As mentioned in a few of these other blog posts, travelling to Hawaii may not be
as simple as it seems. There are moral quandaries attached to the tourism industry
as a whole but that is not the only risk factor present. While the strain tourism
puts on the islands has its own fair share of unsavoury issues– such as the water
shortages and rising tensions with the locals, the place itself is subject to a
multitude of natural disasters. Ones that will only become more common with
the worsening climate crisis.
Hawaii’s islands are home to 15 volcanoes, 6 of which are still active with the last
eruption occurring as recently as last month. This year Hawaii was also victim to
horrific wildfires that killed over 50 people and left thousands homeless. The
catastrophe was caused by the continuing drought conditions combined with the
strong winds attributed in part to Hurricane Dora. The tragedy has affected many
and will take years to recover from, though the people and places impacted will
never truly be the same.
It’s not just volcanoes, fire and hurricanes that jeopardise Hawaii, however. The
state is also prone to flash flooding, tsunamis and earthquakes. The Hawaiian
islands themselves were formed from movements in the Pacific Plate, which
explains their propensity for natural disasters.
It is wise to be wary when travelling to the area and to understand the specifics of
each season on the islands. Always ensure you are aware of the signs of impending
natural disasters and have an emergency plan on hand for when the worst case does
occur.
References:
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/chain-islands-hawaiian-hot-spot/
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/recent-eruption
https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/evolution-hawaiian
volcanoes#:~:text=The%20eight%20main%20Hawaiian%20
Islands,mi)%20across%20the%20north%20Pacific.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/11/hawaii-wildfire-death-toll-rises-to-55-lahaina-
reduced-to-ashes.html
https://www.to-hawaii.com/natural-disasters.php
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a20666474/hawaii-volcano-
kilauea-history-facts/
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