Hawaii Governor Josh Green has confirmed that visitors will be able to visit West Maui once again beginning October 8.
Large parts of the Hawaiian island had been closed after devastating fires took the lives of almost 100 people and caused over $4 billion in damages according to USA Today.
According to a September 8 address from Green, economic impact is a central reason travel restrictions will be lifted. With Hawaii as such an affluent tourist destination, many businesses in the area rely on patronage from visitors to be financially solvent.
“Beginning Oct. 8, all travel restrictions will end and West Maui will be open to visitors again, so people from Hawaii and around the world can resume travel to this special place and help it begin to recover economically,” Green said according to Travel Weekly. “This difficult decision [to open West Maui for visitors] is meant to bring hope for recovery to the families and businesses on Maui that have been so deeply affected in every way by the disaster.”
While most of the area will once again be open for tourists including Kaanapali, Kapalua, and Napili, Lahaina—where most of the fires were centered—will remain closed.
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