Iʻm a daily reader and a donor to Civil Beat, a e-news communication based on Oʻahu. GoLook. They report and dig as deep as they can about issues many of us view as critical. And I watch local network news, and CNN, MSNBC, etc. A mix: local reporters, malihini haole reporters and everything (almost) in between.
A big topic over which media has been obsessing over is that Kaleo Manuel, then Deputy Director for the Commission on Water Resource Management, didnʻt release water in a timely fashion to aid fire fighting efforts. Shortly after that news was circulated, Mr Manuel was "redeployed" to another position.
Those who know me know about my wide-ranging curiosities. Anything related to science, natural history, geography, nā mea Hawaiʻi Nei, etc., count me in. Iʻm not "Expert" in anything, but am, I believe, a fairly good observer. Given that Iʻm bed-bound much of the time, I have the luxury of noodling around the ether, following interests where ever they may lead. Until I get distracted by something else.
I wrote (yesterday?) briefly about the Seamenʻs Hospital in Lahaina. It burned. And about the homes across the street, oceanfront. They too burned. GoogleEarth has posted, uploaded, or whatever they do, aerial imagery taken on Aught 21, 2023, four days after the conflagration. Go Nānā ʻĀina. Look at the land. About 4 miles of the coast, and, of course, ma uka areas were burned.
The link above is to a Civil Beat article about a tedious, but ultimately successful court case, in which Mr Kapu successfully "took back" family land and water rights. GoRead.
The property in question, I believe, is:
Active loʻi (wetland kalo patches) are the green rectangles at lower left. The swath of land immediately to the right holds ghostly images of what appear to be long fallow loʻi. Ke awāwa Kauaʻula (Kauaʻula valley).
Ka-ua-ʻula n.
1. A strong mountain wind, often destructive, at Lahaina, Maui. Lit., the red rain [referring to red soil washed away by a storm]. Ke kukui pio ʻole i ke Ka-ua-ʻula, the light not extinguished by Ka-ua-ʻula [in praise of Lahaina Luna school].
Please note, the definition above, from Place Names of Hawaiʻi. Local knowledge of geographies is instructive. We shouldnʻt be surprised, then, when get Big Wind!
The valley is in shadow at the bottom right of screenshot. We can see the light green of kukui along the watercourse at right. To me, the presence of kukui is often an indicator of water sufficient to support those moisture-loving trees.
A wider view of the area, again, GoogleEarth, August 12, 2023.
Red Flag Warning issued August 7 at 3:15AM HST until August 9 at 6:00AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will occur shortly. The combination of dry fuels, strong and gusty trade winds, and low relative humidity levels could produce extreme fire behavior. A Red Flag Warning does not predict new fire starts.
A Wind Advisory means strong winds are occurring. Winds this strong can tear off shingles, knock down tree branches, blow away tents and awnings, and make it difficult to steer, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles.
All the Warnings, Advisories, and what-la mean nothing if the populace doesnʻt pay attention, or understand what they mean. I believe that details matter, and in these times when inaccuracies are repeated through uncontrolled (anti)social media, and many Officials donʻt seem to understand weather phenomena and broadcast inaccuracies, The Populace is often left wondering. What I supposed to do?
Though Dora did not pose a direct threat to the Hawaiian Islands, the National Weather Service in Honolulu did issue numerous weather warnings and advisories, especially red flag warnings, for portions of the various islands in expectation of the hurricane helping enhance trade winds in conjunction with an ongoing drought.[63] A steep pressure gradient between a strong anticyclone to the north of Hawaii and Dora to the south produced incredibly strong gradient winds over the islands which in turn helped cause multiple wildfires in Hawaii. The fires killed at least 111 people, all on Maui, and damaged or destroyed more than 2,200 buildings, primarily in Lahaina. The wildfires are the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii's recorded history.[64]
And, to keep stirring the pot, here are some Rainfall Stats for Maui Komohana (West Maui)...
Weʻre trying to get to a place where we understand how, with the climate and weathers we see today, how was Lahaina able to support loko (ponds), loʻi, and swamps? The answer seems to be that Lahaina then is not the Lahaina now. I need to dig deeper to understand, because I not from Lahaina, not from Maui. Stay tuned. But for now, from the Map Collection of the State Survey Office, please see the following.
When the page above opens, Download the Registered Map Index. Browse it, and when you see a map of interest, type the number in the Registered Map Number box. Click Search. Have fun!
Two screenshots below of Registered Map (RegMap) #1262 by SE Bishop in 1884. First of note is the large loʻi kalo (Taro Patch) on the waterfront next to the Court House.
So wetness in Lahaina extended to the shore. And if we mālama ka ʻāina it likely can again!
Some of my scribblings:
Out of the ashes, opportunities. "We" have the chance to put on display, for the world, ingenuities of Native Hawaiians and others in how to build and live within our means. No need complex "International Building Codes" that no one I know can read or comprehend. As we see, no code wouldʻve saved Lahaina from the blowtorch. Build smart, build simple, wide eaves, water catchment, big airy lanai.But First:Take down all the seawalls. Let the ocean seek equilibrium and form new beaches. Condemn or purchase all properties along the shore, much like the 2018 Lava Buyout Program. When the shoreline stabilizes, make a wide shoreline park. Then a new Front Street, then homes ma uka of that.
Recruit UH Architecture students to design innovative dwellings based on local needs, local microclimates. Simplify building codes. Simplify. We cannot, must not, design fortresses to protect ourselves. It does not work.
Starting at the ma kai edges of the forests of Maunakahālāwai: Plant. Plant ʻōhiʻa, plant ʻaʻaliʻi, ʻōhiʻa, wiliwili, alaheʻe, plant kukui, ʻulu, kalo, uala, ʻōhiʻa, koaia, lama, ʻōhiʻa. Plant kīpuka, let kīpuka expand and connect.
Resurrect Mokuhinia and Mokuʻula.
Itʻs approaching nap time. Till then...
Aloha, always aloha,
BobbyC
maniniowali@gmail.com
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