Tourists are being asked to leave from Maui and stay away amid wind-whipped wildfires that have already claimed dozens of lives and forced thousands of people to evacuate.
“All nonessential travel to the Island of Maui is strongly discouraged,” Acting Hawaii Gov. Sylvia Luke wrote in an emergency proclamation Wednesday.
A state of emergency is in effect for the entire state through the end of the month, though so far the fires have been limited to Maui and the northwest part of the Big Island of Hawaii.
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 Maui, where at least 36 people have been killed and a historic and beloved town has been leveled in one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in recent years. More than 270 structures were damaged or destroyed, including entire blocks of homes, businesses and a 200-year-old church in Lahaina.
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“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.
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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 is still safe and welcome at present.
Prominent Hawai’i hotel chain Outrigger, is inviting guests with upcoming Maui reservations to re-book at one of their properties on neighboring islands.
Can I get a refund for my trip?
Travelers can 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 August 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 Aribnb 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.
Contributing: N’dea Yancey-Bragg, Jorge L. Ortiz, Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY
