HONOLULU (AP) — All of West Maui except for burned-out sections of historic Lahaina will reopen to tourism on Nov. 1 following the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than century, the mayor of Maui County said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Richard Bissen said he made the move after talking about it with his Lahaina advisory team, the Red Cross and other partners.<\/p>\n
West Maui has about 11,000 hotel rooms, or about half of Maui’s total. Travelers evacuated those hotels after the Aug. 8 fire raged through Lahaina town, killing at least 99 people and destroying more than 2,000 buildings.<\/p>\n
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green last month declared West Maui would officially reopen to tourism on Oct. 8 to bring back badly needed jobs and help the economy recover. Bissen modified the governor’s declaration with a phased plan, allowing a small section on the northern edge of West Maui to open first with the rest to follow at an undetermined date.<\/p>\n
The community has had an impassioned debate about when to welcome travelers back to the disaster-stricken region. Some residents drafted a petition opposing the return of tourists, saying the community wasn’t ready.<\/p>\n
Bissen said Monday that workers are ready to return to their jobs while acknowledging “this isn’t for everyone.”<\/p>\n
Those who aren’t prepared to go back to work on Nov. 1 should talk to their employers and “continue to seek the help and attention that they need,” Bissen said at a news conference in Lahaina that was livestreamed online.<\/p>\n
The mayor said many residents are also concerned about not having child care. He said the county’s partners are working on that issue.<\/p>\n
Residents who have been staying in West Maui hotels and other short-term accommodations after losing their homes in the fire won’t lose their lodging, the mayor said.<\/p>\n
“We’re assured by the Red Cross that their housing will not be in jeopardy,” Bissen said.<\/p>\n
The mayor said the reopening schedule was voluntary and said some properties have already reopened on their own.<\/p>\n