“What we’re saying now is travel should not be to West Maui. But the other parts of Maui are safe,” Gov. Josh Green said during a press conference this week.

As Hawai’i continues to rebuild from the devastating and deadly wildfires that swept through the western region of Maui, the state’s leadership is encouraging travel to the other islands and even parts of Maui that were not affected by the wildfires.

In a news conference this week, Hawaii’s Gov. Josh Green and its tourism board advised travelers that they’re still welcome to visit the other islands of Hawaii.

“Like we saw in the pandemic, decisions we made can affect everyone across the islands. So what we’re saying now is travel should not be to West Maui.

But the other parts of Maui are safe,” Green said at the press event.

The sale, which ends on Aug. 24, is valid for travel during the fall or winter.

It’s a season of savings for travelers looking for a deal on airfare this fall and winter.

Southwest Airlines’ “September Travel Included” sale includes flights for fall booked before Aug. 24. The fare sale is valid on most flights between Sept. 19 and Feb. 14, 2024. Flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico and the islands of Hawaii are valid until March 6, 2024.

looked into the fare sale and found discounts on popular routes including:

Atlanta to Louisville for $49 one-way
Atlanta to Nashville for $49 one-way
Chicago (MDW) to Cleveland for $79 one-way
Dallas (Love-Field) to Denver from $82 one-way
Orlando to Atlanta for $79 one-way
Orlando to Fort Myers for $49 one-way
Seattle to Las Vegas for $86 one-way

Travelers looking for a vacation to Hawaii can take advantage of deals such as a one-way fare from Los Angeles to Hilo, Hawaii for $187. For those seeking to explore Mexico, Southwest has a discounted one-way fares from Ft. Lauderdale to Cancun for $170.

The fare sale has restrictions over holiday travel including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Southwest notes there is a limited number of fares available at the discounted rate for each flight.

Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines shared news that a number of new changes to help provide better service to passengers, including offering free Wifi internet for Business Select ticket holders.

For passengers who book the Wanna Get Away fares, they can now have more flexible travel plans with the addition of same-day standby for another flight.

Travelers looking for destination inspiration can browse

Japan is renowned for its delicate cherry blossoms and mesmerizing bamboo forests, but that’s only the beginning of the country’s charms. From the snowy wilderness of Hokkaido to the tropical forests of Okinawa, Japan has enough natural wonders to keep you in awe. Come explore some of the most stunning places across the country’s 47 prefectures.

1. Takachiho Gorge, Miyazaki, Kyushu

The Gokase River has carved a deep slash through volcanic rock, creating an undulating surface resembling dragon scales climbing toward the sky. Visitors can rent a rowboat to paddle down the river and along the Minainotaki, a waterfall plunging down the sheer cliffs into the river.

2. Iya Valley, Tokushima, Shikoku

The remote and isolated Iya Valley was an escape for the retreating Heike samurai clan. The valley is characterized by plunging gorges, verdant mountains with terraced farms, centuries-old thatched-roof farmhouses, and suspended woven vine bridges swaying precariously over rushing rivers.

3. Yakushima, Kagoshima, Kyushu

The green island of Yakushima, off the southern tip of Kyushu’s Kagoshima Prefecture, is home to native deer and monkeys, as well as ancient cedars. It also happens to be the stomping ground for migrating turtles and dolphins. One-fifth of the island is a dedicated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the heady mix of subtropical forest, hot springs, and dozens of peaks more than 3,000 feet served as major inspiration for the Studio Ghibli animators of “Princess Mononoke.”

4. Tottori Sand Dunes, Tottori

The enormous sand dunes on the Tottori coast have an otherworldly quality. The surreal scenery is also the inspiration for Kōbō Abe’s 1962 novel (and later film) “The Woman in the Dunes.”

5. Shiretoko National Park, Hokkaido

At the very top of Hokkaido lies Shiretoko National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sprawling more than 70,000 hectares. It’s the habitat for one of the densest populations of brown bears in the world, and is frequented by whales, porpoises, and sea birds among the drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk.

6. Goshikinuma, Fukushima

The back side of Mount Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture is home to Goshikinuma, which means “five-colored ponds” and refers to a collection of water bodies that shift their brilliant hues to blues, greens, and reds based on the time of day, season, and weather. The pond trail winds through the forest and can be hiked or snowshoed, depending on the time of year.

