Hawaii Governor Josh Green has announced the release of $6.3 million to support tourism recovery efforts. The move comes after economic setbacks from the Maui wildfires in August 2023 and the anticipated impact of wildfires in Los Angeles County.
The funds, allocated to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), will help fund a campaign aimed at revitalizing the state’s tourism industry, particularly in Maui.
James Kunane Tokioka, DBEDT Director, emphasized the need for recovery, stating, “The Maui wildfires have had a lasting impact on our tourism industry, and hotel occupancies in West Maui remain low. With the added challenge of the Los Angeles wildfires affecting visitor numbers, this tourism-recovery campaign will drive the traffic needed to support local businesses and jobs.”
Data from DBEDT shows that Los Angeles is Hawaii’s largest source of visitors, accounting for 9.1% of all arrivals in 2024, and 30.2% of visitors from California.
The funding, which is part of the DBEDT’s existing budget, was released following Tokioka’s request.
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