company should have shut down power during high-wind warnings. Hawaiian Electric officials have said that the company policy does not include power shut-offs during wildfires because the loss of electricity can create problems for first responders and people who use medical equipment that runs on electricity.

Criticism also has focused on state and local emergency management as the fires raged. Warning systems intended to alert residents to natural disasters failed to function and traffic management during the fire, as power poles toppled and panicked residents scrambled to outrun the inferno, drove hundreds of victims into gridlocked roads that became death traps.

Peter Eavis ,  Ivan Penn and Thomas Fuller

Hawaiian Electric draws scrutiny in the search for what sparked the Maui wildfire.

In the hunt to determine what caused the fire that consumed Lahaina, the focus has increasingly turned to Hawaii’s biggest power utility — and whether the company did enough to prevent a wildfire in the high winds that swept over Maui last week.

Lawyers for Lahaina residents suing the utility, Hawaiian Electric, contend that its power equipment was not strong enough to withstand strong winds, and that the company should have shut down power before the winds came. Wildfire experts who have studied the catastrophic fires in California over the past two decades also see shortcomings in Hawaiian Electric’s actions.

Nearly a week after the wildfire tore through the island town of Lahaina, state and local officials have not determined a cause for the blaze that killed at least 99 people. But the explosive conditions were similar to those elsewhere in the country where wildfires were sparked by electrical equipment: dry brush, high winds and aging infrastructure.

Many wildfires in the United States occur when poles owned by utilities or other structures carrying power lines are blown down, or when branches or other objects land on power lines and cause them to produce high-energy flashes of electricity that can start fires. That is why utilities in California and other states have at times shut down power in recent years before strong winds arrive.

The National Weather Service expected winds of up to 45 miles per hour last Tuesday, with gusts of 60 miles per hour — conditions that were amplified by Hurricane Dora, which traveled across the Pacific Ocean about 700 miles to the south.

“We allege that many of the regulatory laws that require maintenance of equipment were broken,” said James Frantz, chief executive of the Frantz Law Group, one of several law firms taking action against Hawaiian Electric. “There’s got to be some accountability.” He said his firm was representing five Lahaina residents who were filing lawsuits in a Hawaiian state court on Monday.

Shares in Hawaiian Electric lost over a third of their value on Monday, a sign that investors feared that the company would have to pay out large sums to settle lawsuits filed by homeowners and businesses, and spend enormous amounts to try to fireproof its operations.

“The issue becomes whether they did everything they could that was reasonable to prevent this incident,” said Shahriar Pourreza, an analyst who covers Hawaiian Electric’s stock for Guggenheim Securities. “Was there gross negligence, was there imprudence?”

Hawaiian Electric, established in 1891, operates on Maui through its subsidiary, Maui Electric, and is tiny compared with the Californian utilities that have paid huge wildfire settlements. Its revenue last year totaled $3.7 billion, compared with $21.7 billion at Pacific Gas and Electric of California. Like most other utilities, Hawaiian Electric operates under the scrutiny of public commissioners who have to approve its spending plans.

At a news conference on Monday, Shelee Kimura, the chief executive of Hawaiian Electric, said the company did not have a shut-off program and contended that cutting the power could have created problems for people using medical equipment that runs on electricity.

She also said turning off the power would have required coordination with emergency workers. “In Lahaina, the electricity powers the pumps that provide the water — and so that was also a critical need during that time,” Ms. Kimura said. “There are choices that need to be made — and all of those factors play into it.”

In Lahaina and other towns in West Maui last week, downed power poles and lines littered the highway, blocking roads in some cases. It was unclear how much of the equipment had been tossed over by the strong gusts of wind and how much of it was damaged by the fire.

Power lines have caused catastrophic wildfires in California in recent years, prompting lawsuits that have led to multibillion-dollar payouts by the state’s utilities. Pacific Gas and Electric filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and agreed to pay $13.5 billion to settle claims relating to destructive wildfires, including the Camp Fire , which destroyed the Northern California town of Paradise and killed 85 people.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Center, a firm based in Hawaii that provides disaster-related analysis, said on Saturday that more than 2,000 structures had been damaged or destroyed by the recent fires on Maui. And they estimated that it would cost $5.52 billion to rebuild. Mr. Pourreza, the analyst, said in a research note that there was a scenario in which Hawaiian Electric’s liability from the fire could exceed $4 billion. It had $314 million in cash at the end of June.

