Jason Momoa’s message to tourists amid the Maui wildfire crisis is short and simple, “Do not travel to Maui.”
Maui, like most of Hawaii, is a prime tourist destination. It is home to some celebrities like Oprah Winfrey who have a property in the area and comes to visit for some time annually. Last week, a wildfire ignited with no probable cause yet, but the fire spread quickly in the hot and dry island. The summer winds didn’t help the firefighters, instead, it worsened the situation for the residents. The fire devastated the historic town of Lahaina, almost leveling it, with residential and commercial areas both ravaged.
Many celebrities sent their support and aid to the victims of the fires. Shelters have been set up by the government in big convention centers. It currently houses the victims of the fire. As of Tuesday, August 15, 101 casualties have been reported, with more than a thousand people unaccounted for. Firefighters and other officials are still scouring the area of the fire to rescue other survivors and recover bodies.
The Maui fires gained internet traction, with many netizens scrambling to raise funds and other donations for the victims. Celebrities have also done their part in donating resources and spreading the word. Many famous Hawaiians have visited the victims and contacted nonprofit organizations to see how they can help.
Jason Momoa’s Message to Tourists
Jason Momoa, a proud Hawaiian native, has also spoken out about the tourism of Maui. Jason Momoa’s message is clear. On his Instagram account, he posted,
“Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now. DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply. Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need.”
Momoa also highlighted a couple of organizations that accept donations for the victims.
“‘Āina Momona is standing up this fundraiser to support our Maui community. All the funds raised will be given to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui County Strong Fund https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong to support disaster relief on Maui. We are using this ActBlue platform because giving is quick and easy, and the funds come to us immediately, allowing us to get these funds to families in need faster. An accounting of all the monies raised through this fundraiser and our distribution to HCF will be posted on our website. Mahalo for your support.”
If you want to donate to the victims of the fire, you can go to the website Momoa mentioned in his post. There are also channels through the local County of Maui to give your monetary support. Maui is still suffering and the residents have yet to recover from the trauma and the loss caused by the fire. The people of Maui need our nationwide support. Let us all help them in any way we can.