West Maui reopens to tourists after devastating wildfire

Hotels on Sunday began welcoming travelers back to the western portion of Maui as the first phase of reopening. Sunday also marked the two-month anniversary of the major wildfire that killed at least 98 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes and businesses. Thousands of hotel rooms in West Maui have housed displaced residents of Lahaina, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said he was working to ensure displaced people were not forced to leave temporary housing.

What is the local response to the reopening plan? The Maui City Council on Friday voted unanimously to urge Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to delay the planned reopening. Thousands of residents of Lahaina said the community needs more time to recover before welcoming tourists back to the area. The reopening plan is intended to help the area recover economically and get residents back to work, Bissen and Green said.

Dig deeper: Read Sharon Dierberger and Grace Snell’s report in WORLD Magazine about insurance for natural disasters in California.