How tourism and colonisation worsened the Hawaii wildfires

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-10-10 13:05

Pacific; International

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Colonisation transformed Lāhainā’s landscape from lush wetlands to a tinderbox on the verge of combustion, say health workers and Native Hawaiian leaders in a recent viewpoint article. They say Alona 'Āina - Native Hawaiians' connectedness with waterways on Indigenous lands had been deteriorated by colonisation, tourism, and immigration, 'undoubtedly' contributing to the fires, which killed over 100 people. The authors also add that official death tolls of climate-driven disasters don't account for ecosystem and human health impacts of hazards like toxic ash runoff into the ocean, and new ways are needed to track such deaths. However, they present the rebuilding of Lāhāina as an opportunity to embrace Native Hawaiian values, with restoration of native ecosystems damaged by tourism and commerce being key to climate resilience.