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Kahului was far from alone Monday when it set a daily heat record of 94 degrees.
Scientists say it was likely Earth's hottest day on record -- that is, until Tuesday and Wednesday recorded even hotter average temperatures, according to unofficial data compiled by the University of Maine's Climate Reanalyzer. June is on track to be the hottest month ever recorded. Antarctic sea ice is melting at an alarming rate. Smoke from the wildfires ravaging parched Canada chokes large swaths of North America. Water temperatures are soaring around the globe.
The news is abuzz with stories detailing how the formation of a strong El Nino is accelerating the heat-causing effects of human-induced climate change. Living on Maui usually allows a feeling of separation from the doom and gloom of the 24-hour news cycle. War and famine may touch our hearts and trouble our souls, but they are not parts of our everyday reality.
This storyline is different.
The warming of the planet will profoundly affect this island and its people. Our remote location cannot protect us from rising seas, strengthening storms or the potential for worldwide economic and social upheaval. Failed crops and water systems are sure to create strife and put populations on the move. Just as this sultry summer could turn out to be cooler than any we experience again, the migration challenges of today may well seem quaint by future standards.
While researching this editorial, we explored a variety of related topics, including what the average person can do to reduce their impact on the climate. Near the top of every list was a suggestion to limit air travel. Jets are major contributors of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. What happens if people stop flying? What if governments restrict flight schedules, or tax airlines so heavily flying becomes a luxury only the rich can afford? Can you think of a state more reliant on air travel than Hawaii?
On the flip side, Maui could boom as a climate refuge. We met some displaced souls Thursday at Kalama Park. Sacramento-area mom Hilary Francis said 110-degree temperatures prompted her to book a vacation for her family on the spot.
"We're going to Maui," she told her overheated children.
Particularly telling was how her 8-year-old son, Bryce, responded when asked what he liked best about the island. Most kids pick the beach or pool. For little Bryce, it was Maui's trade winds and palm trees. Cooling breezes and shade -- there could be no arguing with his unexpected reply.
As disasters go, the warming of our planet is not some random surprise. Scientists have been warning of the perils for decades. Their dire predictions have been mostly ignored, or even turned into political wedges. Having been proven correct, you would expect these researchers to vent frustration or cast blame. Instead, they sound scared. Scared to death.
Maui and its people must plan for this unfolding crisis. How can we do our part? How do we prepare for what's to come?