Staff Writer News

MAUI AFTERMATH: Canadian advisory, Hawaii issues trade update

Canada is advising people not to travel to the Hawaiian island of Maui after a devastating wildfire largely destroyed the town of Lahaina, killing at least 53 people.

Global Affairs Canada’s advisory on its website says to “avoid non-essential travel” to Maui and warns Canadians already on the island to consider if they really need to be there, and if not to “think about leaving.”

Air Canada says the travel situation to Maui remains “dynamic and evolving” given the ongoing fires, with the airline having planned to send a second empty plane to the island Thursday night after the first emergency ferry flight returned to Vancouver Thursday morning.

A statement from the carrier says a scheduled flight from Maui to Vancouver – Air Canada’s only current daily route from the island – was cancelled on Tuesday, necessitating the ferry flight last night sent to pick up stranded passengers.

The airline says it is continuing to monitor the situation, with regular daily flights between Vancouver and Maui still scheduled. It is also putting in place a flexible rebooking policy for passengers travelling to and from Maui.

Thomas Panos, owner of Vancouver-based Omega Travel, says the potential loss of the island as a market for the foreseeable future could be a “huge hit” for the tourism industry.

The fire, fuelled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, ignited Tuesday and quickly raced through a number of communities on Maui’s west coast.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has asked visitors on non-essential travel to leave Maui, and incoming non-essential travel to the island is “strongly discouraged.”

Officials with Maui County say at least 36 people have been killed, dozens more injured, and more than 270 structures damaged or destroyed. It is feared more deaths will be confirmed when the flames die down.

The death toll makes the wildfire the deadliest such incident in the United States since 2018, when at least 85 people were killed in the 2018 Camp Fire in California.

Meanwhile, the search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned-out homes and obliterated communities – including the popular historic tourist town, Lahaina – as firefighters battled the stubborn blaze.

“We are still in life preservation mode. Search and rescue is still a primary concern,” Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday.

The flames left some people with mere minutes to act and led some to flee into the ocean.

A mass evacuation effort continued Thursday morning for visitors and residents stranded in Kaanapali, just north Lahaina, taking visitors directly to the Kahului Airport where US president Joe Biden said the US Transportation Department is working with commercial airlines to evacuate tourists from the island.

About 11,000 flew out of Maui on Wednesday, with at least another 1,500 expected to leave Thursday, according to Ed Sniffen, state transportation director.

The airport was sheltering 2,000 travellers whose flights were cancelled or who recently arrived on the island, the county said on Facebook. The tourists were among those expected to be brought to the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, which was being prepared to accommodate up to 4,000 people displaced by the wildfires.

The Big Island is also currently seeing blazes, but Mayor Mitch Roth said there had been no reports of injuries or destroyed homes there.

Travel trade update

Late Wednesday night, the Hawai’i Tourism Authority issued the following bulletin for the travel trade, and visitors currently or intending on visiting Maui:

 

  • Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui, and non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time. 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.

 

  • Visitors who have travel plans to West Maui in the coming weeks are encouraged to consider rescheduling their travel plans for a later time.

 

  • Visitors with travel plans to stay in other parts of Maui and the Mauna Kea Resort area of Hawaiʻi Island in the coming weeks are encouraged to contact their hotels for updated information and how their travel plans may be affected. Travel to Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and other parts of Hawaiʻi Island are not affected at this time.

 

  • While Kahului Airport on Maui remains open at this time, residents and visitors with travel bookings are encouraged to check with their airline for any flight changes or cancellations, or for assistance with rebooking.

 

  • Throughout this crisis, HTA will be providing communication updates to our travel partners – airlines, accommodations, ground transportation companies, activity providers, travel agents, and wholesalers, as well as to local and national media – to ensure the public is kept informed about travel to Maui and Hawai‘i Island.

 

  • In partnership with the Red Cross, HTA is opening an assistance centre at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center on Oʻahu for people evacuated from Maui who are unable to return home at this time. Support will be provided at the assistance centre to help visitors book accommodations or flights.

 

Q&A

Q: Which of the Hawaiian Islands are affected by the wildfires?

A: Multiple wildfires are affecting areas on Maui (Lahaina, Kihei, and Upcountry Maui), and Hawaiʻi Island (Mauna Kea Resort area). These fires have resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents and visitors, and multiple road closures. The islands of Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Oʻahu remain unaffected.

Q: If I have a scheduled trip to Maui in the next few weeks, should I postpone my vacation?

A: Non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time. Visitors currently on Maui for non-essential travel reasons are being asked to leave the island as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

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.

Q: If I have a scheduled trip to the island of Hawaiʻi in the next few weeks, should I postpone my vacation?

A: Currently, travel is still welcomed to the island of Hawaiʻi. The wildfire is currently taking place in the northwest part of the Hawaii Island between Hapuna and Kawaihae. Visitors are encouraged to contact their hotel accommodations provider and airlines for updates that could affect their stay on island.

Q: If I’m on Maui, should I head to the airport without a confirmed flight?

A: While Kahului Airport remains open at this time, it is strongly suggested that travellers check with their airline for any flight changes or cancellations, or for assistance with rebooking.

Q: Where are the wildfires located specifically on Maui?

A: There are multiple wildfires burning on Maui in Lahaina, Kīhei and Upcountry Maui. Residents and visitors are being evacuated to safety, especially in the Lahaina area, where the wildfires are widespread.

All streets/roads heading into Lahaina are compromised and are closed. At this time, police are allowing traffic out of Lahaina through the bypass. Those seeking flights off island can reach Kahului Airport using the bypass and Kahekili Highway.

Q: Where are the wildfires located specifically on the island of Hawaiʻi?

A: Hawaiʻi County officials confirm that the two brushfires that flared up in Kaʻū in Nāʻālehu and Pāhala have been neutralized thanks to the swift work of the Hawaiʻi Fire Department. The Lalamilo fire in Waimea has been contained.

Hawaiʻi County reports that the remaining evacuation orders for the southern portion of Kohala Ranch have been lifted. Access is now available via the Kohala Mountain Road and Highway 270. Additionally, evacuation orders for the Villas and South Fairways at Mauna Kea have been also been lifted, and access to and from the resort area is also now allowed. Guests at the resort are no longer required to shelter in place.

Q: If I am on Maui and in need of medical assistance, who can I contact?

A: Text 911.

Q: I can’t get in touch with my family members who are vacationing on Maui. Who can I contact to obtain more information?

A: For family reunification, contact Maui County Emergency Management at (808) 270-7285 or emergency.management@mauicounty.gov. Also, visit http://ready.hawaii.gov for the latest general information.

Q: I have flown to Oʻahu from Maui and cannot secure lodging. Where can I go?

A: The Hawaiʻi Convention Center’s Assistance Center is welcoming all displaced Maui visitors and residents who are seeking refuge. Staff will be on property to provide support and help those impacted with their travel needs. The Center will also provide food, water, medical support services, and shelter as needed. Address: 1801 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Q: How do I get to the Hawaiʻi Convention Center?

A: The City and County of Honolulu buses are being deployed to transport evacuees from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. You may also use all other forms of public transportation – taxi, rideshare, etc. – to get to the Center. For more information, visit ready.hawaii.gov or call 808-733-4300.

Q: If I am travelling with animals, will I be turned away from the Hawaiʻi Convention Center?

A: The Hawai‘i Convention Center welcomes families and individuals travelling with pets and will have a designated area to support their needs. Anyone bringing pets to the assistance center will be required to keep their pet(s) on a leash or in a kennel/carrier.

Q: Where can people find the latest information and updates on the situation?

A: Official channels are the best sources for the latest updates, including the following: