Hawaii locals urge tourists to stay away from Maui after devastating wildfires
Will PayneHawaiian locals have urged tourists to leave Maui or cancel their travel plans to the island after it was devastated by wildfires last week.
Speaking to BBC News, one local said: "The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors – tourists – were swimming in."
Local officials have requested people on non-essential trips to the island to leave, and asked others to cancel their plans to travel to Maui.
Native Hawaiian and actor Jason Momoa also warned tourists not to travel to the island as it struggles to recover from the devastation.
"Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now," he wrote on Instagram. "Do not travel. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply."
More than 90 people have been confirmed dead in the fires which destroyed the majority of the historic town of Lahaina. Tens of thousands of tourists have since been evacuated.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority reportedly said in the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry "must be focused" on the recovery of residents, encouraging tourists to visit Hawaii’s other islands.
Meanwhile, Delta announced plans to contribute $250,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in the disaster response and relief efforts in Maui and other areas of Hawaii.
"Delta stands in support of the people affected by the fires in Hawaii," said Tad Hutcheson, managing director-community engagement.
"We are thankful to have partners like the Red Cross that specialize in disaster response year-round and can help provide immediate assistance to those in need."
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