{"id":2042825,"date":"2023-09-23T23:10:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T03:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maui-residents-divided-over-planned-oct-8-reopening\/"},"modified":"2023-09-23T23:15:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T03:15:19","slug":"maui-residents-divided-over-planned-oct-8-reopening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maui-residents-divided-over-planned-oct-8-reopening\/","title":{"rendered":"Maui locals split on Oct. 8 reopening."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaui-residents-divided-over-planned-oct-8-reopening%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2042825&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>A Divided Community: Maui&#8217;s Reopening Sparks Controversy<\/h2>\n<p>A debate\u2063 rages\u200d over Maui&#8217;s planned Oct. 8 reopening to tourism, two \u200dmonths after \u2064historic wildfires turned much of the area into\u2064 a war zone, as efforts intensify to keep the island\u2019s \u200deconomy afloat even \u2062as many mourning residents say it\u2019s too soon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur community is definitely divided,\u201d Mika, a manager at Second Wind Surf Sail Surf and Kite in Maui, told The\u200d Epoch Times. \u201cThere\u200b are a\u200b lot of people still\u2062 in mourning and others worried that they are going to lose their temporary housing. It is still difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a lot of confusion \u2064and people aren\u2019t getting the clear answers they need,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/hawaii-governor-speaks-on-maui-wildfires-5488499?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Hawaii Governor Speaks on Maui \u200cWildfires<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/8\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/hawaii-governor-speaks-on-maui-wildfires-5488499?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/epa-begins-long-arduous-task-removing-toxic-materials-from-devastating-maui-wildfires-5487268?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>EPA\u2062 Begins \u200dArduous Task Removing Toxic Materials\u200c From Areas Devastated \u200bby\u200c Wildfires in Maui<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/7\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/epa-begins-long-arduous-task-removing-toxic-materials-from-devastating-maui-wildfires-5487268?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Many residents have voiced concerns that the\u2064 Oct. 8 reopening,\u2063 when all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/british-coronavirus-variant-found-in-traveller-to-sweden-health-agency\/\" title=\"British coronavirus variant found in traveller to Sweden \u2013 health agency\">travel restrictions<\/a> will end\u200c and West Maui will\u2063 once again be open to visitors, is premature. The reopening has raised concerns among some in the community over what will \u200bhappen to the large\u2064 population of residents who have been displaced by the fire with a <a href=\"https:\/\/actionnetwork.org\/petitions\/delay-the-reopening-of-west-maui-to-tourism-on-october-8th\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">petition<\/a> to delay the opening having already\u200b gathered more than 6,500 signatures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThese\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-commerce-secretary-is-a-former-venture-capitalist-but-some-gopers-warn-shell-be-soft-on-china\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Commerce Secretary Is A Former Venture Capitalist, But Some GOPers Warn She\u2019ll Be \u2018Soft On China\u2019\">working-class families<\/a>, who are the \u200bbackbone of our\u200d community, many of whom also work in the tourism industry, are struggling to find shelter, provide for their children&#8217;s education, and cope with\u200d emotional trauma,\u201d the petition read. \u201cWe\u2064 firmly believe that before any reopening takes place, it is imperative to consult with and prioritize the needs of these working-class L\u0101hain\u0101 residents. Delaying the reopening will \u2062allow for a more comprehensive\u2062 and inclusive approach that takes into account the welfare and well-being\u200d of all West\u200b Maui\u200d residents and visitors alike.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Jordan Ruidas, a resident and community organizer who created the petition, <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/west-maui-set-reopen-tourism-outrage-residents\/story?id=103275631#:~:text=Oct.%208%20will%20mark%20two%20months%20since%20the,safe%20from%20hazardous%20materials%20and%20poor%20air%20quality.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told ABC News:<\/a> &#8220;With it being exactly two months after the tragic fires \u2026 it seemed like a slap in the face honestly.&#8221;<\/div>\n<p>The petition is directed at Hawaii Governor Josh Green,\u2064 who says that by allowing people to resume travel it\u200d will help the island begin to recover economically,<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis difficult decision is meant to bring hope for \u2062recovery to the families and businesses on\u200c Maui that have been so deeply affected in every way by the disaster,\u201d Governor Josh Green told reporters on Sept. 8, the one-month anniversary of\u2064 the blaze.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Nearly 8,000 people\u2063 are staying at 40 hotels across Maui under the Red Cross\u2019 sheltering program, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mauinews.com\/news\/local-news\/2023\/09\/green-residents-wont-be-displaced-as-tourism-returns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the \u200cMaui News.<\/a> The \u201csafe harbor\u201d period, \u200cin which \u2064eligibility requirements for disaster assistance ends on Sept. 29. The \u2064Red Cross still\u2062 has yet to announce a decision on what will happen \u200bnext to\u2063 the survivors. Many children are still being bussed\u2063 to schools outside of West Maui, with hopes that schools will reopen on Oct. 13, according to Maui County.