The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) is discouraging anyone with imminent vacation plans from traveling to Maui in the wake of the catastrophic wildfires that swept through the island this week.

The agency reports that visitors have largely heeded the call to evacuate the region and roughly 46,000 people have flown out of Kahului Airport since the fire broke out on Wednesday.

The wildfires have destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and businesses, and have forced the closure of a major highway and several state parks. Power and water outages are widespread, and it is not clear when basic services will be restored.

The HTA says that it is working with hotels and other tourism businesses on Maui to assess the damage and develop a plan for recovery. However, the agency cautions that it could be several weeks or even months before the island is fully back to normal.

"We understand that this is a difficult time for those who have been affected by the wildfires," said HTA President and CEO John De Fries. "We want to assure them that we are doing everything we can to help them recover and get their businesses back up and running."

For travelers who have upcoming reservations in Maui, the HTA recommends that they contact their airline or hotel directly to discuss their options. The agency also suggests that travelers consider rescheduling their trip to a later date or choosing a different destination.

The HTA will continue to monitor the situation in Maui and provide updates as they become available. In the meantime, the agency encourages travelers to stay informed about the latest developments and to follow the advice of local officials.
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