I’m on a press trip on the AmaSonata, sailing the beautiful (but not blue) Danube. But Jim Augerinos told me he’s at the Signature Travel Network Owners Meeting, and would love to do an interview about Maui, from Maui, I said, let’s do it next week.

Jim said the need is immediate, and the people of Maui can’t wait another week. So I asked him if he would write something up and send it along. Here’s Jimmy’s moving reply: Read the rest of this entry »

After a wildfire spread quickly across Maui last week, the Hawai’ian island is left with a recovery effort that could last several months.

At the time of publication, the wildfire is said to have taken the lives of 106 people in the affected areas. Though, efforts are still ongoing. The approach of Hurricane Dora, and the subsequent high winds, are thought to be the primary reason it spread so quickly across the highly visited island.

Last week, the Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA) asked all visitors to leave the island of Maui to help facilitate a rescue and recovery, and for the safety of visitors.

Now, the HTA is telling all visitors booked on a trip to Maui to reschedule their bookings for as far out as months, possibly several months.

“In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.”, said the HTA in a statement.

Fast-moving fires raced across the Hawaiian island of Maui last night and into this morning, forcing tourists and residents to flee through flames in Lahaina, North Kihei, and Kula.

Winds up to 60 mph from Hurricane Dora, 500 miles away, caused wildfires on the island to quickly spread.
Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke has activated the Hawaii National Guard and asked the airlines to halt all incoming flights. More than 2,000 travelers are in Kahului Airport.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency also on Tuesday approved the state’s request for a disaster declaration to provide assistance with “the wind-whipped Kohala Ranch wildfire on the Big Island,” along with two other fires on the Big Island, according to the governor’s office.

**Editor’s note: The Hawaiian Tourism Agency has released a statement noting that the best thing people can do to help is not travel to Maui at this time.

“You know, we talk about ‘aloha’ as this value that is reciprocal, and we’re just very thankful for those visitors who have heeded our call to leave at this time so we can focus on the recovery,” he continued. “It is truly an expression of their aloha for us and for this place.”, said Ilihia Gionson, HTA’s public affairs officer.

If you’d like to contribute to helping Maui recover from these wildfires please go to Maui Strong Fund.

Off Hawaii’s Naapali Coast, onboard Pride of America—Concerns over having to quarantine abroad are pushing travelers to domestic destinations and first among them is Hawaii, with the highest prices in the nation. But price is no object this year, and bucket list trips are all the rage. So you’d think Norwegian Cruise Lines wouldn’t need much help from travel advisors to sell its Pride of America itineraries in Hawaii.

Indeed, since returning to service last month at 40% capacity, the newly refurbished POA is sold out through October. Still, though, I’d argue that Norwegian needs travel advisors to help sell it more than most ships—and that it offers a great opportunity in return.

Pride of America is a unique and expensive product, commanding the highest daily rates in the NCL fleet but sailing under the most unusual conditions. The key to success, as she returns to service Read the rest of this entry »