a fire on the road
Intersection at Hokiokio Place and Lahaina Bypass. Source: by Zeke Kalua, County of Maui.
Brian Cohen·
News
··5 min read

Wildfires in Maui: August 2023 Updated Travel Alert

Airlines updated travel alerts and are helping people evacuate Hawaii.

Consider ensuring that you have alternate plans ready to be implemented in case your travels in the foreseeable future include the island of Maui in Hawaii, as wildfires in Maui August 2023 have devastated places such as Lahaina; were the cause of at least 36 fatalities; forced thousands of people to evacuate to the point where some people sought refuge in the Pacific Ocean; damaged greater than 1,700 structures; disabled cellular telephone service; cut power to greater than 14,000 homes and businesses; and have created scenes in affected areas which seem apocalyptic and dystopian — and most airlines have updated their travel alerts.

Wildfires in Maui: August 2023 Updated Travel Alert

The following statement is currently posted at the official Twitter account of the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service of the United States:

Leeward areas of the state will remain under a Red Flag Warning through tonight. Stay updated with our watches, warnings, and advisories at weather.gov/hfo/.

The wildfires on Maui were captured on satellite imagery as shown here.

Sylvia Luke — who is the lieutenant governor of the state of Hawaii and currently acting governor — issued an official emergency proclamation pertaining to the wildfires; and all non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged until further notice.

Updates on both Kahului Airport — which had been closed for some time — and the highways on Maui itself are being posted at the official Twitter account of t.he Department of Transportation of the state of Hawaii.

Hurricane Dora — which is still a major hurricane at the time this article was written and is no threat to anyone other than watercraft in shipping lanes out in the open Pacific Ocean as it heads west northwest — exacerbated the wildfires with its strong offshore winds of greater than 60 miles per hour.

Wildfires are also out of control on the big island of Hawaii.

The cause of the wildfires is still unknown at the time this article was written; but conditions of the atmosphere and land were ideal for a wildfire to start. Disaster relief from the federal government of the United States is on its way to the beleaguered state.

The town center of Lahaina dates back to the 1700s and is on the National Register of Historic Places — but most of the town was destroyed by the wildfires. Greater than 2,100 people are using the five shelters that have been opened on the island of Maui.

Search and rescue operations are still underway for people who are thought to be missing.

People have been posting their observations, photographs, videos, and thoughts on Twitter — er…X:

Airlines Helping to Evacuate People From Hawaii

The following statement was posted at the official Twitter account of United Airlines:

Safety is the first priority for our customers and employees, and we are closely monitoring the devastating conditions in Maui. Today’s flights to Kahului Airport have been canceled so our planes can fly empty to Maui and be used to bring passengers back to the mainland.

Hawaiian Airlines issued an official statement that fares for $19.00 are being offered through tomorrow, Friday, August 11, 2023 to people who are seeking to escape the wildfires and leave Maui:

Southwest Airlines also issued an official statement that fares for $19.00 are being offered to people who are seeking to escape the wildfires and leave Maui:

Due to the ongoing wildfires in Maui, and the need for people to get off of that Island, Southwest is offering $19.00 fares for all nonstop interisland flights today through Friday. There are also lower fares from Hawaii to the mainland for that same timeframe. The interisland pet fare is being decreased to $1.00 per flight. The fares have been published online, and Customers have already begun booking.

Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations

If you are traveling to or from Maui over the next few weeks or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to the wildfires which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.

If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary.

Here are seven airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of the wildfires:

  • American Airlines has issued a travel alert for Maui for Wednesday, August 9, 2023 through Sunday, August 13, 2023; and Friday, August 18, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Delta Air Lines has issued a travel alert for Maui for Wednesday, August 9, 2023 through Tuesday, August 15, 2023; and Friday, August 18, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • United Airlines has issued travel alerts for Honolulu and Kahului for Wednesday, August 9, 2023 through Thursday, August 31, 2023; and Thursday, September 7, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for Hilo, Honolulu, Kona, Lihue, and Maui for Wednesday, August 9, 2023 through Sunday, August 14, 2023; and Sunday, August 27, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Alaska Airlines has issued travel alerts for Oahu, Kona, Lihue, and Maui for Wednesday, August 9, 2023 through Tuesday, August 15, 2023; and Thursday, August 31, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Hawaiian Airlines has issued travel alerts for all airports in Hawaii.
  • Air Canada has issued a travel alert for Maui for Thursday, August 10, 2023.

Final Boarding Call

As predicted in this article yesterday, Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at The Gate With Brian Cohen, the aforementioned travel alerts were extended since, given the current dire situation on Maui — even though Kahului Airport is currently open.

Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely…

…and my thoughts, hopes, and prayers continue to be with the people of Maui at this moment. I have been to Maui and Lahaina; and I cannot believe the devastation that has wreaked the island there…

Intersection at Hokiokio Place and Lahaina Bypass. Source: Zeke Kalua, County of Maui.

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