American media: After the Hawaiian wildfire, the local people generally do not trust the government of Maui Island | website | government
La Haina, Hawaii, USA
On August 19th, a deadly fire broke out on Maui Island in Hawaii, USA, resulting in over 110 deaths so far. According to a report on the website of USA Today on August 18th, residents of Maui Island generally lack trust in the government after the fire, and many are frustrated by the lack of response and transparency from state and federal governments.
According to American media, in heavily affected areas such as La Haina, Hawaii, most aid efforts are being managed by communities because people feel that the government's actions are not fast enough. "People generally do not trust the government. The government is centered around white supremacism and is trying to assimilate and occupy our land," said Noellani Ashia, a healthcare expert and indigenous of Maui. Lian Drisson, who was born and raised in Maui, said that if the reconstruction work is handed over to the government, the reconstruction work will be "very slow.".
Local officials have stated that they were unprepared for the unprecedented wildfire, which has made many people feel uneasy. Herman Andaya, the director of the Maui Emergency Management Bureau, was not even on the island when the fire broke out. Afterwards, it was discovered that Andaya had not received formal education and had no direct experience in emergency management. At a press conference held on the 16th, Andaya did not regret that the alarm did not activate when the wildfire swept through the island, and stated that even if the alarm was sounded, it could not save everyone. During the press conference, many protesters demonstrated in front of the building. Several survivors said that they could have been saved if their neighbors and loved ones had heard the alarm beforehand, rather than waiting for the fire to spread to their homes.
