From the moment I first heard of the fires on Maui a week ago Wednesday, my heart has been aching for the people of that beautiful island and the horrific destruction and loss they have endured. I have been blessed to have been able to visit Maui twice for vacations, once for two weeks in October of 2015, and again in April of this year for a week (related in blogs here, here, here and here). On both visits we stayed in the town of Kihei, but we made several visits to Lāhainā each trip. As we watched the initial videos of the flames devouring Front Street, where we’d shopped and strolled and visited several restaurants, we couldn’t wrap our heads around the thought that it was all gone.

One of our favorite memories of our first visit to Lāhainā was exploring the booths of an artisans’ fair set up under the sprawling branches of the iconic banyan tree. I am hopeful that it will survive and stand as a symbol of the resilience and strength of Lāhainā’s people and the rebirth of the town.

There are many immediate needs for those who have lost their homes and their businesses, and officials such as Hawai‘i’s governor, Josh Green, recommend donations to the American Red Cross and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. Other options are the Maui Food Bank and Maui United Way.

For now, visitors are asked to avoid West Maui, but the governor in a statement yesterday emphasized that the rest of the island and the state are open and safe. According to the Maui Economic Development Board, tourism is the economic engine of Maui, with 1.4 million visitors arriving in the first half of this year. The MEDB states that “approximately 70% of every dollar is directly or indirectly generated by the visitor industry.” They say that more than $20 million is raised annually from the island’s hotel room tax, the majority of which is paid by visitors. So while it is important to give the residents of the fires space and time to grieve and begin to look to the future, it is also important to continue to support businesses and communities that rely so much on visitors to the island.

I can assure you from personal experience that one could spend weeks exploring Maui and never touch it all. In addition to all the spots we visited and I wrote about on our recent trip, we took in even more back in 2015. On our daytrip covering the Road to Hana, we stopped first to admire the groves of rainbow eucalyptus trees and toured through the magnificent gardens at Garden of Eden Arboretum, lush with all kinds of colorful foliage and flowers, towering bamboo and rushing waterfalls. We didn’t have time to explore Hana town, its black-sand beaches nor the east side of the island. We also spent an unforgettable evening in Haleakalā National Park, observing its barren, volcanic landscapes and unique flora and driving to the very top (10,000-plus feet high) to watch the sun set   and then being blown away by the infinite night sky and Milky Way, guided by an astronomer who offers personalized tours.

On an Upcountry trek we discovered Worcester Glassworks, a family-owned business that produces lovely glass art.   They made us feel so welcome, and we left as friends and patrons. We explored the beaches to the south of Kihei, and I enjoyed the best spa experience of my life at the ‘Āwili Spa at Andaz Maui at Wailea, a remarkably beautiful resort among several in that part of the island.

So when it is possible, consider visiting Maui and Hawai‘i. I have read many social media posts from residents who urge visitors to come, spend money at local businesses, find ways to donate, and seek out volunteer opportunities. Lāhainā may have been mostly lost to the flames, but all of us can do our part to help ensure its rebirth and the stability of the livelihood and future of the rest of the island.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor