Maui fire recovery sees positives signs, officials invite tourists to return

THERE IS A GLIMMER OF HOPE IN HAWAII – AS A HISTORIC AND SACRED TREE IN LAHAINA –IS BEGINNING TO BUD NEW LEAVES.

THE TREE – OTHERWISE COVERED IN BURN SCARS FROM LAST MONTH’S DEVASTATING WILDFIRE.

THE 150 YEAR OLD TREE – PICTURED HERE PRIOR TO THE WILDFIRES – IS A CHERISHED LANDMARK IN LAHAINA.

IT’S THE LARGEST “BANYAN TREE” IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY – BEING RESTORED BY A COMMUNITY IN THE PROCESS OF ITS OWN RESTORATION. THE NEW BUDS INDICATE POSITIVE SIGNS FOR A LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

MORE THAN A MONTH SINCE THE BLAZE OVERTOOK PORTIONS OF MAUI – THINGS ARE CHANGING.

THE DEATH TOLL – IS DROPPING. THERE’S A CLEARER CONSENSUS ON ITS LIKELY CAUSE. AND OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING TOURISM BACK INTO MAUI – DESPITE THE WISHES OF SOME LOCALS.

DESPITE INITIAL REPORTS THAT 115 PEOPLE DIED IN THE WILDFIRE – THAT NUMBER NOW OFFICIALLY STANDS AT 97. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MISSING – WENT FROM THE THOUSANDS – TO 31.

THE MAUI COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE SAID REMAINS WERE BEING WRONGFULLY IDENTIFIED AS HUMAN – OR ONE VICTIM’S REMAINS WERE THOUGHT TO BE MULTIPLE.

COUNTY OFFICIALS STILL LARGELY BLAME DOWNED POWER LINES FOR STARTING THE FIRE – BUT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC HAS REFUTED THOSE CLAIMS. A U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE MAUI FIRES WILL HOLD ITS FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 28TH – NEXT THURSDAY.

FOR A REGION HEAVILY RELIANT ON TOURISM – THE STATE IS LOSING 9 MILLION DOLLARS PER DAY FROM THE DROP IN VISITORS ACCORDING TO HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRES – OFFICIALS – AND LOCALS – TOLD TOURISTS TO STAY AWAY AS THE COMMUNITY GRAPPLED WITH THEIR NEW REALITY.

BUT ONE MONTH LATER – AND MAUI IS PLEADING FOR THE RETURN OF TOURISM. ACCORDING TO THE TOURISM AUTHORITY – 40 PERCENT OF ALL JOBS ON THE ISLAND ARE DEPENDENT ON VISITOR SPENDING. WITHOUT IT – MORE THAN 10 THOUSAND NEW CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT WERE FILED. THAT’S 11 PERCENT OF ALL EMPLOYMENT IN MAUI COUNTY.

AS THE ECONOMIC DOWN TURN FROM THE WILDFIRES PERSISTS.