Maui holds a special place in the hearts of many incentive travel professionals as a standout destination that has always showcased the transformational nature of incentive travel.
With this spirit in mind — as well as the resilience and strength shown now by the people of West Maui — SITE, its International Board of Directors, and Foundation Board of Trustees, extends its sorrows, sympathies, and support following the devastating wildfires in Lāhainā.
“As 260 members of SITE’s incentive travel community gather onsite in Mexico this week for SITE Classic, our flagship fundraising event, the impacts of this, and other climate disasters is something our community needs to take seriously,” said SITE Foundation President Hamish Reid. “It’s our shared obligation — to ourselves, our colleagues, and the industry at large — to understand the impacts of a warming planet, and to mitigate those impacts in responsible ways.”
“As incentive professionals we create transformational travel experiences, but we must also consider how we can be responsible visitors to, and partners with, the destinations we travel to,” said SITE CEO Annette Gregg. “When faced with tragic events like this, we must find ways to support each another. Today SITE Foundation’s Board of Trustees voted to donate all proceeds from one of our auction prizes – likely to be a five figure sum – to the Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund.”
Attendees at SITE Classic will also be offered the opportunity to make personal donations via a QR code linking to the Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund that will be available on the night of the live auction and dinner at Secrets Bahia Mita Surf and Spa Resort.
About the Kokua Restaurants & Hospitality Fund
The Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui will provide immediate assistance to the hardworking restaurant, bar and hospitality workers displaced by the devastating wildfires that have impacted West Maui communities from Lāhainā to Kapalua.
The fund is committed to supporting the island’s recovery. Together with your support, we can make a profound impact on the lives of restaurant and hospitality workers who have played an integral role in shaping Maui’s vibrant culinary scene and tourism industry.
Your donation to the General Kokua Fund will be distributed among various restaurants and hospitality employers, ensuring that a wide range of restaurant, bar and hospitality workers receive support they urgently need. In addition, we will support the culinary community on the ground who are feeding others impacted by the fires.
Other parts of Maui and surrounding islands still open for business
In a statement released Wednesday, Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green confirmed, “Like we saw in the pandemic, decisions we made can affect everyone across the islands. So what we’re saying now is travel should not be to West Maui. But the other parts of Maui are safe.” The governor also clarified, “And the rest of the state, of course, is also safe. We want people to travel to the state to the extent that they’re not impacting the hard work that these extraordinary people are doing [supporting disaster recovery].”
A formal announcement encouraging leisure and MICE business to keep their travel and event plans will reportedly be included as part of a statewide address by the Governor scheduled for Friday, August 18.
