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Maui tourism, an economic mainstay, sparks anger amid fire ruin
Reuters ^ | 8/16/23 | Story by By Doyinsola Oladipo, Julia Harte and Rich McKay

Posted on 08/16/2023 11:07:51 AM PDT by DallasBiff

(Reuters) - The incongruous sight of tourists enjoying Maui's tropical beaches while search-and-rescue teams trawl building ruins and waters for victims of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century has outraged some residents

They have vented on social media, posting video of tourists enjoying holiday activities like snorkeling while the death toll in the historic resort town of Lahaina passes 100 and is rising every day.

"Our community needs time to heal, grieve, and restore," Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa said on Instagram, urging tourists to cancel their trips.

Authorities and businesses have welcomed the trickle of travelers, saying it will lessen the blow to the island's economy, which relies heavily on tourism. The industry is Maui's "economic engine," generating 80% of its wealth, according to the island's economic development board.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Society
KEYWORDS: fire; hawaii; lahaina; maui; tourism
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Pretty sad.
1 posted on 08/16/2023 11:07:51 AM PDT by DallasBiff
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To: DallasBiff

Yeah, and the state says they’re going to buy up all that land. Sure, and put up structures that’ll make it look like Miami.


2 posted on 08/16/2023 11:10:19 AM PDT by SkyDancer (If At First You Don't Suceed, Well So Much For Skydiving ~)
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To: DallasBiff

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. They’ll need these tourist dollars more than ever. This is nothing more than a bunch of virtue-signaling nonsense.


3 posted on 08/16/2023 11:11:00 AM PDT by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
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To: DallasBiff

Interesting also is how all those trees managed to remain considering what temps we were told were experienced.


4 posted on 08/16/2023 11:11:37 AM PDT by SkyDancer (If At First You Don't Suceed, Well So Much For Skydiving ~)
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To: DallasBiff

In case I intend to travel, I would make arrangements to postpone. The local establishments must initiate reservation cancellations to prevent individuals from losing their vacation funds. Oatmeal brains in the White House should develop a recovery business strategy to aid these enterprises.


5 posted on 08/16/2023 11:12:32 AM PDT by DEPcom (DC is not my Capitol after Jan 6th lock downs.)
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To: DEPcom

“In case I intend to travel, I would make arrangements to postpone.”

It’s my favorite place in the world. I’ll never go back; it’s ruined. The atmosphere / feeling of the place never can be restored.


6 posted on 08/16/2023 11:14:56 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: DallasBiff

shaddap n’ drink yer $700 kool ade.


7 posted on 08/16/2023 11:15:47 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true . . . I have no proof, but they're true.)
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To: SkyDancer

Trees are remarkably resilient. Hopefully that big banyon tree can stage a.come back.


8 posted on 08/16/2023 11:16:18 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: DallasBiff
"Our community needs time to heal, grieve, and restore," Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa said on Instagram, urging tourists to cancel their trips.

Jason Momoa doesn't rely on tourism to make ends meet.

9 posted on 08/16/2023 11:17:56 AM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives: Ban Gun Free Zones)
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To: DallasBiff

“Our community needs time to heal, grieve, and restore,” Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa said on Instagram,

Reality: wealthy residents want to destroy the tourist economy, and the “little people” that depend on it, so they can loot among the ruins.


10 posted on 08/16/2023 11:20:53 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor (Either you will rule. Or you will be ruled. There is no other choice.)
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To: DallasBiff

They will need money to rebuild. Tourism is a big source of income.


11 posted on 08/16/2023 11:22:04 AM PDT by Rusty0604 (Despthaerately looking for new conspiracy theories as all the old ones have come true)
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To: DallasBiff

Keep tourists out of the burned out area, let everyone else carryon life as normal. Else, who refunds trips, compensate local businesses nearby, etc.?


12 posted on 08/16/2023 11:23:42 AM PDT by Reno89519 (DeSantis 2024. Successful Governor, Honorable Veteran, Respectful, Respected.)
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To: DallasBiff

Jason Momoa should be apologizing for Fast and Furious X.


13 posted on 08/16/2023 11:26:01 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: immadashell

Maybe Jason Mamoa should take his wealth and rent out every available hotel room on Maui and give them to the residents that lost their homes.

Most of those people work in the tourist industry, so maybe he should pay their salaries.


14 posted on 08/16/2023 11:26:23 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (I got the <ΙΧΘΥΣ>< variant. Catch it. John 3:16)
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To: DallasBiff

We just cancelled a long awaited “Bucket List” Cruise to Hawaii yesterday. It was interesting that all the travel agents and cruise line employees were so completely unsympathetic as to the reason for the cancellation. We are part of the Camp Fire families and know all too well the years it will take to recover in peace.


15 posted on 08/16/2023 11:26:25 AM PDT by Iam4theRepublic (Bing Search)
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To: DallasBiff

Let’s lock down tourism on Maui for two weeks to flatten the curve........


16 posted on 08/16/2023 11:26:44 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck (The Forever War is a crime against humanity)
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To: DallasBiff

When Iniki (CAT 5) hit the isalnd of Kauai, the entire Island was destroyed. My husband and I were already booked to go there less than a year after the hurricane. We saw acres of land piled high with refrigerators, Air Conditioners, construction debris and so on all over the Island. The locals were so grateful that we opted to come even though the island had been trashed and was still a long way from being “The Garden Island” once again.

Again and again, they thanked us for not cancelling our trip or redirecting it to a different island.

Of course, that was 30 years ago. It’s a different world now I guess.

If I had been in Maui when this happened, I would have tried to volunteer to help, but I know I would have been turned away. Perhaps these “beachgoers” had tried something like that. We will never know, will we?

I am really depressed about this whole thing. It is so horrible. The tragedy is bad enough, but the reactions of some people (like celebrities, real estate developers, and elites) really has me upset.


17 posted on 08/16/2023 11:29:03 AM PDT by left that other site (Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.)
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To: NohSpinZone

+1


18 posted on 08/16/2023 11:30:13 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Iam4theRepublic

Where can you book a cruise to Hawaii?...I think I would like that.


19 posted on 08/16/2023 11:34:34 AM PDT by goodnesswins ( We pretend to vote and they pretend to count the votes.)
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To: left that other site

I was in Lahaina 30 years ago, a quaint little town, also, drove the highway to Hana, beautiful, oh well, it was interesting once one left Hana, and turned the corner, Maui became a desert wasteland.


20 posted on 08/16/2023 11:38:51 AM PDT by DallasBiff (Apology not accepted.la is not the sharpest knife in the drawer)
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