@Dadbelly2023 posted:What I want to know is why is the media not reporting that the actual death toll is likely to be in the many hundreds; if not thousand plus? I don't think anyone intentionally set the fires via laser or anything crazy like that. BUT I do think that some very wealthy people are now dreaming of buying the land and rebuilding the town in their vision of a utopia. We can agree to disagree.
I didn't realize (mainland?) media was not reporting that a higher number of casualties is expected.
Hawaii local news has consistently quoted authorities who have been blunt about the death toll likely climbing much higher than the current report of 106 souls. At least 2/3 of the properties in Lahaina have yet to be searched. Plus, when authorities have revisited areas that HAVE been searched they're finding even more remains.
There are also reports that any future land sales may first have to be offered to Maui residents and then other Hawaii residents. Not sure if that's accurate or legal but it's definitely true that locals are worried about being displaced even more than they already have been.