GREAT-14 Reso 23-194 RESOLUTION 23-194, RELATING TO DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY PLAN IN RESPONSE TO THE ISLAND OF MAUI'S TRAGIC WILDFIRES OF AUGUST 2023 (GREAT-14)
Date: September 18, 2023
To: Council Chair Lee and Council Members
From: Mahealani Bernal
Re: Resolution 23-194 – To Developing A Comprehensive Recovery and Resiliency Plan In Response To The Island Of Maui’s Tragic Wildfires Of August 2023 (GREAT-!4)
Aloha Council Chair Lee and Council Members:
The wildfires of August 8, 2023, destroyed everything in their path, taking houses, land, and precious lives largely due to a change in agricultural practices in West Maui, and a drop in the prevalence of using fire (controlled burns) to clear land of dry and dead vegetation held by large private landowners and the County of Maui. Poor land management and the lack of sustainable agriculture practices, seasonal drought, and climate change are just some conditions that contributed to the destructive wildfires in West Maui. We support Maui County Council in developing a comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan to reduce fire risk in West Maui. This recovery and resiliency plan will require measures that will strengthen fire suppression capability and decrease the potential for destructive wildfires to occur again.
Mahalo nui for your consideration.
Mahealani Bernal (Clemons Ohana)
Honolulu/Lahaina
You are doing a great job in stealing the people's property! WE ARE WATCHING because we ALL are NEXT!! Now you understand why they want to take the guns!!!!
What we have lost after the recent deadly fires—the lives, the cultural history—can never be recovered. Maui County has filed a lawsuit in State Circuit Court claiming monetary damages from Hawaiian Electric saying negligence was the principal cause. Early estimates say we suffered $5.5 billion in damages in Lahaina and Kula. In 2022, 2.9 million tourists visited Maui and spent $5.69 billion. It will take us years to recover that income. Total physical damages plus loss of income from tourism could easily exceed $10 billion.
The total assets of Hawaii Electric as of July 1, 2023, were $16.5 billion. A cash settlement would bankrupt the company—which is in no one’s interest, though Wells Fargo says bankruptcy’s the most plausible outcome. What makes more sense is that Hawaiian Electric sell its Maui assets to Maui as partial compensation for damages, and pay Maui a yearly allowance until there is complete recovery.
The island of Kauai owns and operates its electric company as a cooperative. Any customer can become a member and vote to determine policy. Over 60% of Kauai’s electricity came from renewables in 2022 (39.8%-solar; 10.7%-hydro; 9.8%-biomass). Maui County generated just 36% of its energy from renewables in 2022. It is highly likely that the Court will find Hawaiian Electric at fault in the Maui fires, but if we continue to allow it to make decisions based solely on profit margins and refuse to take full responsibility for our ʻāina, the fault will be our own. Kauai offers a better model for Maui.
Date: September 18, 2023
To: Council Chair Lee and Council Members
From: Mahealani Bernal
Re: Resolution 23-194 – To Developing A Comprehensive Recovery and Resiliency Plan In Response To The Island Of Maui’s Tragic Wildfires Of August 2023 (GREAT-!4)
Aloha Council Chair Lee and Council Members:
The wildfires of August 8, 2023, destroyed everything in their path, taking houses, land, and precious lives largely due to a change in agricultural practices in West Maui, and a drop in the prevalence of using fire (controlled burns) to clear land of dry and dead vegetation held by large private landowners and the County of Maui. Poor land management and the lack of sustainable agriculture practices, seasonal drought, and climate change are just some conditions that contributed to the destructive wildfires in West Maui. We support Maui County Council in developing a comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan to reduce fire risk in West Maui. This recovery and resiliency plan will require measures that will strengthen fire suppression capability and decrease the potential for destructive wildfires to occur again.
Mahalo nui for your consideration.
Mahealani Bernal (Clemons Ohana)
Honolulu/Lahaina
Maui Fires
You are doing a great job in stealing the people's property! WE ARE WATCHING because we ALL are NEXT!! Now you understand why they want to take the guns!!!!
Wendy Locklin
The Future of Hawaiian Electric Company
What we have lost after the recent deadly fires—the lives, the cultural history—can never be recovered. Maui County has filed a lawsuit in State Circuit Court claiming monetary damages from Hawaiian Electric saying negligence was the principal cause. Early estimates say we suffered $5.5 billion in damages in Lahaina and Kula. In 2022, 2.9 million tourists visited Maui and spent $5.69 billion. It will take us years to recover that income. Total physical damages plus loss of income from tourism could easily exceed $10 billion.
The total assets of Hawaii Electric as of July 1, 2023, were $16.5 billion. A cash settlement would bankrupt the company—which is in no one’s interest, though Wells Fargo says bankruptcy’s the most plausible outcome. What makes more sense is that Hawaiian Electric sell its Maui assets to Maui as partial compensation for damages, and pay Maui a yearly allowance until there is complete recovery.
The island of Kauai owns and operates its electric company as a cooperative. Any customer can become a member and vote to determine policy. Over 60% of Kauai’s electricity came from renewables in 2022 (39.8%-solar; 10.7%-hydro; 9.8%-biomass). Maui County generated just 36% of its energy from renewables in 2022. It is highly likely that the Court will find Hawaiian Electric at fault in the Maui fires, but if we continue to allow it to make decisions based solely on profit margins and refuse to take full responsibility for our ʻāina, the fault will be our own. Kauai offers a better model for Maui.
Ed Felien
Kihei
Barry Solomon
Waikapu
Until these things have been resolved, nothing should be happening.