<\/div>\n<p>Earlier this week, Gov.\u2062 Green \u200dtried to calm fears, assuring the public that the residents who are currently in shelter programs will\u200c not be turned away to \u200cmake room for tourists.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re not pushing people out, and if \u200canyone does get displaced or it\u2019s suggested they\u2019re \u200dgoing to get displaced\u2014the \u2064Red Cross or our office or others will intervene directly to make sure they have a roof over their head,\u201d Hawaii Gov Josh \u2064Green said during a news conference Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want people to be confused, we will still continue to care for\u200b them,\u201d the governor added.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Green said he plans to formally announce his decision to\u2063 reopen in a public address scheduled for Friday to be livestreamed on the governor\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n<p>The fires began spreading on Aug. 8, nearly destroying the historic town of Lahaina, a tourist hot spot located in Maui.\u2064 At least 97 people were killed in what would become the deadliest wildfire \u200din U.S. history. More than one hundred \u2062businesses \u200cin\u2062 Lahaina were destroyed, while the entire surrounding area\u2063 suffered as the number of tourists\u2014and the economy\u2014plummeted.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Mika \u2062says that while he understands the concerns \u2063of those hesitant to reopen too soon, if\u2062 something doesn\u2019t change the businesses that do remain won\u2019t be able to sustain the prolonged hit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA huge portion of our business\u2063 is tourism,\u201d said Mr. Mika. \u201cIf it doesn&#8217;t \u200cget back on track \u2063by Thanksgiving and Christmas it&#8217;s going to be dire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome to Maui, we need your support. Just be respectful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the concerns of residents regarding their long-term housing\u200c situation and potential displacement after the\u2064 reopening of Maui?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Fter-maui-reopening\/&#8221; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener&#8221;>The Maui News<\/a>. The uncertainty of \u2064their long-term housing situation and \u2064the fear of being \u200cdisplaced\u2063 again is a \u200bmajor concern for\u200c many residents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Additionally, there are \u2063concerns about the impact of reopening on the environment and infrastructure. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maui-residents-divided-over-planned-oct-8-reopening\/\" title=\"Maui locals split on Oct. 8 reopening.\">historic wildfires \u200dcaused significant damage<\/a> to the \u200dland and infrastructure, including water\u200c systems and roads. Some residents \u2062worry that reopening to tourism without adequate repairs and safeguards could further strain these already fragile systems.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Proponents\u200b of the reopening argue that it is necessary\u2062 to support the island&#8217;s economy, which heavily relies on tourism. According to data from the Hawai\u02bbi Tourism \u200bAuthority, visitor spending in Maui County \u2063totaled\u2064 $4.04 billion \u200bin 2019. The pandemic-related\u200b travel restrictions have \u2063severely impacted the \u2064local economy,\u2063 leading to \u2063job losses and business closures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, opponents of \u200cthe reopening emphasize the need to prioritize the \u200bwell-being of residents. \u2062They argue that \u200brushing to reopen \u2063without addressing the\u2064 immediate needs\u2063 of those displaced by the wildfires would exacerbate existing hardships and inequalities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Given\u2063 the division\u2062 within the community, it is clear that a more comprehensive and inclusive approach is necessary. Consultation with affected residents and stakeholders is essential to ensure that their voices are heard and \u200btheir concerns are\u2064 taken into account in \u2064the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/listen-elon-musk-presses-robinhood-ceo-about-gamestop-fiasco-restricted-trading\/\" title=\"LISTEN: Elon Musk Presses Robinhood CEO About GameStop Fiasco, Restricted Trading\">decision-making process<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The reopening of Maui to tourists on Oct. 8 will undoubtedly\u2063 have \u200dsignificant implications for the community. It is crucial for policymakers to carefully consider the economic\u200c and social \u2064impacts of this decision and to prioritize the welfare of residents who\u200b are still grappling with the aftermath of the wildfires. Only through\u200c open dialogue and collaboration can a balanced solution be \u200breached that supports both the economic recovery and the well-being of the\u200d community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A divisive debate surrounds Maui&#8217;s proposed Oct. 8 tourism reopening, following devastating wildfires that transformed the region into a battleground. While efforts to revive the island&#8217;s economy persist, numerous grieving residents argue that it is premature. Mika, a manager at Second Wind Surf Sail, acknowledges the community&#8217;s clear division.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2342,"featured_media":2042826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2042825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2342"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2042825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042825\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2042826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2042825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2042825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2042825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}