Locals are reimagining the Hawaiian island’s travel industry.

But volunteering was a whole new experience, and one I had not considered until then.

On my trip, I met locals keen to reboot even reimagine the islands travel industry.

People walk on a rocky beach in Hawaii

A coastal walk with Ambassadors of the Environment at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.Credit:Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

Tourism is big business in Maui, where nearly 3 million annual visitors drive 40 percent of the economy.

By taking part in cultural experiences, we hope that visitors will gain a deeper appreciation for our island.

The significant goodwill that voluntourism generates belies the short hours typically required for any given session.

A man shows two children flowers growing on a tree

Kamahiwa Kawa’a, the director of Hawaiian Culture at Fairmont Kea Lani, shows guests how to pick ginger flowers for a lei.Trevor Clark/Courtesy of Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui

Still, volunteering on vacation is not for everyone no judgment here.

(Damages are still mounting as the clean-up estimated to take a decade or longer continues.)

This has created an awkward clash in the West Maui resort enclave of Kaanapali.

Hawaiian women do a cultural dance with red fabric on a beach in Maui

Dancers perform “Tales of the Kapa Moe Lū‘au” at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.Melia Lucida/Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

Those really mean a lot.

Fellow passengers echoed their enthusiastic refrain, and even the crew joined in.

Thanks for being here, for being cool, and for hanging out with us, he said.

A person carves a mask out of wood; two women and a child learn to hula dance in Hawaii

A carving demonstration at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua; guests participate in a hula demonstration at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.Randy Jay Braun/Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua; Tanveer Badal/Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

If you want to know how to support Maui right now, youre doing it.

A restaurant exterior and bowls of Hawaiian cuisine

The restaurants exterior and “Just like oxtail soup” at Tiffany’s Maui.Kevin J. Miyazaki/Courtesy of Tiffany’s (2)