The Threat of Wildfires in Waianae
When there is sufficient rainfall, the open land behind Calvin Endo’s home, surrounded by mountains, transforms into a lush and vibrant landscape that reflects the beauty of tropical Hawaii. However, during the summer months, when the tall invasive grasses and thin tree branches turn brown, Endo fears the area could become a dangerous fire zone.
This is not a scenario exclusive to Maui, where most of Lahaina was destroyed in a massive wildfire in August 2023. Endo’s home is located in Waianae on the west side of Oahu. Despite being in a different part of the island, Waianae shares several similarities with Lahaina. Both are situated along the arid western coasts, have limited road access due to the terrain, and are strongholds of Native Hawaiian culture. Additionally, both areas have sections with overhead power lines on aging wooden poles, similar to those that contributed to the Lahaina fire.
There is even a street named Lahaina running through the heart of Makaha, where Endo lives. “It can happen to us,” he said, having moved to the Makaha Meadows subdivision in 1980. “We can have a repeat of Lahaina if someone doesn’t do something about the brush in the back.”
In recent days, two wildfires a few miles away, including one on July 6 that resulted in the death of a 94-year-old woman, confirmed Endo’s worst fears. It has been nearly two years since Lahaina became a tragic example of the devastation caused by wind-driven flames fueled by overgrown vegetation. With 102 deaths, it remains the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century.
Following the disaster, the number of Hawaiian communities participating in the Firewise network, a program designed to help communities protect their homes, more than doubled to 35. However, none of these communities are located in western Oahu. Despite the long-standing awareness of wildfire risks in Waianae, only now is one of its neighborhoods close to achieving Firewise status.
Understanding Firewise
To become Firewise, a community must organize a committee, conduct a hazard assessment, develop an action plan, and volunteer time to reduce risks such as removing overgrown vegetation. Firewise tracks progress, connects residents with experts, and offers ideas, funding, workshops, and training for mitigation efforts.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service identifies Lahaina and Waianae as being at a much higher risk for wildland fires compared to other U.S. communities. Honolulu Fire Department Battalion Chief Keith Ito noted, “The weather, the winds, they’re pretty much identical.” He added that the high-risk wildfire potential is a state-wide issue, not unique to Waianae or Lahaina.
Nani Barretto, co-director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, finds it puzzling that communities like Waianae have not joined the Firewise movement. She also mentioned that there are no Firewise communities on Kauai. “Just because we are proactive in getting the word out, it doesn’t mean the right people are getting the information,” she said. For Maui, it took a devastating event for them to join the initiative.
Organizing a community can be challenging, as it requires residents to invest time and take on leadership roles. Endo, who has been a member of the Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board for years, had never heard of Firewise until recently.
Progress and Challenges
A development called Sea Country, near the neighborhood that was recently ordered to evacuate during a wildfire, is close to becoming the first Firewise community in Waianae. Andria Tupola, a resident and representative on the Honolulu City Council, said the process started around 2018 but gained momentum after the Lahaina fire.
Sea Country recently completed a hazard assessment and planned some mitigation events, including a park cleanup in August. Ashley Bare, the Firewise support specialist for Oahu, highlighted these efforts.
Emergency routes and other challenges also play a role. After the Lahaina fire, an emergency access route in Waianae was opened. Farrington Highway, the main artery along the coast, can easily become congested even with minor accidents. Military officials who control a mountain pass above Waianae began discussing civilian access after the Lahaina fire. During the July 6 fire, state and military officials were prepared to open the road as an escape route from the coast to central Oahu.
Another Hawaiian homestead community in Nanakuli Valley is also working towards Firewise status. Diamond Badajos, spokesperson for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, noted this effort.
Cultural and Economic Factors
Waianae is rich in Hawaiian culture and history, home to the largest concentration of Native Hawaiians. However, it also faces significant challenges, including poverty and homelessness. Residents are accustomed to wildfires during the dry summer months, according to Republican state Rep. Chris Muraoka: “It’s almost like if it doesn’t burn, something’s not right.”
However, Muraoka believes that fire-prevention and safety education in schools would benefit communities more than organizing to be Firewise. He pointed out that Waianae has unique needs, such as spread-out neighborhoods and blazes often started by arsonists or children playing with fire.
Some residents already take steps to mitigate risks, especially with the dry season underway. Endo often clears brush on his property to create a firebreak. Some properties in Waianae use sheep to manage overgrown vegetation.
Retired firefighter Shermaih “Bulla” Iaea recalls fighting blazes near Endo’s home and Makaha Elementary School. In 2018, his farm burned down during high winds from a passing hurricane. He used a herd of sheep until they were killed by wild dogs. Iaea believes that neighborhoods banding together to become Firewise is another valuable tool.
“There’s a 100 percent chance that will happen here,” he said. “I thought it would never happen to me. Now I’m trying to ring the bells. I’m trying to sound the alarm.”
The Role of Utility Lines
Being one of the poorest communities in the state is a major factor preventing Waianae from becoming Firewise, said Darius Kila, a Democratic lawmaker who lives near where the July 6 fire occurred. Before the summer, he sent a letter to Hawaiian Electric and telecom companies urging “immediate and coordinated action” to address dangerous, sagging utility lines on aging wooden poles along the coast.
The origin of Lahaina Street in Makaha is unclear, but it fits the sunny west Oahu neighborhood, which includes the famous Makaha surfing beach. Some neighborhoods above Lahaina Street are newer and have underground utilities, like Endo’s. However, older neighborhoods closer to the ocean are still lined with overhead power lines.
Glen Kila, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner in Waianae, worries about the risks posed by these power lines. Power lines are blamed for sparking the Lahaina blaze. “If that happens to Waianae,” he said, “we’re done.”
