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MEDIUM RANGE PLANNING PROPOSED FOR 2024 TOURISM ON MAUI

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Board of Directors has furthered its ongoing commitment to mālama Maui and support the island’s recovery by approving an immediate six-month action plan for 2024 to help address major challenges confronting residents, small businesses, visitor industry providers, Maui’s economy, and families seeking housing.

The action plan is designed to fulfill tourism’s responsibilities in alliance with the leadership established by Governor Josh Green, M.D. and within the broader scope of Maui’s recovery efforts being conducted by the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and other state agencies. HTA’s full report identifying major strategies and not only short-term but also mid- and long-term recommendations will be provided to DBEDT in their role coordinating the State’s Economic Recovery Support Functions.

HTA Board Chair Mufi Hannemann noted the 2024 plan balances the critical needs of getting Maui’s economy back on track for the benefit of workers and families, with the sensitivity that efforts undertaken by HTA will not compromise Maui’s principles. “A tremendous amount of thought and listening to people and businesses throughout Maui has gone into the development of this overarching plan, which will guide HTA forward in the coming year,” said Chair Hannemann. “We will be flexible and make necessary adjustments throughout the year to ensure the programs and innovations that HTA puts forth are timely and geared to encourage future success. We are hopeful Maui’s tourism industry will begin seeing positive results soon, but the reality is that this plan is intended to heighten interest among mindful travelers about Maui throughout all of 2024 and beyond.”

<a href="https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/news-releases/2023/hawai-i-tourism-authority-board-approves-action-plan-to-support-maui-s-recovery-in-2024/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/news-releases/2023/ha...</a>

MAUI COUNTY SUES HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC “Not only should these types of poles and lines and equipment and insulators all withstand these large wind events, but there is now a standard in the investor-owned utility world to de-energize or power down lines in the aftermath of these high wind events because fires can be started,” Attorney Fisk said.

The electric utility HECO said in a statement that it’s ”disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding,” but declined to comment further.

There is fear that Hawaiian Electric will declare bankruptcy. The fire is estimated to have caused over $5.4 billion in damages

<a href="https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/08/24/maui-county-sues-hawaiian-electric-alleging-negligence-utility-cased-fires/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/08/24/maui-county-sues-hawaiia...</a>

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/lawyers-descend-on-maui-after-historic-wildfire-15bfaaf5" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.wsj.com/us-news/law/lawyers-descend-on-maui-after-his...</a>

MAUI COUNTY THREATENS TOURISM INDUSTRY In November of 2023 both Hawaii Governor Josh Green and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen proposed incentivizing the owners of Maui’s 12,000 short-term rentals with tax breaks if they convert them into long-term housing for locals