7. Ogasawara Islands, Tokyo

It may be part of Tokyo, but it’s more than 620 miles away, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The Ogasawara Islands, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, are only accessible via a ferry that departs from Tokyo and takes 24 hours to reach Chichijima, the largest of the islands. Along with Hahajima, only two islands in the archipelago are inhabited. They’re also home to sperm whales, dolphins, crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, and even a submerged shipwreck for snorkel exploration.

8. Gokayama, Toyama

Gokayama and the neighboring area of Shirakawa-go are UNESCO World Heritage Sites home to rustic farm villages that maintain the structures and visage from centuries past. The villages are set in green valleys surrounded by towering, snowy mountains dotted with farmhouses featuring steeply pitched, traditional thatched roofs that insulate the homes against the cold and keep snow from piling up. Try a farm stay with firewood heat, tasty country food, and hot spring baths.

9. Iriomote Island, Okinawa

Closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan, Iriomote Island is one of the country’s wildest and most remote places. Thickly forested, the jungle-like center gives way to mangroves and sparkling blue and white beaches at the edge. The island is also home to the Iriomote cat, a critically endangered wildcat thats only found here.

10. Mount Zaō, Yamagata

In January and February, a curious phenomenon takes over the ski resort at Mount Zaō. Aomori fir trees meet Siberian winds, and before long, the slopes become covered by juhyo, or “snow monsters” — an army of giant, shaggy beasts with long beards and stumpy arms, seemingly ready to shuffle forward in battle.

An expert deep-dives into how the Land of the Rising Sun has changed over the last three years.

After living in Tokyo as a student and young professional, I’ve made visiting Japan a priority at least once a year since, deep-diving new and interesting themes and destinations as the country continues to evolve both with and against the rising tide of globalization. I’ve written about everything from the secret world of “rotten girl” fan fiction manga to the far-flung village in Shikoku that’s become a cult attraction among Kengo Kuma architecture devotees; I’ve also authored three travel books about the country.

This time, I’ve been on a quest to discover everything that’s new and different now that Japan’s officially open for tourism once more. Here’s what I’ve found after a month of on-the-ground research:

Hotels want to be more than just a place to stay.

They want to be your tour guide. Born from the ashes of the pandemic, hotels are leaning harder into diversifying their offerings. In Japan, hotels are upping the ante to become not just the place you hang your hat, but the lens through which you capture the destination.

Leading that trend in the luxury section is Aman, which has established a reputation for embedding itself so deep within its locales that it feels endemic. Aman Tokyo was the first Aman to take the recipe for sprawling resorts into the heart of a city; a sanctuary incorporating natural materials, a floor plan pastiche of the traditional Japanese house, and incredible views of the imperial gardens with — on a clear day — Mount Fuji just behind. During the quiet of the pandemic, the brand dug even deeper, creating a circuit of bespoke tours for guests to the nearby Nihonbashi district, where they connect with artisans who have been perpetuating precise, generations-old traditions like kimono making and chopstick whittling.

At the in-house restaurant, Musashi by Aman, the eponymous chef Musashi takes diners on the most comprehensive culinary experience possible. Never mind the flight of sushi shopped from the market earlier in the day; on Sundays and Mondays, Musashi retreats to his mountain hideaway to grow rice, farm wasabi root, and spin his potters wheel into compelling ceramics — all of which then find their place on his dinner table.

The theme of intentionality continues at Aman Kyoto, which opened just as COVID-19 was ripping across Asia; a sanctuary on the outskirts of the city with a tucked-away garden in Mount Hidari’s forest, inspired by the ruins of Machu Picchu, but with distinct local flair. The perfect antidote to the touristic hustle of the country’s favorite temple town, the resort’s modus operandi is to encourage guests to completely slow down, whether that means soothing soaks in the geothermal onsen, riding bikes around the nearby temples (wondrous places of worship but with a fraction of the tourist traffic), or strolling through the property’s forest and sitting down in a quiet nook with a resident artist to paint the vivid sakura buds of spring or the deep red maples of koyo in the autumn.