In early August, a catastrophic wildfire engulfed Lāhainā, Maui, leaving over 100 confirmed dead and 850 missing. The tragedy has ignited a firestorm of criticism directed at Hawaii’s state government, particularly Governor Josh Green, for perceived inadequacies in emergency response and preparedness. The absence of warning sirens and a perceived lack of an official response to the disaster have drawn widespread condemnation. The fire coincided with the first day back at school for many students; schools had been closed due to an outage, leaving many children home alone. Tragic stories have emerged, including that of a 14-year-old who perished along with the family dog as his parents were trapped behind a police barricade.

Green’s recent “Anti-Housing” proclamation, aimed at speeding up the construction of 50,000 new homes on Oahu, has further fueled public skepticism. Residents are concerned that developers will exploit the tragedy to build expensive hotels and condominiums, particularly as many of the destroyed properties lie along the coastline. Despite reassurances from Green, the fears persist, fueled by Maui’s existing housing crisis and an average home price of $1.2 million.

Adding to the controversy is the state police chief, John Pelletier, who has a history of service during the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. The federal disaster declaration has not alleviated concerns; locals report minimal assistance in the wake of the disaster. For instance, the Department of Health initially blocked insulin-carrying flights, although the issue has since been resolved.

Critics also accuse state authorities and the media of downplaying the likely high number of child victims to protect the Biden administration and Hawaii Democrats. Social media commentators, influencers, and prominent figures have criticized the lack of aggressive media coverage, suggesting a deliberate attempt to cover up governmental failures. They claim that once the true toll becomes apparent, a reckoning is imminent for local government and media alike.

In a deeply concerning development, the Hawaii State Department of Education has reported that 2,025 students remain unaccounted for in the Lahaina public school system following a devastating fire on August 8 in Lahaina, Maui. Of the 3,001 students initially enrolled across four schools in the district, 538 have re-enrolled in other public schools, and 438 have enrolled in the State Distance Learning Program. However, the fate of the remaining 2,025 is still uncertain. The schools, comprising two elementary, one intermediary, and one high school, are currently closed due to fire damage. One elementary school is severely damaged and unlikely to reopen soon, while the others have suffered damage from winds, debris, and soot.