Maui travel and the ethics of tourism

Tourism in Hawaii is a double-edged sword, especially in the wake of the fires

Illustration of colourful travel imagery juxtaposed with scenes of the Hawaii wildfires
Authorities have urged people to cancel their trips to Maui as the region suffers from fires.
(Image credit: Illustrated / Getty Images)

Hawaii's historic wildfires have caused devastation throughout Western Maui, and more than 1,000 people are missing while another 100 have died, per Axios. Because of this, locals have been vocal about restricting tourism, especially while search and rescue operations are underway, encouraging tourists to cancel their trips. However, many Hawaii natives have been against tourism in the state for a while, arguing that the industry harms local communities and is largely unsustainable.

How have the fires affected Hawaii tourism?

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Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.