Pre-emptive power shutdowns are unpopular, because of how disruptive they can be to individuals and businesses. But wildfire experts say that they are a necessary measure, and, with planning, they can be deployed in such a way that they don’t prevent emergency services from operating during the blackout.

“It keeps people safe,” said Michael Wara, a scholar focused on climate and energy policy at Stanford University.

Lightning strikes have been another common source of ignition for wildfires in the Western United States. While not definitive, satellite-based lightning detectors operated by NASA did not indicate lightning activity on Hawaii last Monday or Tuesday.

Local and state officials have said little about what might have caused the fire that eventually engulfed Lahaina on the afternoon of Aug. 8. Earlier that day, Maui County said it had completely contained a small brush fire that was first reported that morning, but later announced at 4:45 p.m. that “an apparent flareup” had forced the closure of one main road and sudden evacuations.

Data from Whisker Labs, a private company that monitors the electrical grid in cities across the country looking for problems that might spark a home fire, appears to show significant faults — or major incidents — on power lines near where the Tuesday morning blaze is believed to have started.

On the night of Aug. 7 and into the early morning hours, its data showed, power lines began losing voltage, which can happen when vegetation interferes with wires, lines touch power poles or electrical equipment malfunctions.

The company said it had almost 1,000 sensors in Hawaii and about 70 on Maui. A major fault was felt by all sensors on the island, but was strongest near Lahaina, Whisker Labs found.

And it was a full eight seconds, “which is an eternity in electrical grid time,” said Bob Marshall, co-founder and chief executive of Whisker Labs, based in Germantown, Md. “Something on the grid was very unhappy for eight seconds and trying to recover from a shock.”

Hawaiian Electric, through Jim Kelly, a spokesman, declined to comment on Whisker Labs’ data and findings.

Ken Pimlott, the former chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said in an interview on Sunday that the notion that power lines might have started the fire was plausible.

He said the Maui fire recalled the 2017 Tubbs fire in California , which tore through wine country north of San Francisco. That fire was caused by private electrical equipment and quickly spread through communities lined up and down steep slopes. As was the case in West Maui, the Northern California community was on the edge of wild lands, making it more vulnerable.

Hawaii’s attorney general, Anne Lopez, said on Friday that she would be “conducting a comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaii islands.”

Mr. Wara, of Stanford, said Hawaiian Electric appeared to have ample time to shut down power. He noted that before the high winds hit, the company took the precaution of turning off reclosers, equipment designed to restart the flow of power after an outage.

Hawaiian Electric in a regulatory filing last year detailed measures aimed at reducing the risk of its equipment causing fires. Among other things, the filing said the company was “hardening” poles to withstand high winds and cutting back vegetation, noting that Lahaina was a priority area.

But such measures can take time to complete and be very expensive. Burying power lines costs $3 million to $5 million per mile, said Mr. Wara, who was a member of a California commission that advised lawmakers after the Camp Fire on how to hold utilities accountable for wildfire costs and risks. Typically, such costs are added to customers’ bills under regulatory rules — and Hawaii’s electricity rates are already by far the highest in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration .

“Why did they not do the cheap thing — turn the power off?” Mr. Wara said.

Reporting was contributed by Kellen Browning , John Keefe , Susan C. Beachy and Alain Delaquérière .

Mitch Smith and Kellen Browning

Mitch Smith reported from Kahului, Hawaii, and Kellen Browning from Napili-Honokowai, Hawaii.

Families of Hawaii’s missing are enduring a wrenching wait for answers.

Terri Thomas’s family has been waiting for days.

Ms. Thomas, a beloved aunt with a great smile who loved outdoor adventures, was last heard from on Tuesday as fires overwhelmed Lahaina, Hawaii, her longtime home.

Witness accounts relayed to the family have led relatives to believe the worst. But nearly a week after the fire started, Ms. Thomas’s relatives remain in excruciating suspense, without any official news on her status and little sense of when, or even if, they might hear from the government.

“It’s tragic — this hopeless feeling,” said Ms. Thomas’s niece, Terra Thomas, who lives in North Carolina. She said she understood the difficulty of the situation, “but I feel like there could be better communication, especially when it comes to the people that are now presumed missing.”

The search for people killed in the wildfire, the country’s deadliest in more than a century, and the effort to identify the 96 found so far has moved slowly.

As of Saturday, officials had confirmed the identities of only two victims and had barely started searching the disaster zone with canine teams. Officials attributed the pace of the response, which many residents have criticized as too slow, to the overwhelming nature of the destruction and to Maui’s remoteness, which complicated the arrival of out-of-state search teams.

