Intrepid Travel commits £40,000 to Hawaii wildfires' relief efforts
Ilaria Grasso MacolaIntrepid Travel will dollar match donations up to £40,000 to support relief efforts in Hawaii following the devastating wildfires that have burned Maui’s historic town of Lahaina to the ground.
The operator and experience provider said on Thursday (17 August) the donation was part of an emergency appeal launched to help the American Red Cross provide emergency sheltering and critical assistance to the thousands of people impacted by the fires.
“By launching this appeal and matching donations, we aim to support the local communities in Hawaii as they recover and get back on their feet, many of whom have devastatingly lost their homes and their livelihoods,” said Intrepid Americas president Matt Berna. “Our thoughts are with all of those who have lost loved ones and whose lives have been deeply impacted by the fires.”
With a death toll of more than 100, the Maui wildfires have now become the worst natural disaster in Hawaii’s history and the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century.
Over the past few days, local authorities have urged holidaymakers to leave or cancel their plans to go to Maui to avoid escalating an already tragic situation.
“Vacation travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged for the near future,” the Hawaii Tourism Authority said on Monday (14 August). “The collective resources of the government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who evacuated their homes and businesses.”
The plea was shared by Hollywood actor and Hawaiian native Jason Mamoa, who urged tourists not to travel to Maui.
“Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,” he wrote on Instagram. “Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.”
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Ilaria Grasso Macola
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