Please Stay Out of the Lāhainā Burn Zone — Respect the Sacred Space of a Mourning Community
Lāhainā is not a tourist attraction right now. It is a place of deep grief, sacred remembrance, and ongoing healing.
Since the devastating wildfires in August 2023, our beloved town of Lāhainā has been forever changed. Generations of families lost their homes. Children lost their schools. Loved ones lives were taken. What remains is not a backdrop for vacation photos or “off-the-beaten-path” exploration — it’s a burn zone, and more importantly, a resting place for our memories, our pain, and our people.
Why You Should Stay Out of the Burn Zone:
The area is still considered an active disaster site. Cleanup, recovery, and environmental safety efforts are ongoing, and access is limited for a reason. Walking around the burn zone is not only dangerous — it’s deeply disrespectful.
Imagine strangers walking through your backyard after a tragedy. Taking selfies in front of what used to be your home. Walking through what once stood in Lāhainā to satisfy curiosity. That is what some in Lāhainā are experiencing now.
Lāhainā is not a museum. It’s not abandoned. It’s not open for exploration. It is a living, breathing community still mourning. Every street holds memories. Every pile of ash once held a family’s life. When people come here to take photos or “see the damage for themselves,” they are walking over sacred ground.
Photography and “Content Creation” is Not Harmless:
If you're visiting Maui, please understand this: photographing the burn zone is not a way to “spread awareness” unless you are working directly with the community and have explicit permission. Otherwise, it becomes performative — a way to consume trauma for likes or personal interest.
The people of Lāhainā are not props in your vacation. Their grief is not your photo op.
What You Can Do Instead:
Visit other areas of Maui: West Maui communities like Nāpili, Kā‘anapali, and Kapalua are open, but remember to be respectful and educate yourself about Hawaiian culture.
Support Lāhainā families from afar: Shop from local businesses in person and online, donate to verified aid efforts, or commission local artists and makers.
Honor boundaries: Respect posted signs, stay out of restricted areas, and if you’re unsure — don’t go.
Hold space: Listen to the voices of those who live here. Allow us to share when we're ready, and on our terms.
Lāhainā Deserves Time and Space to Heal:
Respect is not optional — it’s the bare minimum. If you love Lāhainā, show it by honoring its people and their pain. Do not step into the burn zone. Do not take photos. Do not trespass on what’s left of someone’s home.
This is not the time to satisfy curiosity. This is the time to stand in quiet solidarity.
Let Lāhainā grieve.
Let Lāhainā breathe.
Let Lāhainā heal.
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With aloha and deep respect from someone who was born and raised in Lāhainā.
