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Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" forms the basis for Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" and can easily form the storyline for the aftermath of the Lahaina fire.
Minus the backdrop of the Congo and Mekong Rivers, the story of the Lahaina disaster follows the same ominous theme of misplaced power, political posturing, and distorted sense of reality.
Five months after the fire, Mayor Richard Bissen, without mention of a final resting place, wants us to believe Olowalu is a "temporary" disposal site for the Lahaina fire debris. Debris which disposal experts say will take $1 billion and three years to clean up and dump in Olowalu.
A temporary fix just in time for the next mayoral election and the predictable end of the mayor's term in office.
So, where is the permanent site? If the smoke screen ever disappears, who makes that decision?
What's the cost to move $1 billion of festering waste the second time? Who picks up the bill?
Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" ends with brooding dark clouds on the horizon. "Apocalypse Now" ends badly, a nightmare.
Martin DuPont
Makawao