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Efforts to boost the industry will focus on key Southern California markets, with additional pushes targeting corporate meeting and incentive planners.

Visiting the whole island can help stimulate the local economy, still reeling nine months after the fires.

Mayor Richard Bissen hopes the owners of vacation rentals agree to take part in the “shared sacrifice” of the recovery.

Normally thousands of visitors would be in the tourist mecca on any given day. But an organized effort by tourism officials helped get them out.

Cheeseburger in Paradise was a top revenue producer for Maui for decades but its owners have decided not to try to reopen. Other firms are making the same decision.

Gov. Josh Green says he’s sympathetic to those who aren’t ready for the visitors to return but Maui and the state need the money they bring.

With West Maui’s famous resorts set to re-open to travelers Oct. 8, local residents are telling their own stories to convince visitors to come back.

Officials say visitor demand to the Valley Isle is very low and Lahaina fire survivors will continue to be housed in area hotels as needed.

The Hawaii governor also plans to distribute $1,200 to each adult affected by the Lahaina blaze.

It may seem insensitive to go after the Aug. 8 fires, but it’s an imperative part of the recovery.