Having lived in Hawaii in multiple decades since the early 1970s, for years at a time, including on Maui, I know the islands well.
In my opinion, the disaster in Lahaina was not the result of climate change (which is a genuine and troubling phenomena), nor a fire hurricane. It is the result of decades of government incompetence, enabled by a lackadaisical, complacent, asleep-at-the-switch mentality.
Even schoolchildren can tell you it’s insanity to allow the flora-based fuel stockpile to grow to such risk-inviting levels. I trust the good citizens of Hawaii will not accept the whipping-boy excuses now being promulgated, as they are a rank insult to the intelligence of the public.
Let’s all, in Hawaii and elsewhere, honor the memory of the hundred-plus persons we’ve lost by looking in the mirror, searching our souls, and then doing what it takes to make sure such a catastrophe never happens again.
Robert Akscyn
Pittsburgh, Pa.
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