Hawaii natives are begging tourists to stay away from Maui after devastating wildfires killed at least 99 people

• Hawaiian TikTokers are urging tourists not to visit Maui following devastating wildfires.

• The creators are saying that resources on the island need to be reserved for local people.

• Tourists currently in Maui are being accused of insensitive behavior towards local people.

Hawaiian TikTokers are urging tourists not to visit Hawaii in the aftermath of wildfires in Maui, which have killed at least 99 people, Hawaii Governor Josh Green told CNN.

The wildfires, which are still being contained, according to an update from the County of Maui on Facebook, began last Tuesday, destroying or damaging homes and historical landmarks. A statement from the Pacific Disaster Centre said that 2,207 structures had been damaged or destroyed in the Lahaina fire as of August 11. Cadaver dogs are being used in the search for people who are still missing, NBC reported.

Last Thursday, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said visitors were being asked to leave Maui and that tourists with plans to come to the island should cancel or rearrange them, Insider previously reported.

"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 lost loved ones, homes, their belongings, and businesses," an updated statement from the authority, posted on August 14, reads.

TikTokers who say they're native to Hawaii have also been using their platforms to plead with tourists, asking them not to visit.

One user, @sweet.t.808, said in a post from August 10 that tourism impacts the availability of essential resources needed in Hawaii at this time, such as water. "For every single one of you guys coming to Hawaii, you are depleting our water source," she said.

"All the resources that are currently here need to be used on local residents," added another user, @melo_ds, in a post from August 12.

Water shortages in Maui have been a concern for some time, and county authorities have urged residents to conserve water. Tourism has exacerbated the issue, as hotels and resorts have high consumption.

A user named @mindfullykai, who said she was currently in Maui, said in a TikTok from August 14 that there were still tourists on the island, some of whom were asking for discounts on their hotel rooms due to disruptions to their stay after the fires.

"They are in the way, right now, as people mourn the loss of their loved ones, of the places that burned down, of the history that was completely erased," she said, describing tourists on the island. Others have also said they've seem visitors in Hawaii following the fires. One resident told the BBC she spotted tourists swimming in the same waters that bodies were recovered from just days before.

Some TikTokers who appear to be based in the US have also been criticizing tourists who regularly visit Hawaii for not taking more of a visible stand to support local residents dealing with the aftermath of the fire.

"It is wild to see all of these people talking about, 'Oh my Maui vacation, my second home, my island paradise.' The whole island is on fire, and you have posted nothing, talked about nothing," said a user who goes by @destnyshalom, who is based in LA according to her Instagram bio, in a TikTok from August 10.

Tensions between tourists and Hawaii locals have run high for years. In 2020, during COVID-19 lockdowns, Hawaii implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all visitors after many traveled despite the restrictions. John Monahan, president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, sent a letter to several media outlets asking them not to promote travel to Hawaii, CNN reported at the time.

Many Hawaii natives have in the past urged tourists to consider the community when visiting, such as by making a point to support local businesses, cleaning up their trash, and being mindful of the environment.

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