HWN Suggests

Hawaii wildfires: did scientists expect Maui to burn?

Wildfires are not new to Hawaii. Although outsiders tend to think of the Pacific archipelago as a place of lush tropical vegetation, each island has a drier leeward side that is sheltered from the wind — this is where tourism tends to be concentrated, because of the sunny weather. Lahaina, where the most lethal fire broke out on 8 August, means ‘cruel sun’ in Hawaiian; this part of Maui has always been hot and dry.

What’s more, Hawaiian fires are getting worse and more frequent. “We’ve been seeing a pretty steady increase, and in the last few decades, an exponential increase in the amount of area that burns in Hawaii every year,” says climatologist Abby Frazier at Clark University…

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Our hearts go out to the many families and businesses who have impacted by the Maui wildfires. On this page, we aim to provide information, resources, and support to help those in need during these challenging times. Together, let's stand strong and extend a helping hand to our fellow community members on the path to recovery, rebuilding and resilience.

 After Maui fires, human health risks linger in the air, water and even surviving buildings

Chemicals like benzene, lead, asbestos and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are common in ash, runoff and sometimes water systems after fires.

 Here’s How to Help Victims of the Hawaii Wildfires

Volunteers and aid groups have mobilized to help those who have been affected by the disaster. Here is some guidance on how to donate.

Articles of Interest

Maui wildfires expose rift over island’s tourism: ‘We’re more vulnerable than anyone admits’

The industry generates 80% of Maui county’s economic activity – but it risks devastating the island’s natural resources.

What To Know About The Potential Health Risks Of The Maui Fires—From Birth Defects To Cancer

Since many of the buildings in the historic city were built before the 1970s—when the adverse effects of asbestos and lead were discovered and their use in buildings waned—the buildings set ablaze last week might have contained these chemicals, per the state.

As I watch Maui burn I remember Australia’s Black Summer – and see our fiery future

The tragic situation in Hawaii is a terrifying portent of what’s to come. We must heed the warning – and adapt

Death Toll Soars in Maui, as Rescue Crews Scour Decimated Town

Before this week’s fire, Front Street in the western Maui town of Lahaina was a leafy, oceanside tourist thoroughfare of art galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants. The firestorm decimated the street, burning right down to the edge of the Pacific Ocean, a grasslands wildfire that became a house-to-house urban inferno.

Hawaii fires: a visual guide to the explosive blaze that razed Lahaina

‘Catastrophic’ wildfires in Maui killed dozens of people, burned buildings and decimated a town

How Climate Change Turned Lush Hawaii Into a Tinderbox

Declining rainfall, rising temperatures and invasive species have left the islands more susceptible to wildfires.

How Fire Turned Lahaina Into a Death Trap

When a historic coastal town in Hawaii was overrun by fire, many residents fled for their lives — but there was nowhere to go.

How Maui’s wildfires became so apocalyptic

A large hurricane, drought, and perhaps even invasive grasses have fueled the devastating fires in Hawaii.

Lahaina’s Banyan Tree Stands, Yet Much Hawaiian History Is Gone

Weighed against the horrific loss of lives and the nearly complete destruction of a town, the potential loss of a single, gigantic tree may seem trivial. But this magnificent specimen, believed to be the largest tree on the Hawaiian Islands, has touched the hearts of many in Hawaii and elsewhere.

See how the Maui disaster unfolded, hour by hour

The New York Times used video evidence, data and interviews to reconstruct the wildfire that raged through what was once Hawaii’s royal capital.

What We Know About the Wildfires in Hawaii

The amount of destruction and death, on an island far from the continental United States with battered communications, meant that rebuilding — and coordinating the resources to manage it — will be a staggering challenge.

Why the Maui Wildfire Was So Deadly

It is now the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in over a century, and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii’s history.

Resources

9 things everyone should know about Maui’s wildfire disaster

But if you want to help from afar, a number of groups are accepting monetary donations, including the Hawaii Community Foundation, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Maui United Way, and the Maui Food Bank. GoFundMe also has a running list of verified fundraisers.