The images coming from Maui are terrifying. The death toll from wildfires that scorched the island and destroyed Lahaina is approaching 100.
Thousands of residents have fled the island, while many others are seeking refuge in nearby shelters, hotels, and holiday rentals.
Over the weekend, in response to one tour company conducting snorkel tours right off the coast of Lahaina, Aquaman star and Native Hawaiian Jason Momoa advised tourists to avoid the island.
A message Momoa reposted from the community organization Aina Momona, is captioned:
“Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now. DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply. Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need. Please check our Instagram Stories for updates and follow @kakoo_haleakala @mauirapidresponse and @hawaiinewsnow for more!
There are three other beautiful Hawaiian Islands to visit that tourists with Maui trips booked can reroute to. They are the Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai. We’re guessing that it’s best to steer clear of Maui’s neighboring small islands right now too, which are Moloka’i and Lana’i.
“The Maui wildfires are officially the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii’s history,” one of the slides in the post reads.
The full caption, which you can read by clicking on the post above, offers details of where to donate to help fire survivors.
Please help if you can.