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NBC NEWS: Fearful of ‘Covid 2.0,’ Maui business owners say they welcome tourism
The wildfires have sparked tension between grieving residents who say now is not the time to travel to the island and those who rely on tourism to survive.
By Alicia Victoria Lozano. Photos by Josiah Patterson for NBC News.
Aug. 18, 2023, 10:00 AM HST — LAHAINA, Hawaii — Nearly two weeks after deadly wildfires burned much of west Maui to the ground and left more than 100 people dead, the island remains open for business, say workers and shop owners who rely on tourism to pay their bills. But their desire to keep visitors coming has sparked tensions with residents who say now is not the time to travel to the island.
“We’re really in pain, but I have no trouble with a customer coming in with a smile on their face,” said Panna Cappelli, whose art gallery on Front Street and the work of some 200 local artists were all but destroyed when the historic town of Lahaina was leveled.
Cappelli has three galleries on other parts of the island that were not affected by the fire, and said she cannot afford to pay her employees or donate to Lahaina residents if customers don’t continue shopping: “I need them to buy something.”
INSIDER: A Maui restaurant owner is ‘praying visitors will start to come back soon’
By Jyoti Mann. Photo courtesy of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via Reuters.
Aug 20, 2023, 5:19 AM HST — EXCERPTED FROM ORIGINAL ARTICLE — …Panna Cappelli, owner of the Maui Hands art galleries, added that it was “hard to be” in her Makawao store “greeting the few remaining tourists with a smile” when she wanted to cry after her Lahaina gallery burned down in one of the fires.
“One gets the feeling that trouble cannot find you out here, on a tiny speck in the ocean,” she said. “It did, in the perfect storm of intense wind and drought and we are horrified at the consequences. Everyone you speak to has a story of loss. Everyone you speak to has a story of heroism.”
She said tourists should still visit Maui but asked them to “be respectful,” saying she didn’t want people to take photos of where their homes and businesses once stood and make them talk about their pain and losses. …
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August 2023 Newsletter Followup
Support Local and Shop Small for Maui | Funds raised, ways to help, and future efforts 🤝
August 2023 Newsletter
Heartbroken and Hurting | Staff OK, much loss all over 💔
May 2023 Newsletter
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words | May Multi-Artist Special ~ Photography Only: In honor of National Photography Month, take 15% off any photo print purchase from May 1-31, 2023! Use code “photomonth2023” online for discounted pricing starting May 1.
April 2023 Newsletter
From Mauka to Makai | Artist Special: Take 15% off Christine Halton’s original paintings through April 30, 2023! Note: Not all available pieces are pictured online.
March 2023 Newsletter
Lucky We Live Hawai'i | Artist Special: Take 15% off John Ensign’s original paintings through March 31, 2023! Note: Not all available pieces are pictured online.
February 2023 Newsletter
Head Over Heels for Hawai'i-made Art | VALENTINE'S SAVINGS SPECIAL ~ JEWELRY ONLY: Take 10% off any jewelry purchase now through Feb. 14, 2023, when you mention this newsletter promotion at any of our four Maui locations, or use code “mauilove” online.
January 2023 Newsletter
Happy New Year from Maui Hands | Gifts with Aloha since 1992 | Fall in Love with New Art
December 2022 Newsletter
Celebrating 30 Years in Business ~ 1992-2022 | The perfect gifts for everyone on your list! Hawai'i residents save 15% all December long with proof of residency.
July/August 2022 Newsletter
Celebrating 30 Years in Business ~ 1992-2022 | July/August 2022: Beach Daze | "Beach Mele" Original Oil Painting by Avi Kiriaty, available at Maui Hands in Wailea ~ call (808) 667-7997 or email [email protected] | Read on to learn more about happenings on Maui, two...
May/June Newsletter
Celebrating 30 Years in Business ~ 1992-2022 | May/June 2022: Summer in Paradise | Blown Glass Honu (Sea Turtle) by Chris Upp | Read on to learn more about happenings on Maui, one new artist as well as a longtime favorite, and more!
March/April 2022 Newsletter
~Living The Dream~ "Village Under Moon" Pen/Ink, Gouache & Watercolor Original by Kirsten Bunney. Celebrating 30 years of representing artists, artisans, and jewelers of Hawai'i! Maui Hands began small, first opening in August 1992 at The Courtyard in Makawao with...
January/February 2022 Newsletter
~A Whale of a Winter~ "Kohola" Acrylic Original by Crystal Yutzy (sold) Thanks to wonderful clients like yourself, Maui Hands has been able to successfully weather the economic ups and downs of the last two years. From website orders and in-person purchases to...
Artists-In-Residence
August 2023 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet and talk story with some of the talented artists Maui Hands represents. We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about Maui's vibrant artistic community! PLEASE NOTE: As featured...
June 2023 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet and talk story with some of the talented artists Maui Hands represents. We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about Maui's vibrant artistic community! PLEASE NOTE: As featured...
May 2023 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet and talk story with some of the talented artists Maui Hands represents. We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about Maui's vibrant artistic community! PLEASE NOTE: As featured...
February 2023 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet and talk story with some of the talented artists Maui Hands represents. We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about Maui's vibrant artistic community! PLEASE NOTE: As featured...
January 2023 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet and talk story with some of the talented artists Maui Hands represents. We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about Maui's vibrant artistic community! PLEASE NOTE: As featured...
December 2022 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet and talk story with some of the talented artists Maui Hands represents. We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about Maui's vibrant artistic community! PLEASE NOTE: As featured...
July/August 2022 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet some of the talented artists Maui Hands is fortunate to represent, as well as observe their artistic processes and just "talk story." We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about...
May/June AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet some of the talented artists Maui Hands is fortunate to represent, as well as observe their artistic processes and just "talk story." We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about...
March/April 2022 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet some of the talented artists Maui Hands is fortunate to represent, as well as observe their artistic processes and just "talk story." We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about...
January/February 2022 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet some of the talented artists Maui Hands is fortunate to represent, as well as observe their artistic processes and just "talk story." We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about...
November 2021 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet some of the talented artists Maui Hands is fortunate to represent, as well as observe their artistic processes and just "talk story." We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about...
July 2021 AIR Program
Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to meet some of the talented artists Maui Hands is fortunate to represent, as well as observe their artistic processes and just "talk story." We invite visitors and locals alike to learn more about...