2023 Maui Classic

[Ozone!]

 

[Ozone!]

Lahaina's 150-Year-Old Banyan Tree Emerges as Symbol of Hope

Though severely burned, Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree emerges as a symbol of hope in the historic Hawaiian town amid the surrounding devastation caused ...

youtube.com

 

[Ozone!]

 

[Ozone!]

 

[Cuse99&01]

From afar that seems all nice and dandy. Reality is that in 3 months most will still be displaced from their homes in temp housing and figuring out what they will do next. 80 pct of the city was wiped out and tree roots underground are still burning and thus ongoing management of the fire is key and avoiding any re ignition of the fire is critical.

Your heart is in the right place but in my extended experience with numerous disasters and recovery, the majority of the population isn't going to be wondering how soon they can get tourists back filling up hotels with this kind of devastation. Not to mention that the limited access to key utilities is much different on an island than the mainland. For an extended period power will be primarily from large generators. Cell service, towers and other utilities will take a long time to rebuild and again at the mercy of the fire risk being qualmed.

Lahaina will take a long time to be back open for business. Also those hotel rooms might become living quarters too while things get sorted with FEMA which can take time. Also there are 93 dead and counting. That's as many as 93 families looking to grieve and honor their lost loved ones. For those who lived there, that's 93 funeral services.. and so on.


So far the smartest play seems esomewhere else in Hawaii like at Hawaii U where you can handle a bigger crowd and thus then collect more to benefit the people of Lahaina.

Well said. Even if there were enough hotels available it doesn’t sound like there are many restaurants left.

 

[Ozone!]

A long time friend who lives in Hawaii and who has friends and relatives on Maui recommended​

Maui Strong Fund

Maui Strong

www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org

 

[OrangeDW]

Sounds like a combination of things caused it(extra hot and dry, some very strong winds, abandoned farmlands that are no longer watered, etc.)

Hopefully adjustments can be made where possible, and people there can get back on their feet.

 

[UpstateSM]

It’s going to take months, at least, for the entire area not to smell like the black smoke. Probably longer than that.

Not sure if that has a large impact on tourism there in the short term but it will have an impact.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

From afar that seems all nice and dandy. Reality is that in 3 months most will still be displaced from their homes in temp housing and figuring out what they will do next. 80 pct of the city was wiped out and tree roots underground are still burning and thus ongoing management of the fire is key and avoiding any re ignition of the fire is critical.

Your heart is in the right place but in my extended experience with numerous disasters and recovery, the majority of the population isn't going to be wondering how soon they can get tourists back filling up hotels with this kind of devastation. Not to mention that the limited access to key utilities is much different on an island than the mainland. For an extended period power will be primarily from large generators. Cell service, towers and other utilities will take a long time to rebuild and again at the mercy of the fire risk being qualmed.

Lahaina will take a long time to be back open for business. Also those hotel rooms might become living quarters too while things get sorted with FEMA which can take time. Also there are 93 dead and counting. That's as many as 93 families looking to grieve and honor their lost loved ones. For those who lived there, that's 93 funeral services.. and so on.


So far the smartest play seems esomewhere else in Hawaii like at Hawaii U where you can handle a bigger crowd and thus then collect more to benefit the people of Lahaina.

How should this affect the Sentry golf tournament which is considered a signature event for the PGA, scheduled for the first week of January 2024 to be held at the Kapalua GC in Maui?

 

[Orangezoo]

How should this affect the Sentry golf tournament which is considered a signature event for the PGA, scheduled for the first week of January 2024 to be held at the Kapalua GC in Maui?

Kapalua is further north enough and far enough out time wise they should be ok I would think but still its only 10 miles. Fires did get to the southern side of Kaanapali. All that said it's hard to predict how much they will need to rely on smaller communities like Kapalua for housing those displaced.

 

[ssbriefcase]

I don't think people realize how hard it was before all this happened to get things shipped there. Like all things. Logistics are insane, this was BEFORE the fires. This is way bigger than, there's a couple hotels still there let's fill them with tourists. Hawaiians are begging tourists to stay away, this isn't something that'll be solved in a matter of months. A good amount of those hotel rooms will be filled with residents and workers for the rebuild.

Not to mention, imagine people coming to play in a town where your relatives or close knit community had people jumping into the ocean, old and young and dying, along with people dying everywhere else. It's a tragedy and should be thought of that way before anyone else's "fun time" is thought of

 

[Orangezoo]

I don't think people realize how hard it was before all this happened to get things shipped there. Like all things. Logistics are insane, this was BEFORE the fires. This is way bigger than, there's a couple hotels still there let's fill them with tourists. Hawaiians are begging tourists to stay away, this isn't something that'll be solved in a matter of months. A good amount of those hotel rooms will be filled with residents and workers for the rebuild. Not to mention, imagine people coming to play in a town where your relatives or close knit community had people jumping into the ocean, old and young and dying, along with people dying everywhere else. It's a tragedy and should be thought of that way before anyone else's "fun time" is thought of

Yeah I was trying to not get into the details but there is just so much to deal with. You still have crews with cadaver dogs out there. There are lost 4 legged loved ones too.. possibly many. You also have clean up of biohazards.

All of that with the logistics nightmare you noted as well as a fire that's still not fully contained with an underground issue with tree roots.

Come November things won't look a great deal different than they do today other than buildings bulldozed and some things cleaned up. Also people need to understand that many of those burned down materials( including vehicles) will have to be safely disposed of too.

 

[Ozone!]

