Over the last week, the Hawaiian island of Maui has been all over the news for the devastating wildfires that began on Aug. 8, claimed more than a hundred lives and caused endless devastation to the town of Lahaina.
With the fires still raging, rescue crews are still struggling to put out flames and find the missing in what is already the deadliest fire the U.S. has seen in more than a century.
Don't Miss: Homes destroyed, death toll climbs in Hawaii fires
It is with this context in mind that socialite and Hilton (HLT) -) hotel chain heiress Paris Hilton was spotted vacationing just a 30-mile drive away from Lahaina with her husband and son.
Paris Hilton did not heed the warning to stay away from Maui
The photos, which were first obtained and published by the Daily Mail, show 42-year-old Hilton and her husband Carter Reum kissing in the ocean at a Wailea resort while holding their eight-month-old son Phoenix as well as a close-up of Hilton carrying Phoenix alongside a bright yellow duck kids floatie.
The photos were reportedly taken on Aug. 12, four days after the fires first began and wreaked havoc upon Lahaina. Local officials say the death toll could double as more bodies are found by rescue crews.
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The paparazzi-style photos caused predictable outrage given that both Hawaiian Governor Josh Green and the local tourism board have warned any tourists to stay away until the situation is under control. Hailing from Hawaii, Hollywood star Jason Momoa has also used his influence from "Game of Thrones" and "Aquaman" to call on tourists not to come to the island.
"Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now," the actor wrote in an Instagram post. "DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply."
Underneath the last two posts on Hilton's Instagram (unrelated posts about the metaverse and an earlier vacation to Greece), some have been asking if she was planning to "help Maui" while she was there on vacation.
Friend defends Hilton, says she 'gathered supplies, donated to local shelters'
While Hilton is yet to comment publicly on the photos, a friend has stood up to defend her.
"It was initially a planned family trip, and she has been traveling to Maui since she was born," the friend anonymously told People Magazine, adding that the island is like "a second home for her."
"Her uncle's restaurant in Lahaina burned down, so they decided to shorten their trip and go to see their family and help where they could. When they arrived, they gathered supplies, donated to the local shelters and people in need and made significant contributions."
While at her most famous during the run of "The Simple Life" reality show in the early 2000s, Hilton has recently found new popularity with a new memoir and social media presence.
After the photos leaked, Hilton reshared the Hawaii Community Foundation's information on how to donate to help those displaced or made homeless in an Instagram story on Sunday, August 13.
