Woke Hawaiian Official Stalled Release Of 'Revered Water' Until It Was Too Late To Save Maui

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/woke-hawaiian-official-stalled-release-revered-water-until-it-was-too-late-save-maui

How detrimental is it to allow far-left ideologues into bureaucratic public works positions?  The state of Hawaii just found out this week with a blaze that engulfed the Island of Maui and killed at least 110 people.  A series of management blunders are being blamed for the deadly wildfire, but one incident in particular has frightening implications.  

With wildfires ripping across West Maui on Aug. 8, a state water official delayed the release of water that landowners requested to help protect their property from damage and stop the spread. The water standoff played out over much of the day and the water didn’t come until too late.  The dispute involved the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ water resource management division and West Maui Land Co., which manages agricultural and residential subdivisions in West Maui.

According to accounts of four people with knowledge of the situation, M. Kaleo Manuel, a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner and DLNR’s deputy director for water resource management, initially refused West Maui Land Co.’s requests for additional water to help prevent fires from spreading to properties managed by the company. Manuel eventually released water but not until after the fire had run its course.

His office has not yet commented on the delay of water resources.