KAHULUI, Hawaii — More than 3,000 Maui residents impacted by last year’s wildfires are being gifted round-trip Alaska Airlines flights via the new Maui CARE Flights program, Gov. Josh Green announced on Wednesday.

“The ability to travel is important to Hawaii residents; travel connects us,” Green said. “It has continuously afforded me the opportunity to travel to Maui to grieve with wildfire survivors and provide them support. Yet the Maui CARE Flights program is about more than travel. It’s about healing. By giving our wildfire-impacted families opportunities to joyfully bond through these shared experiences together, we’re fostering recovery and resilience. This initiative, made possible by the generosity of Alaska Airlines and our partners, embodies the spirit of aloha and our commitment to supporting the well-being of our community.” 

To launch the program, Alaska Airlines will sponsor a special charter flight for eligible families to visit Disneyland from July 11 to 14. Hotel stays for the Disneyland trip are being provided by Marriott International and Disneyland Resort is also providing assistance.

Following the special charter flight, Alaska Airlines will donate up to 180 round-trip tickets (equivalent to one airplane load) per month from August 2024 through December 2025. Eligible Maui residents may use their tickets for any destination on Alaska Airlines’ network.

“The resilience of the Maui community since last year’s wildfires has truly been inspiring,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. “All of us at Alaska Airlines are humbled to continue building on our support for the people of Maui with this new Maui CARE Flights program. Alaska is all about people and care, and we know that travel can offer a break from the mental toll of recovery. We hope that this gift of flight provides a bright spot for Maui families as they navigate the rebuilding of this incredible community.”

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement will manage the intake process. Interested individuals and families can fill out an application form online at helpingmaui.org or in person at CNHA’s Kakoo Maui Resource Center.

Applicants will need to provide their FEMA assistance number and pre-wildfire address. Those who do not have a FEMA assistance number can verify eligibility through other methods.

“This gift of travel will give our survivors, who have gone through so much, a chance to reconnect with loved ones, see new places and create new memories together,” said Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. “The generosity of Alaska Airlines and partners is a wonderful example of the compassion that our residents need as they continue to recover from the devastation of the wildfires.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.