- Jason Momoa, a Hawaii native and actor, is cautioning against visiting Maui amidst devasting wildfires on the island.
- The fires began on Tuesday and have predominantly affected the historic coastal town of Lahaina, resulting in a death toll of 80 people as of Friday.
- Momoa took to Instagram to urge tourists to refrain from traveling to Maui during this time.
Hawaii native and actor Jason Momoa is urging people to avoid visiting Maui as the island grapples with devastating wildfires.
The fires, which started on Tuesday evening, have mainly affected the historic coastal town of Lahaina, according to The New York Times. As of late Friday, the death toll has reached 80, with hundreds of people still unaccounted for.
Amidst the destructive fires, now surpassing the impact of Hawaii’s 1960 tsunami, Momoa, who is from Honolulu, took to Instagram to dissuade tourists from traveling to Maui at this time.
“For now, Maui is not the ideal vacation destination,” Momoa wrote. “DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI.”
He continued, “Please do not convince yourself that your presence is necessary on an island that is experiencing such profound suffering. Mahalo to everyone who has generously donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need.”
In a video created by the Āina Momona environmental nonprofit organization, Momoa urged individuals with plans to visit the island to cancel their trips. The nonprofit also advised against booking a hotel, as the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) is collaborating with the Hawaii Hotel Alliance to accommodate displaced residents.
In a press release issued on Thursday, AHLA declared that Maui’s hotels have reached full capacity. The release stated that hotels in West Maui will be unable to accommodate guests until essential infrastructure is repaired or replaced. According to the release, AHLA’s local partners are working to secure available hotels on Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Kauai for evacuees from Maui.
Momoa has also been sharing resources and explainers on social media since the onset of the fires. Notably, Oprah Winfrey, who is a part-time resident of Maui, has been seen assisting amid the devastation, as reported by People.
Earlier this week, the BBC featured Winfrey handing out supplies on the island in a video segment.
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