Tourists Scramble To Safety In Maui Fire

Melissa McIntyre had no idea the west side of Maui was burning until she saw the smoke from her vacation condo.

She and her cousin, Jasmine McIntyre, had just gotten to the island on Monday from Connecticut for what she now calls a “girls trip gone bad.” High winds from nearby Hurricane Dora knocked out power and cell service, leaving them completely unaware of the fire danger that was brewing just a few miles down the road.

“We made a quick decision to pack everything up in 10 minutes,” Melissa McIntyre said in a phone interview from the Jeep where they spent the night on Tuesday. “We weren’t sure where to go because we had no cell service.”

They drove to the north side of the island, but all hotel rooms were booked. They then contacted police asking where to go. They were directed to an American Red Cross shelter in Kihei, but were evacuated again when the fire got too close.

“It’s like a movie you don’t want to be in,” Jasmine McIntyre said.

Tourists Trying to Leave Maui

Emergency officials are scrambling to find space for the massive influx of tourists the island gets in the summertime while also dealing with dozens of deaths and the near total destruction of parts of the island.

More than 2.3 million people visited Maui in 2021, according to the most recent data available from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke encouraged visitors to leave the island as soon as possible “so we can prioritize our scarce resources for Maui residents who desperately need assistance.”

Kahului Airport on Maui remains open as thousands of tourists pack the terminals trying to get flights off the island. Several major airlines, including American, Southwest, United, and Alaska are offering to rebook travelers at no additional cost.

Hawaiian Airlines is adding additional flights out of Maui and offering main cabin fares as low as $19.

The Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu has been set up as a mass evacuation center for tourists who can’t get home as well as displaced Maui residents.

Buses are helping with evacuations as well.

And people who are planning to travel to Hawaii in the upcoming days, weeks, and months are being asked to keep an eye on the situation before leaving.

(​MORE: When A Dream Vacation Turns Into An Emergency)

‘We Just Ended Up With None Of Our Possessions’

They were in the middle of their 15th wedding anniversary vacation and staying in Lahaina when the wildfires broke out.

“We were actually planning to hang out in the Front Street area for the earlier part of the day as we often had, but seeing that most businesses were closed due to the electricity being out from high winds, we opted to go shopping further south.”

They enjoyed the day in the Kahului area and headed back north to Lahaina when they were blocked by heavy traffic.

“At that point, we found out about the fire,” he said. “Our experience was not as chaotic or panicked as many others. We just ended up with none of our possessions.”

Unable to drive anywhere by highway, they found a place to eat and decided to wait out the fire.

"After sitting in traffic for 4 hours, we pulled off the highway and found a side street that was being used by others in the same situation, and slept in our car for the night,” Howde said.

Melissa and Jasmine McIntyre made it out of Maui and into an Airbnb on Oahu.

“[We] got a good night’s sleep,” she said, “and we’ll work on how to get back to Connecticut eventually.”

(​MORE: Lahaina's Historic Banyan Tree Burned In Wildfire)

Staying Safe In A Vacation Emergency

The American Red Cross, which has been assisting Hawaiian officials in providing food, shelter, and care for tourists and residents, shared helpful tips on how to be prepared if an emergency strikes on vacation.

-Prior to travel, let your family and friends know when you are traveling, where you are staying, and what your plans are.

-Download the Red Cross Emergency App so you have access to up-to-date weather alerts, emergency notifications, and shelter information.

-Make sure your group knows everyone’s cell phone numbers, and choose an emergency contact out of the area in case your group gets separated and phone lines are overloaded.

-Follow evacuation procedures carefully. Most emergency alerts will come from local county officials.

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