One Year of Action: Building a More Fire-Resilient Waikoloa

This month, the Wildfire Safety Advocates of Waikoloa (WSAW) marks its first official year. Founded in the wake of the Lahaina tragedy, our mission was clear: to ensure our community is never faced with a similar catastrophe. While the work is far from over, thanks to the incredible support and engagement of our residents, we have made significant strides in a very short time.

Here’s a look at what we’ve achieved together over the past year:

1. We Amplified Waikoloa’s Voice

Our greatest success has been mobilizing our community to speak with a powerful, unified voice. When critical issues arise—from County General Plan updates to budget hearings—we’ve activated our network, resulting in dozens and dozens of positive letters of support from residents flooding officials' inboxes.

This grassroots power has made decision-makers take notice. We’ve built a respected presence in county forums, ensuring that the safety of Waikoloa Village is no longer an afterthought.

2. We Drove Policy Forward on the Second Road

The urgent need for a second evacuation route has been a central focus of our advocacy. We’ve held officials accountable for broken promises and stalled projects, ensuring this life-saving issue remains a top priority.

Our compelling testimony before the County Council, arguing that “each year without real movement on a second road worsens safety and erodes public trust,” helped influence critical decision-making. We successfully supported a council amendment to fund the initial engineering for the second road, a vital first step after years of delay. Our message was clear: a “yes” vote would save lives.”

3. We Built a "Brain Trust" of Expert Partnerships

A key strength of WSAW is our commitment to merging local knowledge with world-class expertise. We’ve proactively built a network of leading scientists and officials dedicated to our cause, including:

• Convening a roundtable with top wildfire researchers to collaborate on solutions.

• Facilitating ongoing communication through a dedicated Slack group for academics and stakeholders.

• Building partnerships with specialists from Harvard, Georgia Tech, US Forest Service, and UCSD to develop innovative projects like remote sensing and precision fuel mapping.

This infusion of scientific expertise gives WSAW a credibility and innovative capacity that is rare for a community group. These experts are now eager to utilize data from Waikoloa and even help us seek major federal grants.

4. Championing a Comprehensive Safety Strategy

From the beginning, we’ve understood that there is no single solution to wildfire safety. Our strategy is as multifaceted as the threat we face. In addition to the second road, we are actively advancing solutions across the board:

• Land Management: Promoting fuel load reduction through goat grazing and the creation of defensible greenbelts.

• Technology: Exploring the use of drones and thermal imaging to map fire risks and monitor threats.

• Community Education: Dramatically increasing wildfire awareness and vulnerabilities in the community.

This holistic approach ensures we are building resilience from every angle.

Our Work Has Just Begun

These achievements in our first year are a testament to the power of a community united by a common cause. We have built a strong foundation, but the most critical work lies ahead. We must continue to push for the full funding and construction of the second road, secure resources for fuel reduction projects, and ensure our community is prepared.

Thank you to every resident who has written a letter, attended a meeting, or lent their support. This is your movement.

Here’s to year two!

Stay engaged. Stay safe.
- The Wildfire Safety Advocates of Waikoloa