MAUI (KGTV) – “Just let people know we’re here. We need tourists to come here and support our economy,” said Hao Le, an Uber driver in Maui.
Le picks up tourists at the airport, which he says lately often looks like a ghost town on the island recovering from devastating wildfires. Le says he normally does about 15 rides a day, but now it’s down to five.
“It’s all short trips. They are not long trips where people need a half hour to an hour drive. Local businesses are struggling right now,” he said.
Le says much of the island is struggling right now, even in areas far from Lahaina.
Joyce Dentt has owned a travel agency in San Diego for decades. She was in Wailea for a travel conference.
“We had booked this a long time ago. We all decided it was important to come to Maui and support it. When we got off the plane everyone was excited. They were almost in tears. They were grateful we were here,” Dentt said.
If you plan to travel to Maui in October or November, you can find round-trip flights starting at $200. Officials say West Maui will reopen Oct. 8, but Lahaina will remain closed.
Dentt, who is also donating supplies and raising money for the relief effort, says she wants to support Maui in any way she can.
“I’m totally into it. I want to support it because this could happen to us,” she added.
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