The fight over water is nothing new on Maui. But the impact on the county’s ability to battle fires is coming clear. With wildfires ravaging West Maui on Aug. 8, a state water official delayed the release of water that landowners wanted to help protect their property from fires. The water standoff p...

The fight over water is nothing new on Maui. But the impact on the county’s ability to battle fires is coming clear.

With wildfires ravaging West Maui on Aug. 8, a state water official delayed the release of water that landowners wanted to help protect their property from fires. The water standoff played out over much of the day and the water didn’t come until too late.