Hawaii State Attorney General Anne E. Lopez has taken the reins of an ongoing investigation into the devastating Maui wildfires that occurred on August 8th.

The decision to withhold initial findings from the public is purportedly to safeguard the integrity of the investigation. However, it raised eyebrows among local residents who are questioning the transparency and impartiality of this so-called independent investigation.

The attorney general enlisted the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), a nonprofit organization, as an independent third party to conduct the investigation.

This team, comprised of former firefighters, fire scientists, and incident commanders, has been tasked with assessing how state and county agencies prepared for and responded to the wildfire.

Their mission is to ensure an unbiased and transparent investigation into government actions during the fires, a crucial step in maintaining the health of our democratic society and improving future responsiveness and resilience.

However, the investigation has not been without controversy.

Maui County officials pointed fingers at Hawaiian Electric, accusing the company of failing to properly manage electrical equipment during a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning, which they claim led to the catastrophic fires.

In response, Maui County filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) and its subsidiaries, alleging negligence on their part.

Hawaiian Electric vehemently denied these accusations, stating their power lines were not energized when the fire broke out near Lahaina Intermediate School.

They argue the Maui County Fire Department already contained and extinguished a smaller fire earlier in the day and all power in the area remained off when a second fire began in the same area later in the afternoon.

Despite these conflicting accounts, the attorney general remains committed to a full, comprehensive, and transparent investigation. However, she also noted revealing some information prematurely could compromise other aspects of the investigation that remain ongoing.

This led to some local residents and critics expressing concern that the investigation might not be as independent as it’s being made out to be.

The stakes are high in this blame game, with the fires having caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage, burning over 3,000 acres, and destroying more than 2,200 structures.

The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for both the accused utility company and the affected communities.