They are likely being used to ferry the people who lost their homes/cars, FEMA personnel, and others.
Of note, I went to school on the Big Island and the buses were rarely more than about 20 students on a bus. A lot of families live away from town up in the mountains (up mauka as they say there) where the land has passed down through generations of families. I traveled 10 miles to the nearest high school when I lived there and there were never more than a dozen kids on the bus.
Hawaiian families are private and have no trust of government. They are well aware of what the US government has imposed on native americans on the mainland. They will not rush to report to any "outsiders" anything.
Most of the families don't live in town. Internet and cell access was pretty low before the fire in the mauka areas. It likely they are non-existent right now. Parents are likely not social media savvy in any way.
Access to the roads they do live on were blocked by fire and are likely still blocked by government action, fallen trees, burned cars, and even possibly damaged bridges. This prevents them to getting to areas to report any issues and they assume they are on their own.
The news has reported on searches of Lahaina town, but I have not heard about any searches or other activity in the mauka areas where most of these families live.
It is an island. The buses couldn't have gone far, even if they burned they are parked somewhere.
They are likely being used to ferry the people who lost their homes/cars, FEMA personnel, and others.
Of note, I went to school on the Big Island and the buses were rarely more than about 20 students on a bus. A lot of families live away from town up in the mountains (up mauka as they say there) where the land has passed down through generations of families. I traveled 10 miles to the nearest high school when I lived there and there were never more than a dozen kids on the bus.
Hawaiian families are private and have no trust of government. They are well aware of what the US government has imposed on native americans on the mainland. They will not rush to report to any "outsiders" anything.
Most of the families don't live in town. Internet and cell access was pretty low before the fire in the mauka areas. It likely they are non-existent right now. Parents are likely not social media savvy in any way.
Access to the roads they do live on were blocked by fire and are likely still blocked by government action, fallen trees, burned cars, and even possibly damaged bridges. This prevents them to getting to areas to report any issues and they assume they are on their own.
The news has reported on searches of Lahaina town, but I have not heard about any searches or other activity in the mauka areas where most of these families live.
Really good points!