Just over seven months ago, the Lahaina fires ravaged Maui’s western shore, killing 101 people in the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii’s history. As residents rebuild their communities, the full scale of the devastation continues to reveal itself.
The fires burned more than 2,500 acres including the entirety of the town of Lahaina. Over 5,400 residents remain displaced and damages are estimated at $6 billion.
Record-setting heat, years of drought, and hurricane winds all contributed to the wildfire’s immense destruction. As global temperatures climb, natural disasters increase in severity and frequency. The wildfires in Hawaii are the product of the conditions created by rising temperatures and a precursor to more intense storms, fires, and disasters. It’s these same conditions that have caused more severe storms, flooding, and rising tides here in Santa Cruz.
Bad climate conditions were made worse by the highly flammable, non-native grasses that now cover Maui, remnants of a history of exploitation from moneyed American interests. The Biden administration has made attempts to follow through on climate objectives such as phasing down super pollutants. The most notable piece of climate legislation is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in 2022. The IRA invested hundreds of billions of dollars on clean energy projects and incentives. The money is primarily allocated to corporate and consumer tax credits for things like electric cars, direct air capture, and sequestration of carbon dioxide.
Still, the U.S. remains the largest oil producer in the world, accounting for 21 percent of production. The Biden administration has doubled down on reliance on oil by approving more fossil fuels projects, liquified natural gas export facilities, and fracked gas projects. At times, the president skipped the necessary permitting processes that exist to help protect the surrounding environment and populations.
As recovery efforts continue, Maui remains scorched and environmentally unfriendly for humans and wildlife. January rains have highlighted risks to marine ecosystems — a direct consequence of human destruction. Flooding and runoff from the heavy rains have caused arsenic, lead, and other toxic components found in ash to flow into the ocean.
Sediment runoff from the fires coupled with the effects of climate change has compounded the peril for coral reefs, such as the Olowalu Reef. This coral formation is home to important species of fish and other marine life including the largest manta ray population in the U.S.
In a survey taken by the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism in 2022, an overwhelming 81 percent of respondents “agreed that their island is being run for tourists at the expense of the local population.” Even as thousands of residents remain displaced, the island has reopened for tourists.
The Hawaiian economy remains heavily reliant on tourism. The tourism industry is an extension of an extractive colonial and capitalist legacy on the island. It disregards the indigenous and resident populations on the islands in favor of the wealth and pleasure of non-natives.
As Maui continues its grueling recovery it must prioritize residents. There is an opportunity to redefine Hawaii’s relationship to tourism, its people, and the environment. An emphasis should be placed on regrowing vegetation native to the island. By learning from and prioritizing the needs of natives, Hawaii may become a safer and more livable environment for people and wildlife.
To mitigate future disasters not only in Hawaii but in Santa Cruz and across the globe the US must take bolder steps to eliminate fossil fuel production and effectively implement green energy solutions. Otherwise, the fires in Maui will fade from our memories like clouds of smoke into the atmosphere, replaced by new and greater horrors, numbing us to the tragedy.
We must not become numb.
