The death toll from the Maui wildfires is now over 100 and is expected to continue to climb as there is a report that over 1,000 people are unaccounted.

What's now referred as the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history, has caused major pain and sadness for thousands of families across the state. As recovery efforts continue, many residents are asking why Hawaii's early warning system, with about 80 alarms on the island of Maui alone, did not get activated to alert residents about the approaching flames.

Kaleikoa Kaeo, professor of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii Maui College, who gives a history of colonialism in Maui and how the transformation of the island for mass tourism, such as changes to agriculture and water management practices, helped to turn the area into a tinderbox. "Our people who have lived there since time immemorial are suffering because of the consequences that have been imposed really from outside foreign forces,"

While his sentiments would be true 600 years ago, the people and the technology have adapted to make the land much better and beneficial for all. Wild fires have been around since the Earth started growing trees.