More than two years after the devastating Lahaina wildfires of August 2023, Maui is open, welcoming visitors again—and asking for something deeper in return.
“We need you to come back,” says John Pele, Executive Director of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association. “You are an important part of our recovery. We want you to be part of our healing, part of our community, and part of our future.”
Tourism has long been one of Maui’s primary economic lifelines. But when travel dropped sharply after the fires, the impact didn’t stop with hotels—it rippled through every layer of the community.
Local restaurants, small shops, activity companies, artisans, musicians, and hospitality workers continue to feel the strain. Maui is slowly recovering, but not yet thriving.
And so, returning to Maui now is not simply about taking a vacation. It is an opportunity to travel with empathy, awareness, and meaning.
Much of Maui remains exactly as you remember it: the golden beaches of South Maui, the deep green rainforests of East Maui, and the majestic quiet of Haleakalā’s summit at dawn. Resorts and restaurants across Wailea, Kīhei, and Kā‘anapali are open and welcoming.
Lahaina, however, is different. Some areas remain closed as the community continues to heal and rebuild. The shift is emotional and visible, and visiting requires intention.
“Respect the space,” Pele says. “Some people are still healing. Others are asking for your business. It’s a balance.”
If you're unsure how best to support, start by asking the people who know best: your hotel staff.
“No one knows Maui better than the people working in our hotels,” Pele says. “They’ll guide you to local restaurants, family-owned stores, and activities that benefit the community.”
There are many ways to bring intention to your visit. One of the most meaningful is to give back—whether through time, support, or donation.
Pele shared the story of a couple from Canada who spent their vacation volunteering alongside a local nonprofit.
“They told us it was the most fulfilling trip they’d ever taken,” he says. “They left feeling like they were part of something, not just passing through.”
For some travelers, volunteering may mean assisting with community-based environmental projects or cultural restoration efforts. For others, it could mean supporting organizations that are helping residents rebuild their lives.
For example, the Maui Humane Society continues to face overwhelming demand, caring for pets displaced by the fires and working to prevent overcrowding and euthanasia. Donating time, supplies, or resources to groups like this can have a real and immediate impact.
Giving back doesn’t have to be formal, either. Supporting locally owned restaurants, markets, and craft shops keeps dollars directly in the community. Asking questions, learning names, and engaging with compassion turns a trip into a relationship.
Travel can be transformative, and Maui invites you to let it be. You can still sink toes into warm sand, swim in luminous blue water, and watch the sky turn rose-gold at sunset—but you are also invited to connect more deeply.
“You can go to a beautiful beach anywhere,” Pele says. “What makes Maui special is the culture and the people. If you leave here with a sense of connection, then your visit meant something—to you and to us.”
Now is a moment where your presence matters. Maui is not asking visitors to look away from what happened, nor to treat the island simply as a postcard backdrop. Instead, it offers something more meaningful: the chance to be part of healing and renewal.
Travelers who come now have the opportunity to support families, restore livelihoods, and stand beside a community rebuilding itself with strength and dignity.
Maui remains Maui—full of beauty, warmth, and aloha. But by traveling with intention, you leave not only with memories but with a sense of connection, understanding, and shared humanity. And that is something far more lasting than a lei.
Can’t-Miss Experiences, Done With Care
- Beach time in Wailea, Kīhei, Kā‘anapali, or Nāpili—enjoy the water, but respect reef and shoreline guidelines.
- Haleakalā Crater—go at sunrise or sunset for an unforgettable moment.
- The Road to Hāna—a beautiful journey, but go slowly, respectfully, and pull over only in designated areas.
- A day supporting small businesses in West Maui—shop, eat, and listen.