Business As Usual in Hawaii
The Hawaii Tourism Authority reports that hurricanes Iselle and Julio have passed the Hawaiian Islands well to the south and north respectively without significantly impacting the Aloha State’s visitor industry. The National Weather Service forecasts show Julio continuing its northern track leaving little behind but high surf on east facing shores.
Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, commented, “Through the hard work and support of our government and industry partners, we were able to provide updates and keep Hawaii’s visitor industry informed for the duration of the storm. We are fortunate that Hawaii remains open for business and able to welcome visitors.”
To date, no major damage has been reported to any major resort areas. However, residents and businesses in the rural area of Puna on Hawaii Island are still dealing with road closures, fallen trees, and power outages due to high winds and rain brought by Hurricane Iselle, which was downgraded to a Moderate Tropical Storm when it made landfall last Thursday on Hawaii Island. The islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai were largely unaffected.
The tourism authority also reports that all of the state’s airports are open and airlines have resumed all flight operations, however, it is advised that anyone travelling should contact their airline carriers directly to confirm their flights and make any changes to existing reservations prior to leaving for the airport. Most visitor activities and attractions have also resumed normal operations.
John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, said, “Travellers scheduled to arrive in the Hawaiian Islands this week and beyond need not make any adjustments to their vacation plans.”
