Steven Tyler Urges Tourists to Return to Maui After Devastating Fire

Steven Tyler, who owns a home in Maui, encouraged fans to visit the Hawaiian island during the opening night of Aerosmith’s farewell tour over the weekend at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The singer told the audience not to be afraid to travel there following the recent destructive fire.

“When you think about Lahaina, think about south Maui,” Tyler said during the concert, according to the Associated Press. He suggested alternative resort communities, noting, “Paia and Hana: it’s still there. It’s a place to go and do the, you know, the love thing. It’s still open, it’s still happening.”

More from Rolling Stone

• Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson Launch 'People's Fund of Maui' With $10 Million Donation

• Stevie Nicks Says Watching 'Daisy Jones & the Six' Is Like 'Watching My Own Story'

• Maui Fires Disaster Relief: How To Help Victims of Devastating Fires

He added, “Everything’s beautiful, except you gotta come there and make it more beautiful, okay?”

Although Hawaii official initially told tourists to stay away from Maui during its recovery, they have since reversed that advice to help propel the economy. At least 115 people have died and 385 people remain missing, according to the government’s official list of missing persons.

Last week, Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson launched The People’s Fund of Maui to provide support for many of these affected residents with an initial donation of $10 million. The fund will provide direct relief to individuals who are over the age of 18 and reside in Lahaina and Kula. The cash distribution will arrive in the form of $1,200 monthly payments.

“I have been meeting with people throughout the community that were impacted by the fires over the last few weeks, asking what they most needed and how I could be of service,” Winfrey shared in a statement. “The main thing I’ve been hearing is their concern about how to move forward under the immense financial burden. The community has come together in so many wonderful ways, and my intention is to support those impacted as they determine what rebuilding looks like for them.”

Several other musicians with ties to the community on Maui have commented on the disaster. Stevie Nicks, who owns a house nearby to the devastated town of Lahaina, shared a heartfelt statement following the fire.

“There was no way to know that this amazing town that had survived so much for so long would burn down and disappear into the history books, leaving so much sadness, destruction, and death behind it in its wake,” Nicks wrote. “This island, in so many ways, defines Fleetwood Mac and me and our families.”

Aerosmith are currently on their “Peace Out” farewell tour. The trek continues through North America over the fall and winter, wrapping Jan. 26 in Montreal, QC. The band recently released a career-spanning LP, Super Deluxe Edition of Greatest Hits.

Best of Rolling Stone

• Carrie Underwood Was a Teenage Metalhead: Her Best Hard Rock Covers

• All 237 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked

• The Who's 50 Greatest Songs

Click here to read the full article.