Hawaii Officials Were Warned Years Ago That Maui’s Lahaina Faced High Wildfire Risk

A report warned years ago of the high wildfire risk in Maui's Lahaina, which local authorities were unprepared for. Passing hurricanes in Hawaii have been tied to fire danger.

August 12, 2023 . 7:04 PM

1 min read

A report in 2014 warned that Maui's Lahaina was at extremely high risk of wildfires.
Local authorities were not prepared for the recent devastating wildfire in Lahaina.
Some recommendations from the 2014 wildfire-protection plan were implemented, but others were hindered by lack of funding and logistical hurdles.
Passing hurricanes in Hawaii have been tied to fire danger, as documented in a 2020 report.
Over the past decade, an average of 20,000 acres have burned annually in Hawaii.