“The heat of the fire, the intensity and the speed of the fire — it literally just stopped everything in its tracks,” said Representative Jill Tokuda, a Democrat, who represents Maui in Congress. “It’s going to make identification and notification really difficult,” she said, adding that “it’s painful just to think about that.”

For days now, families have struggled to learn the status of loved ones in West Maui. Spotty-to-nonexistent phone reception, especially in the immediate aftermath, made it hard for survivors to contact loved ones. Roadblocks prevented people from other parts of the island from looking themselves.

For some residents, agonizing waits have ended in relief. Noelle Manriquez, who lost her house in Lahaina but made it to safety with her husband and three children, said it took three days for her to learn her parents had also survived. That time, she said, was “very hard, very stressful.”

Others have had heard nothing.

Chief John Pelletier of the Maui Police Department urged people searching for loved ones to take a DNA test that could help identify their remains.

“The remains we’re finding is through a fire that melted metal,” Chief Pelletier said. “We have to do rapid DNA to identify.”

Terra Thomas said she was open to taking such a test if it might provide answers about her aunt, who loved living in Lahaina and was a mother figure in the lives of her nieces.

But Terri Thomas, 62, had no family in Hawaii, meaning there is no one to go to the support center on Maui to give a DNA sample to the authorities. And when Terra Thomas, who lives more than 4,000 miles away, has called seeking information, she said she has encountered “busy phone lines and unavailability.”

State and county officials did not provide information about Ms. Thomas’s status when asked by The New York Times on Sunday.

Interviews and social media posts make clear that large numbers of people with ties to Maui endured days of uncertainty about the status of friends and loved ones. Those waits were also agonizing for survivors like Harry and Toni Troupe, who made it to safety but had no way to relay that news.

The Troupes fled their home in Lahaina on Tuesday night with their two huskies, evacuating to a spot north of town before they were told once again to move further from the flames. They slept in their cars on a dirt road.

On Wednesday, they slept at a friend’s house in Napili-Honokowai, but neither they nor their hosts had cell service, internet or electricity.

It was not until Thursday night that they were able to get their cellphones to work just long enough for Ms. Troupe to see the 63 increasingly frantic texts from friends and family members, asking whether she was safe.

One of those texts was from a cousin in Ohio, informing Ms. Troupe that she planned to list her as a missing person if she did not hear back soon. The cousin eventually did so, posting about the couple on Facebook and asking if anyone had seen them.

“We were on the missing list, but finally people started to get ahold of us,” Ms. Troupe, 62, said, adding that she had heard from people in the Midwest and Bali.

Once the couple was able to inform loved ones they were safe, the social media attention proved helpful. A friend who saw the Facebook post offered a house in Napili-Honokowai, in West Maui, where the pair is staying now with their dogs.

A few days ago, the couple drove down the highway to Lahaina, staring from the distance at the rubble of their neighborhood, including the ashes of their house. They had no desire to get any closer.

“We were so numb to the whole thing,” said Mr. Troupe, 66. “We just couldn’t believe it happened.”

Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.

Thomas Fuller

The death toll won’t be known for weeks, based on California’s experience.

With at least 99 confirmed dead in Maui after the wildfire that leveled Lahaina, Chief John Pelletier of the Maui County Police Department caused alarm when he said that approximately 1,000 people were still missing.

But California’s experience with wildfires suggests that a precise death toll will not be known for weeks and that estimating casualties based on the number of people missing could be misleading.

“People always want to draw a correlation between the number of people that haven’t been accounted for and the number of deaths,” said Kory L. Honea, the sheriff of Butte County in California, which was devastated by the 2018 Camp fire that destroyed the town of Paradise.

“It’s not fair to draw that correlation this early,” Sheriff Honea said. “Many of those people will be located. It’s chaos at first as people scatter.”

In the Camp fire, the list of people unaccounted for swelled to around 1,300 in the days after the destruction of Paradise. The final death toll was 85 people.

Although there are distinct differences between the fire in Maui and the conflagrations in California — the sheer number of tourists in Maui, for one, makes locating people much more complicated — California law enforcement officials said they expected a similar pattern in the search for victims.

In the aftermath of deadly wildfires in California, emails and telephone calls poured into police stations from across the United States. Relatives told dispatchers they were alarmed that they had not heard from relatives or friends who lived in the area.

