As Tourists Were Being Told To Leave Maui Amid Devastating Wildfires, Paris Hilton Was Reportedly Photographed On The Beach

    Visitors on non-essential travel have been asked to leave Maui.

    Natasha Jokic
    by Natasha Jokic

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Paris Hilton was photographed on Maui, Hawai'i, as the island struggles with wildfires.

    Paris Hilton poses on the red carpet at Miley's New Years Eve Party wearing a short sparkly dress
    Nbc / Dan Boczarski / NBC via Getty Images

    Editors' note: Before going any further, it should be noted that Paris has a highly problematic past involving numerous instances of racist and anti-gay comments. Her renewed prominence in the public eye through her documentary, reality show, and promotional book tour earlier this year, have been widely considered a PR strategy to bury these comments and rehabilitate her public image

    The wildfires are some of the worst in US history, having burned through Lahaina and led to the deaths of at least 96 people.

    A overhead shot of the rubble after the fires in Lahaina
    Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

    Last Wednesday, tourists were urged by local authorities to leave the island, and others making nonessential trips were strongly discouraged from coming in. Indeed, many hotels are currently housing evacuees, with as many as 4,500 people in need of shelter.

    Destroyed homes next to the ocean
    Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

    Celebrities like Auli'i Cravalho and Jason Momoa have further compelled people not to visit Maui, with the latter writing on Instagram, "Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now. DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply."

    One local woman told the BBC, "The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors — tourists — were swimming in. That says a lot about where their heart and mind is and where our heart and mind is. You don't see our people swimming, snorkeling, surfing. Nobody is having fun in tragedy."

    A man walking down an empty road in-between destroyed structures and the ocean
    Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

    On Saturday, Paris was photographed smiling with her husband, Carter Reum, and son with an inflatable rubber duck on the beach in Maui. They reportedly arrived last Tuesday, the day the fires started.

    Paris Hilton and her husband Carter Reum smile for the camera at an event. Paris is wearing a long sparkly dress and Carter is in a suit sans tie
    Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for The Recording Academy

    According to the Daily Mail, the family were photographed at a resort in Wailea — 30 miles away from Lahaina and 5 miles away from a smaller fire in south Maui's Kihei area.

    Closeup of Paris Hilton
    Axelle / FilmMagic

    A source close to Paris told the Daily Mail, "She has been absolutely helping. Maui has always held a special place in her heart. She has been gathering supplies and taking them to shelters and those who need. She already did and continues to do so."

    Earlier today, Paris shared two Instagram stories urging people to donate to the Hawai'i Community Foundation.

    Paris Hilton / Via Instagram: @parishilton

    Paris has vacationed for many years in Hawai'i. She told People last month, "I just can't wait for Hawaii, because I can't wait to have [my son] be with all of his cousins. My sister and I have been staying at [a hotel] for so many years." However, some native Hawaiians have long urged tourists to stop visiting, as locals are priced out of their homeland.

    Paris on a beach in Hawai'i
    Bauer-griffin / GC Images

    BuzzFeed has reached out to representatives for Paris for comment. If you'd like to donate to the Maui Strong Fund, you can do so here.