Politics
Unraveling the Maui Tragedy
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Unraveling the Maui Tragedy

A former resident of Maui offers his insights as to what caused so much death and destruction and what could have been done differently. ...
Sam Mittelsteadt

As of mid-September, close to one month after the lethal fires, the somber reality stood at 97 confirmed dead and at least 315 individuals unaccounted for, many of whom are elderly or children. Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed, and hundreds of families have been displaced on an island with limited ability to meet their needs.

My wife and I lived in Kihei on Maui from 2016 to 2020, and we share many wonderful memories with friends and family. This priceless icon of Hawaii life and culture is a tragic loss on many levels. While living on Maui, we witnessed firsthand how inept the ruling class in Hawaii has become. 

The wildfire that devastated the town of Lahaina has left an indelible mark, resonating deeply with my experiences during my time on Maui. I watched the situation very carefully from the beginning. Though information continues to surface, I have done my best to assemble an objective and accurate collection of the facts below.

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