What a weak article. The real causes:
1. The pineapple plantation companies left Maui.
2. The pineapple fields were no longer irrigated and fell into ruin.
3. Non-native, highly flammable invasive grasses took over the fields.
4. Nobody was responsible for controlling the explosive growth of the grasses.
5. The tall, combustible grasses grew right up to the edge of Lahaina.
6. The government did not demand fuel load reduction programs.
7. The government KNEW of the fire hazard posed by the grasses and did nothing.
8. The government run warning system that falsely alarmed incoming Russian nuclear attack failed to go off.
Pretty much lines up with what the article says, government was the real problem.
Got it in post #46. TY so much. Again, brilliant, logical and succinct.
“5. The tall, combustible grasses grew right up to the edge of Lahaina.”
The G00g1e Maps satellite view along at least one street at that edge (Kahoma St.) seems to show a homeless camp in those tall grasses. That street was mentioned early on as needing evacuation in a timeline summary I saw somewhere.
https://www.google.com/maps/@20.8914727,-156.6812708,45m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu