Maui's Microclimates

Reality vs. New York Times climate change propaganda

As this August 10, 2023 report demonstrates, the New York Times wasted no time in blaming the Lahaina Fire on climate change.

How Climate Change Turned Lush Hawaii Into a Tinderbox: Declining rainfall, rising temperatures and invasive species have left the islands more susceptible to wildfires.

In fact, the Central Plain of Maui and the west side of the West Maui Mountains have always been arid, especially during the summer months. This is why 19th century sugar barons like Claus Spreckels and James Campbell had to invest a fortune in building irrigation infrastructure for their plantations on these regions of the island. To be sure, some years and multi-year periods are more arid than others. However, generally speaking, some regions of Maui are extremely wet, and others are extremely dry.

When the sugar plantations up the hill and around Lahaina were closed at the end of the 20th century, irrigation ceased, and the land was turned over to grass and weeds, which completely desiccate during the summer dry season.

This morning I shot this impromptu video about Maui’s microclimates from a vantage point on the northwest slope of Haleakala near Haliimaile, looking west towards the West Maui Mountains.