I am afraid this information about likely cause was well known to the utility before these events occurred, especially given the example of what had happened in California with PG&E.
A better question, and one that is much harder to answer, is why supposedly science loving blue states, states with a tendency towards regulation were so poor at preventative measures. In Hawaii's case in particular wildfire risk and poor forest management has been talked about for the past several years since the PG&E fires happened. I guess people only learn by having it happen to them.
I am afraid this information about likely cause was well known to the utility before these events occurred, especially given the example of what had happened in California with PG&E.
A better question, and one that is much harder to answer, is why supposedly science loving blue states, states with a tendency towards regulation were so poor at preventative measures. In Hawaii's case in particular wildfire risk and poor forest management has been talked about for the past several years since the PG&E fires happened. I guess people only learn by having it happen to them.
It's still pretty hard to "improve" upon "nature". Just shows what billions of years of the trial and error of evolution has accomplished.