As the climate crisis deepens, every county and island in Hawai‘i faces rising risks from wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. The Lahaina fire was a heartbreaking wake-up call for all of us — a painful lesson about the cost of being unprepared.

One of the most tragic realities of that day was not just the fire itself, but the fact that many lives were lost because people had no way out.

In West Maui, there is only one road in and one road out. When it was blocked, panic and chaos followed. We must never allow that to happen again — not in Lahaina, not in Hilo, not in Hanalei.

There’s an urgent and practical solution that’s been overlooked for too long: multi-use trails. Too often, we talk about trails as recreational amenities. But trails are so much more than a place to bike, walk, or jog. They can — and must — be part of our emergency evacuation plans.

I recently spoke on a national panel titled “When Disaster Strikes: The Role of Trails in Planning and Recovery.” It highlighted how trail infrastructure is saving lives in places facing wildfires, floods, and other climate emergencies. Trails offer critical alternative routes for escape, access for emergency responders, and paths for rebuilding economic activity after disasters. In short, trails are lifelines.

Here in Hawai‘i, we must act with the same urgency. We can start by recognizing the incredible opportunity — and necessity — of fast-tracking projects like the West Maui Greenway, a 25-mile multi-use path proposed along a former cane haul corridor from Ukumehame to Līpoa Point.

This corridor, which has been under discussion for decades, could serve as a parallel route for emergency evacuation. Imagine how different things could have been if it had already existed before the Lahaina fire.

A Statewide Concern

This isn’t just a West Maui issue. Every county in Hawai‘i has rural communities with limited access in and out. Whether it’s a lava flow cutting off Puna, a flash flood isolating Hāna, or fire threatening homes on O‘ahu’s North Shore, we need redundancy in our infrastructure.

Multi-use trails can provide that — if we treat them as core infrastructure, not just optional amenities.

However, as we look at current planning efforts, there’s an opportunity to do more. The draft environmental impact statement for the Honoapiʻilani Highway realignment — a $160 million project — currently does not include protected bike or pedestrian infrastructure.

Yet Hawai‘i’s Complete Streets statute encourages all new transportation projects to safely accommodate people of all ages and abilities — including those who walk, bike, or rely on transit.

This realignment is a major investment in West Maui’s future. By integrating a shaded, protected multi-use path into the design, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has the opportunity to model climate resilience and fulfill our shared goals of safety, mobility, and carbon reduction.

Additionally, providing clear commitments and funding pathways for the West Maui Greenway — including along the old highway corridor — would send a powerful message that Hawai‘i is serious about building infrastructure that saves lives.

The state’s own climate settlement — Navahine F. v. Department of Transportation — obligates the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and include climate adaptation in every transportation project. Multi-use trails hit both goals: They reduce vehicle miles traveled and provide resilient infrastructure in the face of sea level rise and extreme weather.

Moreover, trials are a smart economic investment. After disasters, they help communities reconnect, support local businesses, and restore access to areas that residents and visitors alike cherish.

Trails can play a vital role in revitalizing small businesses, outdoor activities, and cultural sites that are central to the island economy.

In other disaster-impacted regions, trail networks have proven to be powerful tools for renewal — not just physically, but economically and emotionally.

We need statewide action. Every island should have an emergency evacuation plan that includes trail infrastructure. Every community plan should treat multi-use trails not as a luxury, but as an essential infrastructure.

And every transportation project should ask: how does this help people move safely — especially during a disaster?

Let’s stop treating trails as an afterthought. Let’s stop waiting for the next fire, flood, or storm.

The time to build for resilience is now. Let’s learn from Lahaina — and make sure that tragedy never repeats itself.