Traveling is a privilege, and we should take the opportunity to learn every day.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is trying to help.
The HTA is taking it upon itself to educate tourists on how to visit Maui. The area was devastated by raging wildfires in August. But like all of Hawaii, Maui is reliant on tourism and visitor spending. There has to be a healthy balance between helping the local economy, traditional tourism, and an understanding of what just happened this summer.
So pack your respect and your compassion.
It would be disrespectful otherwise. It would be like taking a selfie at a concentration camp. Maui is now sacred, solemn ground and there are some things you should absolutely not do.
“Pack your patience and grace.”
“Do not enter the impacted area of Lahaina Town or take photos of the area, even from afar.”
“Support local businesses.”
Those are just a few of the tidbits the HTA wants to pass along to visitors. To that end, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is releasing a series of videos that show tourists interacting with locals. They are not overwhelming. They are just mindful suggestions of what to do and what not to do.
“Heeding the community’s guidance, HTA and our partners are educating travelers before and after they arrive with clear-cut ways they can support Maui by visiting with respect and compassion,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, HTA’s Interim President and CEO. “We are working to ensure they understand the current situation and that their travel experience may be slightly different than what they are accustomed to.”
In other words, improvise, adapt and overcome, much like the residents of Maui have had to do.
The County of Maui has also launched the MauiNuiFirst.com website with listings of local businesses and events that visitors can support.
Nāho‘opi‘i added, “We appreciate these community members who have stepped up to share their heartfelt messages conveying appreciation for the outpouring of support being received for Maui and how responsible, intentional travel can help the island’s recovery.”
What makes this educational process so important? Because it is noble to want to support the citizens of Maui as they try to rebuild their home, but there’s a right way to do it.
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows Cultural Director Makalapua Kanuha lost her home in the August 8 wildfires, and like others from Lahaina, she is sheltering at a hotel in Kā‘anapali. Kanuha still encourages all to visit Maui to support local businesses in order to avoid an economic disaster on the Valley Isle.
“It is so important to support our local businesses,” said Kanuha. “They are a part of our community. They are a part of Maui […] and they in turn support the livelihood of our people so it’s very important that we support our small businesses, the mom and pop shops, and that helps to support our families in Lahaina as well.”
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