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Hawaii News

Disaster could be lasting setback for economy

  • VIDEO BY AP, ALAN BARRIOS AND GOV. JOSH GREEN

    Kahului Airport, the main airport in Maui, was sheltering 2,000 travelers whose flights were canceled or who recently arrived on the island Wednesday, the county said.

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
                                People gather at the Kahului Airport while waiting for flights Wednesday on Maui.

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    People gather at the Kahului Airport while waiting for flights Wednesday on Maui.

  • CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                Travelers waited for their flights Wednesday at Kahului Airport on Maui as numerous wildfires stoked by gusts from Hurricane Dora and a high pressure system to the north ravaged the island. At the center was Olga Fong with her children, Alex, 9, and Nicholas, 3. The Fongs left Lahaina just before a wildfire gutted the historic town, but had to sleep overnight on the floor of the airport because their flight back to Los Angeles had been canceled.

    CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

    Travelers waited for their flights Wednesday at Kahului Airport on Maui as numerous wildfires stoked by gusts from Hurricane Dora and a high pressure system to the north ravaged the island. At the center was Olga Fong with her children, Alex, 9, and Nicholas, 3. The Fongs left Lahaina just before a wildfire gutted the historic town, but had to sleep overnight on the floor of the airport because their flight back to Los Angeles had been canceled.

The wildfires on Maui are likely to have a major impact on the tourism industry — the state’s primary economic engine — with the Valley Isle as a huge draw for Hawaii’s core U.S. visitor market. Read more

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