Nonessential travel to Maui is being strongly discouraged by officials, though travel to the Big Island is still allowed.
Topline
As large wildfires—that have claimed 36 lives so far and destroyed at least 270 buildings—continue to burn throughout Maui and Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, around 11,000 visitors to the state have been flown out of Maui; here’s what to know if you have upcoming plans to travel to the state.Key Facts
Though there are fires on Maui and Hawaii, Maui is experiencing the most damage and visitors and residents are being evacuated there; travel is not discouraged to the Big Island, but visitors are encouraged to reach out to their hotels and airlines for updates.
Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke extended the emergency proclamation to all counties in the state and formally discouraged nonessential travel to Maui on Wednesday so the state “can prioritize our scarce resources for Maui residents who desperately need assistance”; she also encouraged visitors in West Maui to depart the island as soon as they could safely.
Hawaiian Airlines announced Wednesday it was adding extra flights “to focus on bringing guests out of Maui” and was selling seats for $19, in addition to coordinating with the government to “transport first responders, equipment and supplies to Maui.
