FYI: POCs and allies, what is the real reason for wlid fires in Hawaii, a state whose image is...
that of a lush, green, tropical paradise.
Who knew of the water scarcity, diversion and just about theft really from west Maui? Seems there's a long-standing history of this that has a racial tinge to it. Many of hat area's inhabitants are native Hawaiians. Below are photos of the last Hawaiian monarchs of the 19th century from which native Hawaiians are of similar lineage.
King-Kalajaua
Queen-Lili-uokalani
It's my opinion that we at DU, progressives and POC allies, understand what and why there is water scarcity that turned west Maui into a near-desert tinder box.
Once the American/European planters forced King Kalajaua to sign the "bayonet constitution" in 1887 he no longer had veto power. He died in 1891 childless and his sister Queen Lili'uokalani took over but was soon deposed through conspiratorial machinations by planters. https://teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/20348
Anyway, backed by US Navy gunboats, the planters took over and the land was first plantations in past times and eventually luxury homes, tourist resorts and busineses in recent times where the water from west Maui was diverted to.
My wife and I first learned of this ugly history when we visited Hawaii in the early 2000s for a wedding and were greeted warmly by the native Hawaiians who worked at our hotel. We're African Americans and the workers related to us insolidarilty and told us that their struggle was similar to what Black people have historically gone through in the the US..
What I'm getting at is, from the photos it's apparent that native Hawaiians are somehow part of the African diaspora from who know how anay centuries past, and have been discriminated against in their native land— witness the long-going water diversion and now the disaster capitalism attempting land grabs and water rights — people still in extreme trauma from losing everything in their lives, are being offered money for their land.
Another poster mentioned that with all eyes on Hawaii because of the fire, this won't be allowed to happen. Let's keep out fingers crossed that it doesn't.
Maybe this story will began to come out now that it's been revealed that the fire hydrants had no pressure and the fire alarms were not sounded during the fire.
Just thought as progressives we should know history and water politics how that piece of Hawaii became a fire disaster waiting to happen. As recently as 2020 it was considered endangered.
For those interested in helping people specifically affected by the Hawaii wildfires, you can still select Hawaii Wildfires on redcross.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word HAWAII to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
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