- hot-spots
- forest fire
- USA
- Hawaii wildfires, USA
Problems
Each year about 0.5% of Hawaii's total land area burns, equal to or greater than the proportion burned of any other US state. Over 98% of wildfires are human-caused. Human ignitions coupled with an increasing amount of nonnative, fire-prone grasses and shrubs and a warming, drying climate have significantly increased the wildfire problem.
Consequences of Hawaii wildfires
In 2023 wildfires on Hawaii's Maui island and Big Island killed at least 96 people, forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate, and devastated the historic resort city of Lahaina. According to research from the National Fire Protection Association, the blaze that devastated the town of Lahaina is one of the deadliest US wildfires in over 100 years. According to the US Drought Monitor, around 14 percent of Hawaii is suffering from severe or moderate drought, and 80 percent of the state is classed as abnormally dry. The last time Hawaii suffered a significant burst of wildfires was in August 2018, when 70mph gusts of wind driven by Hurricane Lane shepherded flames towards Lahaina, the same town ravaged this week. In that incident, 2,000 acres of land, 30 vehicles, and 21 structures were ruined, according to local newspaper The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, with the fire racing across fields once dedicated to growing sugar cane but unharvested since 1999. The impacts of wildfires in Hawaii are devastating and far-reaching. Wildfires destroy homes, businesses, infrastructure, and cultural sites, leaving many residents displaced and without shelter. They also damage the tourism industry, a significant source of income for the state. For instance, the historic town of Lahaina, a popular tourist destination in Maui, was particularly hard hit by the 2023 wildfires. The fires burned through Front Street, the town's main commercial area, destroying many shops and restaurants. Wildfires also harm the environment and wildlife in Hawaii. They burn through large areas of vegetation, causing soil erosion, water pollution, and carbon emissions. They also threaten Since 2008, there has been an arid period, with scientists calculating that 90 percent of Hawaii is getting less rainfall than it did 100 years ago. Fire danger increased with the high winds from Hurricane Dora, warm temperatures, and very low humidity.
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Timelines
2023
August 28
As Lahaina (a city in Hawaii, located on the west of the island of Maui.) grapples with the challenges of recovering from the wildfires, Hawaii Army National Guard members are staffing 21 entry control points and ensuring public order and safety. The Guard has also fought fires, dispersing 268,200 gallons of water in 149 bucket drops over 44 flight hours. Another 40 Guard members are engaged in search and recovery missions. Still, Guard members are keenly aware of the physical and mental challenges ahead. Underscoring resilience despite the immeasurable loss of people and homes, Spc. Sean Winsko, a cannon crewmember, emphasized the strength of those affected by the disaster and the inspiration drawn by personnel supporting recovery efforts, as unified through a common bond of community rooted in aloha.
August 17
Rescuers have already confirmed 111 dead on the Hawaiian island of Maui, although only a third of the area covered by forest fires has been searched so far. The search continues for more than 1,000 people who are still missing. "Nobody alive today has ever seen anything like this -- not this size, not this many, not this volume," said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. About 38% of the fire zone was successfully surveyed. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says raking away the ashes of what used to be homes and historic landmarks is difficult. It will also not be easy to identify the dead, as the bodies are almost impossible to identify and surviving fingerprints are rare. More than 1,000 people are believed to be missing, according to the governor. Exact numbers are difficult to determine due to lack of proper communication. The White House announced that United States President Joe Biden will visit Maui with First Lady Jill Biden on Monday, August 21. This forest fire has already become the deadliest in the United States in more than a century. The death toll is likely to rise as rescue dogs finish sifting through the ruins of Lahaina, the largest town on the island's western side, which was a popular tourist destination. Local authorities estimate the cost of restoring Lahaina at $5.5 billion. More than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in the city, and more than 850 hectares of land were burned. A fire practically destroyed the historic resort town.
August 12
Hurricane Dora sparks explosive wildfires on Maui and the Big Island, killing at least 93 people, displacing thousands, and reducing Lahaina to ashes.
August 08
The fire on Maui started on August 8. The fire took the island by surprise and burned through dry vegetation overnight, leaving burnt-out cars on once-bustling streets and piles of rubble where historic buildings stood. The flames forced some people to flee the fire directly into the ocean.
2022
September 05
A fire breaks out near the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, burning about 1,500 acres and closing roads and trails.
2018
May 23
Hurricane Lane fuels wildfires on Maui, destroying 2,000 acres of land, 30 vehicles, and 21 structures in Lahaina.
2008
May 23
Farm Bill requires that all States, Territories, and Freely-Associated States produce a comprehensive analysis of forest conditions and trends; "Statewide Assessment of Forest Conditions and Resource Strategy" (SWARS), and submit the documents to the Secretary of Agriculture within two years (due June 18, 2010) in order to qualify for Farm Bill funds in a variety of competitive grant programs.
2003
Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships (HAWP) is established. The Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships (HAWP) is comprised of nine Watershed Partnerships on six islands. Watershed Partnerships are voluntary alliances of public and private landowners and other partners working collaboratively to protect forested watersheds for water recharge, conservation, and other ecosystem services. HAWP seeks to increase the management and protection of such areas by raising the capacity of Watershed Partnerships, facilitating the sharing of watershed management knowledge, building public support and awareness of watershed values, and developing
1970
Hawaii passes its own Environmental Protection Act (Act 132, Session Laws of Hawaii 1970 codified as, HRS Chapter 341). The Act creates the Office of Environmental Quality Control; The Environmental Center (Univ. of Hawaii); and the Environmental Council.
1960
May 11
A 9.5 earthquake - the largest ever recorded - hit southwest Chile, generating a tsunami that struck the Hawaiian Islands in about 15 hours. The Hilo Bay area on the island of Hawaii was hit hard by the 35-foot wave, which destroyed or damaged more than 500 homes and businesses. Sixty-one people died. Damage was estimated at $75 million.