In a landmark development, Governor Josh Green, M.D., announced Friday night that a historic $4 billion settlement has been reached to resolve all tort claims arising from the catastrophic wildfires that devastated Maui last year.
The devastating fires on August 8, 2023, have been linked directly to failures by the state’s primary utility provider during a critical windstorm.
At first, Hawaii State Attorney General Anne E. Lopez decided to withhold initial findings from the public regarding the massive Maui wildfires that took place.
This move is purportedly to “protect the integrity” of the ongoing investigation, according to a statement from the Department of the Attorney General. The decision has raised concerns about the transparency of the investigation, as local residents question whether this “independent investigation” will indeed remain impartial.
