The Hawaii Tourism Authority has asked that all non-essential visitors to Maui depart the island. The HTA is also asking potential visitors to postpone travel to the entire island of Maui until further assessment.
Reuters reports that at least 36 people have died after wildfires, fanned by high winds, devastated much of the resort city Lahaina on Hawaii's Maui island. There are reports that some visitors and locals had to be rescued from the ocean, where they fled to escape the smoke and fire.
“For those coming to Hawaii over the next weeks or perhaps even months, depending on what we learn as the situation unfolds, a safer alternative is to plan travel to Kauai and Oahu,” the tourism authority said in a statement.
“Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui, and non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time. In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.”
Multiple neighbourhoods were incinerated as the western side of Maui was nearly cut off, with only one highway open. Aerial video showed pillars of smoke rising from Lahaina, the largest tourist destination on Maui and home to multiple large hotels.
More than 271 structures have been damaged or destroyed, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported, citing official reports from flyovers conducted by the U.S. Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department.
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