 

[SUOrangeSU]

Been heartbreaking to watch all the interviews and folks who are there but one common thing ALL of them have said "please don't visit", "don't come here to vacation right now". Visitors or something like this tournament will take housing away from the actual locals. Hopefully folks are being mindful of this

 

[SUOrangeSU]

A few thoughts on this:
1) For Maui, the point of the Maui Invitational is to promote tourism.
2) The vast majority of hotel rooms on Maui are undamaged yet few tourists will visit because of the tragedy. This may linger for years.
3) The Lahaina Civic Center is undamaged. There will be plenty of available hotel rooms. Why not keep the tournament in Lahaina in order to demonstrate that, despite the tragedy, Maui is open for tourism? They really, really need the business.

I understand what you're saying on point #3 but that's pretty out of touch with reality on the ground there. Not saying it won't be different 3 months from now but still planning for a basketball tournament is just down right outrageous

 

[Orangezoo]

Been heartbreaking to watch all the interviews and folks who are there but one common thing ALL of them have said "please don't visit", "don't come here to vacation right now". Visitors or something like this tournament will take housing away from the actual locals. Hopefully folks are being mindful of this

Yes. This goes 2 ways too. It's in part tourists in the normal sense but also disaster tourists- the folks who are simply trying to soak in the devastation and destruction or film it all for clicks.

 

[dollarbill44]

I understand what you're saying on point #3 but that's pretty out of touch with reality on the ground there. Not saying it won't be different 3 months from now but still planning for a basketball tournament is just down right outrageous

It feels callous to even think about the tournament right now.

 

[MSOrange]

Yes. This goes 2 ways too. It's in part tourists in the normal sense but also disaster tourists- the folks who are simply trying to soak in the devastation and destruction or film it all for clicks.

Disaster tourists are the worst! We had a tornado go through our neighborhood when I lived in Georgia as a kid. Very minor in scope compared to Hawaii - no deaths, just a lot of trees on houses etc and general damage like that. I remember seeing one of my classmates riding in a car going down our street. She did not live in the neighborhood, but was just there to look at everything and be nosy and get in the way. Still makes me mad thinking about it today.

 

[721Comstock]

It feels callous to even think about the tournament right now.

More importantly - logistically impossible.

With so many homes, stores, hotels, restaurants, bars, markets, etc burned -
Where exactly would all these players and tourists even stay?

Any intact buildings are likely going to be used as emergency shelters and hospitals, etc for an extended period.

Having a hoops tournament there is the exact last thing that should be on anybody’s minds now.

 

[corpjet]

Another point of view from a local on the island…

Sunday Soapbox…Sorry I had to talk about this sensitive topic and I’m sure I will get some backlash, but I’m ok with it.

There is a movement on social media stating “Maui is Closed”, discouraging anyone from visiting our island as recovers from the worst national disaster I have ever seen. Emotions are indescribable for those that lost loved ones, homes, businesses, and more.

But we need to be aware of how we express that emotion so as not to hurt others. We are quick to say all tourists should leave while we mourn.

But what we don’t realize is that 50% of our visitor economy still exists and is thriving in South Maui. I am hearing fear in the voices of local people working in the visitor industry that are afraid of being laid off or hours cut if we chase tourists away from our island.

Why damage our economy and communities even more by disrupting a monetary flow that is keeping families working, kids going to school, and bills being paid. Are we purposefully trying to get people to have to foreclose on their homes because jobs were lost due to low tourism numbers.

I’m a small business owner that is fortunate to exist almost entirely on the local population , but there are others (in Kihei, Kula, Paia, Makawao, Hana) that would be devastated if the tourist stopped coming, essentially creating another covid scenario.

What we should be doing is educating each and every one of our guest via inflight PSA announcements. Let them know our people continue to mourn and heal. Let them know to practice aloha and patience with our workers. Let them know we still have aloha for them but would like a little bit more in return as we are all dealing with this tragedy in our own way.

I have seen and heard so many well wishes and prayer from outside of Hawaii these last few days. The majority of our guest see the pain we are dealing with. Don’t let the actions of a few destroy our already fragile economy.

Yes…Lahaina and West Maui is CLOSED for tourism. Respect our time to deal with this tragedy. Don’t try to sneak in and play tourist there because it is sacred ground. But I truly feel the Maui is still open. Just my two thoughts…I apologize for the long commentary. Aloha.

 

[Giants1973]

Play tournament at different location

 

[CuseFaninVT]

More importantly - logistically impossible.

With so many homes, stores, hotels, restaurants, bars, markets, etc burned -
Where exactly would all these players and tourists even stay?

Any intact buildings are likely going to be used as emergency shelters and hospitals, etc for an extended period.

Having a hoops tournament there is the exact last thing that should be on anybody’s minds now.

And good luck getting a reservation for dinner.

Seriously, it needs to happen off island, if at all.

 

[Cuse99&01]

I’m assuming the tourney committee is actively trying to find a different location. It was played in North Carolina and Las Vegas in 2020 and 2021 respectively. They should be able to find an alternative location. As others have mentioned, they should figure a way for some (or all) of the proceeds to go back to the relief efforts.

 

[grepal]

Let the good folks who host decide. The Dome should be available that week. Kick the students out of the dorms by Sunday and everyone has to stay on Mount Olympus!

 

[sabach]

Even the thought of a basketball tournament in Maui right now is not even on the top 100 list of priorities for that region. I have a friend who pastors a church near the area and they are being flooded with requests for relief. It's overwhelming. My church is taking up an offering this weekend for them. Maui will recover but it will take time. Please consider donating and if you were going to the tournament and now cannot, please consider taking that money and funding a relief organization you trust to donate those funds to. I totally agree with the idea of having the tournament somewhere else with all proceeds going to the relief efforts. God Bless.