It’s fair to say Hawaii went through a lot in 2023. The tropical paradise that fills us with so much warmth and joy turned to darkness for four days last August as wildfires reduced much of western Maui to ruin.

But if ever a people can show resilience and build back, it’s the Hawaiians, and build they did, with plenty of promise now on the horizon for much of the affected areas.

Elsewhere on the other islands, the business of tourism continued unabated, and the U.S. state remains one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers to visit. The relaxed vibe, warm people and energetic environment delivers everything a holidaymaker could want. In 2024, the future in Hawaii is as bright as the sun that shines down on it. Long may it continue.

On this episode of Talking Travel, recorded before the Maui fires and held back out of respect, we chat to Jennifer Gaskin from Hawaii Tourism Oceania and Andrew Stanbury from Hawaiian Airlines on some of the most exciting new attractions coming to the ‘Islands of Aloha’ and exciting new features on the way for the island’s flag airline.