On August 8, 2023, more than 2,200 structures were destroyed, and over 100 lives were lost on the island of Maui when wildfires consumed the town of Lahaina along with other parts of the island. It was a sad day for the state of Hawaii and the United States – a day that will live in memory forever.
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But time goes on and where there’s a will, there’s a way. Hawaiians are a tenacious, resilient people. They’re rebuilding. They’re moving forward, determined not only to survive but to thrive.
Even nature is rebounding In Lahaina, a historic town that took the brunt of the flames, almost 25,000 trees were lost in the wildfire. However, 300 have survived, including the famed Lahaina banyan tree.
In one word, yes. Amazingly, only a year after the fires, the island is supporting a vibrant tourism industry. The message here is, “We’re open for business and we want you to come and visit us.” The island is reliant on an active visitor industry. They need it to thrive. So, when you visit, you’re not only getting to experience a unique vacation destination, but you’re also helping to support the local economy.
Here are some things you can experience now on Maui:
Just getting there has a cost all its own. It’s the most isolated populated landmass in the world. Most people arrive via air travel. The cost of a round-trip ticket changes constantly, but as of the writing of this article, flying from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Maui and back is $235 if flying United. And the cost only increases if your starting point is further away than LAX.
Then add in things like the cost of living in Hawaii, which is among the highest in the nation largely because so many things must be imported. Plus, Hawaii has some of the highest state taxes in the United States. All of this contributes to vacationers needing to dig deeper into their wallets to enjoy their vacation fully.
BudgetYourTrip.com estimates that you can expect to pay around $275 per day on meals, local transportation and hotels when you stay in Maui. A traditional luau alone runs around $200 per seat.
If you want to visit Maui or take any trip for that matter, it’s always a good idea to protect your travel investment. There are so many nonrefundable charges that you’ll likely lose if you can’t go on your trip. The Maui wildfire disaster is a perfect example of this. Those who’d planned vacations in Maui that included August 8, 2023, were either unable to go, or had to cut their vacation short due to emergency evacuations. Those travelers who hadn’t protected their investment likely lost considerable funds.
Those that did have protection though probably received reimbursement for a portion of the investment lost. What kind of protection did these travelers have? The likely answer: travel insurance.
Travel insurance is so important to protecting your travel budget, says Dan Drennen, Director of Sales and Marketing at Travel Insurance Center®. “It gives you that hedge of protection that leads to peace-of-mind gold. After all, you’ve got enough to think about in organizing a trip, you certainly don’t need worries associated with financial travel risk due to events beyond your control.”
According to Dan, the best way to get travel insurance is through a licensed travel insurance agent like the Travel Insurance Experts at Travel Insurance Center. Drennen says, “A good travel insurance agent will do the research needed to find suitable coverage based on your specific needs and budget. Plus, they do it at no charge to you because they get paid by the insurance carriers directly when you purchase a policy.”
Some of Travel Insurance Center’s travel insurance solutions include:*
If you are interested in protecting your travel investment, consider allowing Travel Insurance Center to assist. Call 1.866.979.6753 or complete this form to get a no-cost, no-obligation quote.
*Do contact Travel Insurance Center at 1.866.979.6753 for a more complete rundown of product benefits, features, limits and exclusions.