The U.S. Drought Monitor on Wednesday showed that 33.4% of the Big Island is experiencing moderate or severe drought, with much of North Hawai‘i in severe drought. Another 15.4% of the island is abnormally dry.
Drought increases the risk of wildfire, an issue the north part of the island is all too familiar with, especially after the massive Mana Road Fire in the summer of 2021. Several other blazes have sparked in the region since, including in August 2023, the same day a deadly wildfire destroyed Lahaina, Maui.
The Hawai‘i County Council on Wednesday during a regular session meeting took up two measures in support of mitigating the risk of wildfires in North Hawai‘i, specifically in and around communities that were affected by the Mana Road Fire.