Editor’s note: To travel or not to travel to Maui? For travelers of conscience, that is the question. On the one hand, the Hawaiian island – which saw the West Maui town of Lahaina devastated by wildfires on Aug. 8, killing at least 100 people – relies on tourism for its economy. On the other […]
Maui Police Department officers patrol Wailea Beach on Saturday. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
WAILEA Demonstrators gathered peacefully on Wailea Beach on Saturday to send a message to government and tourism officials that tourism management is sorely needed.
“Hotels and activity companies have been profiting from selling space on our beaches with no compensation to the county and state, no limits to the amount of equipment used and are taking over our beaches,” community activist Kai Nishiki said leading up to the “Take Back the Beach” event.
The rally drew scores of residents, along with Maui Police Department and state Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel, from 7 a.m. until sundown Saturday.