Waianae, Hawaii, faces significant wildfire risks, similar to Lahaina, due to its dry climate and invasive vegetation. Calvin Endo expressed concerns that overgrown brush could lead to catastrophic fires like those seen in Lahaina. Following Lahaina's deadly wildfire in 2023, which resulted in 102 fatalities, there has been a surge in communities joining the Firewise network for fire protection resources. Despite longstanding awareness of wildfire threats, only recently has one neighborhood in Waianae made progress towards obtaining Firewise status.
"We can have a repeat of Lahaina if somebody doesn't do anything about the brush in the back," said Endo, a resident of Makaha Meadows in Waianae.
Wildfires have posed a growing threat in Hawaii, with the state witnessing its deadliest wildfire in a century, resulting in 102 deaths.
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