The list of people unaccounted for in the Sonoma County fires six years ago, in California’s wine country, grew to 2,269 people. But weeks later, after painstaking searches of incinerated homes — and after many lost relatives were located alive — the list of the dead was finalized at 24.

“Over time, you see that the list dwindles down very quickly,” Lt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, a veteran of the response to California firestorms. “You do end up with a lot of missing persons that get reported as safe — and that’s a good thing.”

While the authorities need to record every missing person report that comes in, Lt. Kelly said, they typically prioritize cases based on the details involved. “If it’s some guy who says, ‘Hey I live in New York, and I haven’t heard from my second cousin who lives in the area in a couple of years’ — that one does not take priority.”

The on-the-ground search for remains in Lahaina will be difficult, experts say. In the 2018 Camp fire, About 10,000 people were deployed to search the homes in and around Paradise. Forensic experts used cadaver dogs and medical records in their work.

Some victims were identified with the help of dental records. Other remains were so badly damaged that they had been reduced to powder. There were sometimes no detectable traces of DNA. In some cases, investigators were able to match the serial numbers of surgical implants — artificial hips and knees, and pins and screws — to patient records.

Search teams tried to locate the incinerated remains of bathrooms and bedrooms because victims often had sought protection under their beds or in bathtubs.

All indications are that the state of Hawaii, with many fewer disaster resources than California, will need an infusion of search and rescue personnel and expertise. Richard Bissen Jr., mayor of Maui County, said Friday that the confirmed death toll in Maui —consisted of people whose bodies had been found outside. The interior of buildings, he said, had yet to be searched.

Those involved in search efforts “are at the beginning of a very, very long journey,” Sheriff Honea said.

Maui County weighs phasing out vacation rentals

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2023 DECEMBER 15 CTY SHORT TERM HOUSING HSA PHOTO BY CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL [email protected] Governor Josh Green announced that a moratorium on Maui short-term rentals could happen in January if not enough units are converted into long-term housing for displaced fire victims by then. Pictured are vacation unit rentals at the Kapalua Golf Villas in Lahaina.

A Maui fire marshal ordered officials to thin the crowds inside a Maui County Planning Commission hearing Tuesday to review a proposal from Maui Mayor Richard Bissen to phase out thousands of vacation rentals.

The initial turnout inside the eighth-floor hearing room at the Kalana o Maui Building was so robust that attendees spilled into the side and back aisles and were standing outside the hearing-room doors. People also were gathered on the lawn of the county building to watch the proceedings on a screen, and at the morning peak more than 900 people had tuned into the meeting virtually on Cisco Webex.

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Some 130 testified in person; another 30 or so testified virtually. Though the meeting began promptly at 9 a.m., some 50 people were still on the list to testify at about 8 p.m. when the commission recessed the meeting until July 9. Those who did not have have a chance to testify will be able to do so at the next meeting after the testifiers who were already on the list are given their turn. The Planning Commission will not make a decision until working through all the testifiers, who by then could grow.

The crowded conditions were a sign of the importance of the hearing, which is the first test of Senate Bill 2919, which became Act 017 on May 3 and clears up issues of state preemption of vacation rental management by allowing counties to craft their own policies, which “regulate the time, place, manner, and duration in which uses of land and structures may take place.”

Those in support of the state and county legislation hope to use vacation rentals to play a larger role in solving Hawaii’s housing crisis, which was made worse by the devastating Aug. 8 Maui wildfires. However, others warn that removing vacation rentals will result in large economic trade-offs, including decreases in tourism and visitor spending, lost jobs and reductions in tax revenue.

The commission is the first official group to hear Bissen’s proposal, which would phase out 2,200 vacation rentals in West Maui apartment districts by July 1, 2025, and eventually all 7,000 units in apartment districts across Maui.

Bissen rolled it out May 2, the day before Gov. Josh Green signed Act 017 into law. He was flanked by Maui Council member Keani Rawlins-­Fernandez. Also present were members of the advocacy group Lahaina Strong, who called for a ban on Maui short-term vacation rentals in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires.

The Maui County Council tried to limit short-term vacation rentals to hotel districts in 1989, but an opinion written by then-­Deputy Corporation Counsel Richard Mina­toya exempted units built before March 5, 1991. Bissen’s bill seeks to repeal these units, which are known as the “Minatoya list.”

