Jason Momoa issues stern response to tourists who say they want to travel to Maui
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Jason Momoa
Claire Reid
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@prideofgypsies / PAULA RAMON/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa has urged people not to visit Maui after wildfires have torn through the Hawaiian island, leaving at least 80 people dead.
The Aquaman star, who is from Hawaii, took to his Instagram to warn people not to attempt to visit, saying it’s not the place to ‘have your vacation right now’.
“Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,” Momoa wrote. “DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI.
“Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.
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“Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need.”
Momoa's post comes as the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority released a statement saying people on 'non-essential travel' to the west of the island were being asked to leave.
The statement read: “Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave West Maui, and non-essential travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged at this time.”
Earlier today, the official death toll from the fires hit 80, with state governor Josh Green warning it would likely rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Green told Hawaii News Now: “The recovery’s going to be extraordinarily complicated, but we do want people to get back to their homes and just do what they can to assess safely, because it’s pretty dangerous.”
Earlier today, police said a new fire burning on the Hawaiian island of Maui has triggered the evacuation of a community north-east of the area that burned earlier this week.
The Maui police department said the fire prompted the evacuation of Kaanapali in West Maui on Friday night.
Last week, the historic town Lahaina was mostly destroyed by the blaze, while residents were forced to run into the water to try and escape the flames.
Officials said that 271 structures were damaged or destroyed and dozens of people were injured; while the Coast Guard said it rescued 14 people who jumped into the water to escape flames and smoke, including two children.
Maui county spokesperson said that assessing the full extent of the damage could take months.
President Joe Biden said he had ordered all available federal assets to help with the response. He said the Hawaii National Guard had mobilised Chinook helicopters to help with fire suppression as well as search and rescue efforts on Maui.
He added: “Our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed.”