Maui

[Gene Greco]

The devastation is widespread from the wildfires.
Lāhainā is all but gone.
Just tragic.

[astavrides]

Seems in poor taste to ask about a golf course with 36 people known to be dead so far.

[Rob Marshall]

Lahaina, was a beautiful historic town. People jumping into the ocean to escape the flames is horrific. I can't even imagine that.

[Pete_Pittock]

Gene,
The are fire maps for every state available by computer. 
I do not see any fires threatening Kapalua, which is to the north (and upwind) of the fire that devastated Lahaina.


I fear that the current estimates of death and destruction are woefully low, but hope I am wrong.

[Gene Greco]

Thanks, Pete.
Essentially what I was asking re how far the fire had spread.
My apologies for unwittingly messaging in an unfortunate manner..

[Matt Schoolfield]

I've only been to Maui a few times, but I really love it there. The human and economic toll will likely not be estimable for weeks, but with the current macroeconomic conditions, I wouldn't be surprised if their entire economy in serious trouble for years. Obviously general relief comes first, but those of us who are passionate about golf should all probably get our pocketbooks ready for a type of Brora pandemic relief membership for the courses we care about on the island. There are only 16 courses, but most of them are probably existentially dependent on the tourism industry and an economic shock, while temporary, could be softened with the help of patrons.

[Matt_Cohn]

There also appears to be a fire quite close to Mauna Kea resort on the Big Island (along with a couple others), but I'm not sure how much impact that one is having. Certainly nothing close to what's occurred on Maui.

[Rob Marshall]

Seems incredible that this could happen in Hawaii but if I remember correctly Lahaina is a very dry area. The other side of Maui is the wet rainy side.

[Wayne_Kozun]

I've only been to Maui a few times, but I really love it there. The human and economic toll will likely not be estimable for weeks, but with the current macroeconomic conditions, I wouldn't be surprised if their entire economy in serious trouble for years.

Sorry Matt, I am not clear what you mean by this.  It appears to me that the hospitality sector is booming like never before.  Hotel prices are extremely high everywhere.  What do you mean by "current macroeconomic conditions"?  High interest rates?

[Matt Schoolfield]

I've only been to Maui a few times, but I really love it there. The human and economic toll will likely not be estimable for weeks, but with the current macroeconomic conditions, I wouldn't be surprised if their entire economy in serious trouble for years.

Sorry Matt, I am not clear what you mean by this.  It appears to me that the hospitality sector is booming like never before.  Hotel prices are extremely high everywhere.  What do you mean by "current macroeconomic conditions"?  High interest rates?

I do mean rising interest rates. Rebuilding will be much more expensive than it would have been two years ago.


While the main row of resorts seems to have been spared, Lahaina was the beating heart of that area. Where will the employees from move when there is already a housing crisis? Will tourists want to vacation in what will almost certainly be a gigantic construction zone? Many of the reasons people go to that area (the harbor, excursions, and dining) are now gone.


There are other parts of the island, but Lahaina is the center of their tourist sector, and it’s obviously going to take years just to rebuild.