Maui’s Wetlands Crisis: How Bureaucratic Failure Endangers America’s Natural Defenses

Last year, residents in South Maui witnessed bulldozers decimating precious wetlands — vital ecosystems that safeguard communities against flooding and protect endangered native species such as the Hawaiian Hoary Bat. Despite a 2022 county ordinance designed to protect these habitats, government officials allowed unpermitted clearing to proceed unabated near Kīhei, leaving only barren dirt where thriving wetlands once stood. Why Has a Critical Environmental Law Become Nothing More Than Empty Paperwork? The story unfolding in Maui is more than a local failure; it’s emblematic of how bureaucratic inertia undermines national priorities like conservation, public safety, and economic resilience. The 2022...