Hawai‘i in new era of awareness as 10th Wildfire & Drought LOOKOUT! campaign kicks off

People are finally beginning to pay attention to the risk of wildfires in Hawai‘i.

Unfortunately, state, county and nonprofit organizations involved in wildfire prevention and mitigation note that it took a devastating series of brutal blazes — including those that destroyed historic Lahaina in West Maui, killing more than 100 people — in August 2023 for it to happen.

The same agencies and organizations also emphasize that many parts of the islands continue to be impacted by prolonged drought, which is already impacting an estimated 386,000 people throughout the state.

“When I started the job in 2017, [Division of Forestry and Wildlife] had a wildfire suppression budget of $600,000,” said Mike Walker, state protection forester with the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, during last week’s kickoff event for the 10th Wildfire & Drought LOOKOUT! campaign on Kaua‘i. “One fire in California would use that amount in a matter of hours. By 2023, the division was able to get about $4 million for fire suppression.”

Despite long-term efforts by Division of Forestry and Wildlife officials and their partners to obtain better wildland fire support, it took the devastating infernos Aug. 8, 2023, on Maui and other blazes on Hawai‘i Island the same day to bring Hawai‘i’s overall lack of funding support for firefighting efforts, suppression and prevention costs into sharp focus.

“So, unfortunately it does really take a tragedy for people to wake up and realize we have a problem and start to address it,” Walker added, according to a state Land Department press release following the kickoff event.

This year could even see a repeat of severe wildland fire conditions because of increasing drought conditions, particularly now in the eastern part of the state — including on the Big Island.

The U.S. Drought Monitor as of of June 12 showed extreme drought conditions on the north slopes of Mauna Kea and a sliver of southeast Hawai‘i Island. The rest of the island was also experiencing abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions.

All of Maui Nui — which includes Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Kahoolawe — was in moderate to severe drought.

The south sides of O‘ahu and Kaua‘i and all of Ni‘ihau were experiencing abnormally dry conditions.

“We just had the second driest wet season in the last 30 years,” said Genki Kino, a forecaster at the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service, in the Land Department release. “We’re already seeing vegetation dry out, turn brown and become more receptive to wildfire ignitions.”

He said drier conditions likely will persist during the next few months, worsening drought conditions throughout the entire state.

The National Weather Service urges everyone to be aware of forecasts calling for windy and dry conditions that often lead to elevated fire danger.

Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairwoman Dawn Chang, who also co-leads the state drought council, echoed concerns about persistent drought conditions.

“This is early June, and we just saw a fire start on here on Kaua‘i last week, a larger one on Maui just 3 days ago and one on O‘ahu at Schofield Barracks,” Chang said in the press release, adding that as drought conditions intensify, so too does fire danger — the two go hand-in-hand. “This is why, again this year, we continue to encourage water conservation measures, not only for firefighting purposes, but long-term for the preservation of fresh drinking water supplies.”

Visibility of Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization, which co-leads the Wildfire & Drought LOOKOUT! campaign with the state Land Department, has increased tremendously and internationally since the 2023 wildfires.

Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization has been on the forefront of providing science-based wildfire information, education and outreach for the past 25 years, said the organization’s co-executive director Elizabeth Pickett, but prior to the devastating and deadly fires nearly 2 years ago, it was mostly flying under the radar.

“But now many people are energized about protecting [their] homes and communities from wildfires,” Pickett said in the release.

For example, the national Firewise USA campaign, administered by Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization, has grown exponentially from 14 communities in Hawai‘i to more than 30 in the application process or already approved.

“Clearly, people are beginning to understand the risks they, their families and their livelihoods face when wildfires are looming,” Pickett said.

The amount of financial support from state and county governments — along with new firefighting apparatuses and improved technology — is a long list. But, as Kaua‘i Fire Chief Mike Gibson noted, it still takes years from the time you order a new truck or pumper for them to arrive.

“Fire engines from the time we order them, take about 4 years before they’re delivered. Brush trucks help us the most because they’re four-wheel drive,” Gibson said in the release. “Over the past 4 years, we’ve ordered six new ones. By the end of this summer, we expect to finally get our first three.”

The 2025 Wildfire & Drought LOOKOUT! campaign includes radio, television and social media public service announcements along with written and visual resources to help people, agencies and the media develop messages they can use in their communities, with neighbors or larger audiences.

“This effort has always been very collaborative, with more than 30 partners across the state involved,” Pickett said. “Sharing information and resources is a critical piece toward making Hawai‘i more fire safe and aware.”

Chang added that the Hawai‘i Drought Council has dozens of stakeholders, including government agencies, water suppliers, private industry and agricultural interests.

“We’re all in this together and the more we can work together doesn’t mean we can stop natural forces, but it does mean that we can try and not exacerbate the risks or outcomes because we lacked awareness and action,” she said.