In a devastating turn of events, the historic town of Lahaina on the west coast of Maui was tragically destroyed by a fire on August 10th. The picturesque waterfront main street, once a symbol of the island’s native and colonial past, now lies in ruins. The fire resulted in the displacement of 5500 people and the destruction of 2700 buildings, including many timber structures that held immense value.
What makes this calamity even more suspicious is the backdrop of plans for a grand transformation of Maui into an all-electric, digitalized “smart city” island, controlled by artificial intelligence. The entire island has been earmarked for this ambitious venture, which aims to create a sustainable and technologically advanced urban environment. These plans were discussed earlier this year at the JUMPSmart Maui conference, where the vision for a smarter future was outlined.
The proponents of the “smart city” project argue that it will aid in the fight against climate change, with the Democratic Governor of Hawaii even suggesting that the fire in Lahaina was caused by the very phenomenon they seek to combat. However, some locals have expressed doubts regarding this explanation and have raised concerns about the timing and response to the fire. They speculate that the fire may have conveniently served as a catalyst for pushing forward the smart city agenda.
Lahaina is prone to high winds, making it susceptible to fire outbreaks, especially since the removal of the sugar cane fields that once acted as a fire shield around the town. The dry and tall grass that replaced the fields provided ample fuel for the flames. While it is possible that this was simply a tragic combination of weather events, the suspicious official response and emphasis on climate change fuel skepticism.
Speculation regarding the cause of the fire has also surfaced, with some suggesting a directed energy weapon (DEW) attack. This theory gained traction after reports surfaced about a Chinese “pollution monitoring” satellite that allegedly shot lasers into the sky above Hawaii. DEW attacks were previously blamed for the devastating Californian wildfires in 2017-18. Others have even pointed towards the long-debated HAARP technology, which has been proposed as a potential climate-altering tool. However, the motive behind attacking such a small and seemingly insignificant location remains unclear.
Nonetheless, certain individuals stand to benefit greatly from the destruction of Lahaina. The multi-billion-dollar developers will now have the opportunity to swoop in and redevelop the devastated town center without any legal obstacles. The JUMPSmartMaui program, in operation from 2011 to 2016, aimed for the effective utilization of renewable energy and widespread deployment of electric vehicles. It was a collaborative effort between Hawaiian and Japanese stakeholders, led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that this “smart development” trend is not limited to a small community project. The concept of creating technologically advanced and environmentally conscious cities has gained traction globally. And while the bureaucrats may view it as a step forward towards a sustainable and secure society, critics argue that it could lead to the creation of high-tech island prisons.
As Hawaii prepares to host the Digital Government Summit this September, which will focus on artificial intelligence-based governance, the tragic fate of Lahaina serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers and uncertainties associated with the pursuit of smart city initiatives. The loss of this idyllic town stands as a powerful symbol of the tensions between tradition and progress, and the need to carefully consider the consequences of our actions in the pursuit of a technologically advanced future.
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