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Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and his Lahaina Advisory Team recently announced they have created a phased approach to re-open West Maui to visitors following the Lahaina wildfires.
The phased approach will begin Oct. 8, two months after the wildfires began on Aug. 8, and calls for a "staggered focus" on the return of visitors to the West side of Maui, as noted in the announcement.
"As we take careful steps forward in an unprecedented disaster, addressing our West Maui visitor industry, their employees, and the local businesses that work in conjunction with the industry requires planning that will get us to a manageable re-opening," Bissen said.
According to the announcement, the phased reopening will include:
- Phase One, beginning on Oct. 8: Reopening of Ritz-Carlton, Maui Kapalua to Kahana Villa
- Phase Two, to begin following an assessment of Phase One: The reopening of Mahinahina to Maui Kaanapali Villas
- Phase Three, to begin following an assessment of Phase Two: Royal Lahaina Resort to the Hyatt Regency.
The developed phases will allow residents to return to work, establish childcare, settle children into school, and will help with housing needs, according to the announcement.
This follows a recent declaration from Gov. Josh Green that the West Maui communities of Kaanapali, Napili, Honokawai and Kapalua will fully reopen on Oct. 8, according to a press release from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
“Beginning October 8, all travel restrictions will end and West Maui will be open to visitors again, so people from Hawaii and around the world can resume travel to this special place and help it begin to recover economically," Green said in a statement. "This difficult decision is meant to bring hope for recovery to the families and businesses on Maui that have been so deeply affected in every way by the disaster.”