A historic seaside town that once was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii has been largely reduced to ash as firefighters continue to battle wildfires. For centuries, Lahaina has served as a major economic, political and cultural center for Native Hawaiian communities. Now hundreds of families have been displaced, dozens of businesses have burned down, and officials confirmed that at least 55 people have died.
The town of Lahaina, situated on the west coast of Maui, was evacuated along with several other towns on both Maui and the Big Island (the Island of Hawaii). Videos show Lahaina in chaos, with local businesses engulfed in flames and heavy smoke filling the streets. Some residents were forced to jump into the ocean to seek safety from the flames.
“Our home is on fire right now. There needs to be more action and more investment. People hit first and worse by the climate crisis tend to be Black, indigenous and low income. Yet we’re the keepers of the knowledge of how to build a society that wouldn’t cause ecological collapse and societal doom.”
-Kaniela Ing, Kānaka Maoli, or indigenous Hawaiian founder of Our Hawaii
Even before the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1795, Lahaina was an important place where chiefs from different parts of Maui would gather. But in 1802, after King Kamehameha conquered several islands on the archipelago, Lahaina was made the Hawaiian Kingdom’s official capital. Of course, Honolulu later became the capital in 1845 and, in the decades that followed, the US began its effort to colonize and claim Hawaii. American whites infiltrated the kingdom’s government and denied suffrage to Native Hawaiians in 1887. Then an American coup overthrew the queen in 1893 and the US annexed (stole) it as a territory in 1898.
Today, Hawaii is effectively under occupation by the US and its military who have polluted and priced out Hawaii on an unimaginable scale. Native Hawaiians are left with little room and fewer resources to try and build a life, and the one avenue that has been consistent is the tourism industry, but tourism is but one symptom of the military occupation.
Side Items
Ukraine’s Cash Overdose: Joseph Robinette Biden really pulled up to congress like a child guilty of smearing poo all over the walls, and asked them for another $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of this year, yet another massive cash infusion as the war with Russia drags on. This $40 billion financial package wouldn’t just be for Ukraine though, it also includes $12 billion to replenish US federal disaster funds in the midst of the ongoing deadly climate season. I’ll go ahead and be the one to say it: $12 billion won’t be nearly enough to cover the damage of heat and floods and storms to come
Caicedo’s Gazump: At long last, after months of waiting, the Premier League season kicks off later today! And with the start of another season typically comes some big-money transfer moves for reinforcements. Today, Moises Caicedo is the man of the hour. The 21-year old Ecuadorian is currently weighing his options between joining Liverpool and slotting into a revamped midfield, or signing with Chelsea and instantly becoming another rotating cast member in one of the most expensive sides in football. Liverpool seemed to have a deal wrapped up before I went to sleep yesterday, offering Caicedo a British transfer record sum of £110m (about $140 million!) for his services. But I’ve woken today to news that Chelsea are looking to hijack the deal and Caicedo himself may prefer life in London over Liverpool. Regardless of his final decision, it’s clear the season is upon us where I make the classic mistake of allowing 11 grown men, total strangers, to decide my mood based on their performance kicking a ball around a field. I love this game
Harry Kane Gets Wise: English international and Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is also weighing up whether to abandon the Spurs and join German champions Bayern Munich or not. Kane’s £100m decision could bring an end to his 19-year stay at Tottenham as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer who’s also somehow won zero (0) trophies in his tenure. The current indication is that Kane is leaning towards a move to Germany, with a medical planned for later today. Heartbreaking for Spurs fans