Post by minx on Aug 18, 2023 12:46:12 GMT -5
Not going to downplay the devastation on the west side of the island in any way.
But the entire state pretty much relies on the tourism industry to survive, and the east side of the island has weathered the fire unscathed. Most people on the west side are telling everyone to stay away from the entire island - they don't want tourists at all on any part of the island (and it's not new - many Hawaiians resent tourists big time).
I've been reading the stories and watching the news articles and social media on this. I do understand and sympathize with their position, but in many of the articles they talk about people who's entire livelihood depends on the tourism industry. So I'm wondering how this will all shake out. Unlike states on the mainland, they can't fall back on other sources of income. At the same time, Maui isn't that large of an island and I would be uncomfortable vacationing on the east side of the island knowing that many of the employees serving me were there because they had to be - they or their families are probably affected by the fire and aftermath.
I'm wondering if this will kill their tourism industry - they just started recovering from the lockdowns too. A terrible thing for everyone affected. So many places devastated by fires like this never recover too - hoping that's not the case here.
But the entire state pretty much relies on the tourism industry to survive, and the east side of the island has weathered the fire unscathed. Most people on the west side are telling everyone to stay away from the entire island - they don't want tourists at all on any part of the island (and it's not new - many Hawaiians resent tourists big time).
I've been reading the stories and watching the news articles and social media on this. I do understand and sympathize with their position, but in many of the articles they talk about people who's entire livelihood depends on the tourism industry. So I'm wondering how this will all shake out. Unlike states on the mainland, they can't fall back on other sources of income. At the same time, Maui isn't that large of an island and I would be uncomfortable vacationing on the east side of the island knowing that many of the employees serving me were there because they had to be - they or their families are probably affected by the fire and aftermath.
I'm wondering if this will kill their tourism industry - they just started recovering from the lockdowns too. A terrible thing for everyone affected. So many places devastated by fires like this never recover too - hoping that's not the case here.