Bissen told the Planning Commission on Tuesday: “Our housing crisis stems from a myriad of complex issues that have challenged our community for decades. Paired with the displacement of approximately 12,000 people and 5,400 households due to the Maui wildfires, this crisis has resulted in an estimated 4,000 residents leaving Maui.

“This is a consequence we cannot accept. The system is broken and long overdue for change,” he said.”And while this is only part of the solution, we have to continue to seek innovative ways to address our housing crisis.”

Bissen has said that he expects some legal challenges. However, his testimony Tuesday indicated he remains steadfast in his resolve to see his bill through.

“Today you will hear concerns from nonresident owners, booking platforms, property managers, mortgage lenders and Realtors — all of which stand to lose money on their investments. I would remind you that all investments involve speculation and risk,” he said. “In contrast, you will also hear from our residents, who are being priced out of their homes, struggle to make ends meet and are simply fighting to take care of their ohana. We simply cannot continue to prioritize offshore investments over the needs of our people.”

Kate L.K. Blystone, Maui County planning director, recommended that the commission support Bissen’s proposal by amending Maui County Code Chapters 19.12, 19.32, 19.37, removing transient vacation rentals as a permitted use within the A1 and A2 apartment zoning districts.

“Our job in the planning department is to protect health, safety and general welfare, and all three are deeply affected because our local residents do not have the housing that they need,” Blystone said. “Making this change to the code is one way we can help address this problem more quickly, while working through the real constraints to developing new housing created by our county’s lack of supporting infrastructure like water and wastewater.”

She added that county staff looks forward “to the opportunity to discuss this item and consider ways to address concerns that come up in testimony.”

Bissen’s proposal also needs to go before Planning Commissions on Lanai and Molokai before it heads to the Maui County Council, which must wade through the commissions’ recommendations as well as a range of statistics, public opinions and strong feelings to determine whether it becomes law.

People on both sides of the issue shed tears or displayed other heightened emotions Tuesday.

Andrew Church, who owns three properties on Maui’s Minatoya list, said he hasn’t slept since Bissen announced his plan, and was disappointed that the mayor didn’t stay to hear Tuesday’s testifiers.

“All of my retirement is in these vacation rentals. My daughter would inherit nothing if this happens,” he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “We would have to leave Maui. I hope I could afford a plane ticket out of here.”

Church also expressed concern that the Minatoya list phaseout would eliminate work for the cleaning service and other vendors that he uses.

Numbers were flying throughout Tuesday’s hearing.

Paul Brewbaker, principal of TZ Economics, has estimated that Maui would lose 5,000 to 10,000 jobs conservatively by extinguishing 7,000 vacation rentals. Brewbaker said with induced effects Maui could lose up to 14,000 jobs, and other islands could lose 2,000 to 3,000 jobs.

Brewbaker, who estimated Maui also would lose some $2 billion to $3 billion in gross domestic product, questioned “how Maui workers who lose their jobs in pursuit of performative anti-­tourism denialism masquerading as ‘housing policy’ pay their rent if they don’t have a job. We’re all dying to hear how workers pay for the ‘new’ housing that Maui will magically create by extinguishing their jobs and their businesses.”

Brewbaker’s position is that Maui should get out of its housing crisis by “building more housing.”

However, Matt Jachowski, a housing data consultant, provided data showing that transient vacation rentals on Maui could have a role to play in addressing Maui’s housing crisis.

Jachowski said Maui is only the third-largest county but has the most vacation rental units actively listed of any county at 10,084, which comprises 14% of its housing stock. Jachowski said that after the phaseout Maui would fall back to the third-place spot among counties for vacation rentals with 5,512 actively listed vacation rentals, comprising about 8% of the housing stock.

He argued that tourism is resilient and that there is enough vacant lodging for visitors without the Minatoya list.

Moreover, Jachowski said Maui County has the highest rental costs in the state, leaving at least 53% of families rent-burdened and 28% of families severely rent-burdened.

A full analysis from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization is still in the works. However, UHERO released a blog post Tuesday that said the proposal “would increase Maui’s long-term residential housing stock by 13%, representing a dramatic increase in housing supply.”

Courtney Lazo, a Lahaina Strong member whose family lost their home in the fires, said she is ready to see the Minatoya list phased out, although as a Realtor she said that in the past she had represented buyers and sellers on the list.

“After watching Matt’s presentation, I knew that the housing crisis here on Maui was bad; I just didn’t know it was that bad,” Lazo said. “People are here worried about their investment or their commission. But there are people who don’t even have a first home, let along a second, third, fourth and fifth home.”

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