National reporter confronts Mayor Bissen, leaders over lack of communication in Lahaina fire

A press conference updating the wildfire response effort on Maui turned confrontational after a national reporter challenged Mayor Richard Bissen and Maj. Gen Kenneth Hara on a perceived lack of communication as to the gravity of the situation unfolding in Lahaina on Aug. 8.

[eddyrose]

No excuses. The officials are acting like they did nothing wrong but have been doing their best from the start to finish of the Lahaina fires. They are talking down to the reporters who dare to question their judgment and actions. Then the mayor has the audacity of pretending like he doesn't know which of the 3 fires the reporter is referring to. It is real upsetting to see these people deflect culpability and talk down at all of us who want transparency.

[nitaibishop]

Rudely interrupting? All they have is excuses and contempt for anyone trying to expose the truth. Sickening.

[fuyu]

A lot of covering their behinds going on now after the fire ! The families who lost LIVES, property etc have major questions unanswered. Feel for them.
Kudos for upload. Peace

[PunaSquirrel]

Maui mayor is doing a good job making Hawaii look incompetent.

[jeanniep]

Residents have been greatly impacted. Desperately need to absorb and understand…people of Lahaina need answers that reflect empathy & support.

[notboeingnotgoing]

If there are any future college bound students watching this that would like to pursue a "communications degree" or "public relation job" show this to your professors. Better yet Im sure that in the next week this will be added to many curriculums as an example on how to not respond. The problem first off is that this mayor (former judge) thinks that he is still a judge and he does not have to respond to anyone...he is basically a bully. If I was a member of the Maui community I would be appalled and embarrassed at his behavior and his overall petulance . As far as the gentleman that is with the Army National Guard, you are a member of the armed service community and you need to represent the uniform with dignity and respect...clearly he does not have either. You do not talk down to a that is armed forces 101. Both of these people are clowns

[Inaluham]

Mayor Angry Bissen and General Angry Hara always deflecting and avoiding the questions. SMH

[ther]

so it takes national and international reporters to ask the tough questions... while local reporters cower b/c they afraid to be cancelled....

[cvx]

The Mayor just walks away? The Mayor? He must answer the very tough questions, walking away and being disrespectful to the people who pay HIS SALARY isn’t an option.
Respectfully he needs to step down immediately.

[onekewlbraddah]

SO GLAD THESE MAINLAND AND INTERNATIONAL REPORTERS ARE NOT BACKING DOWN.

[verothomas]

The arrogance, lack of account and ineptitude. Can you see it Hawaii? Start voting for real leaders.

[totallydomestic]

There were people in the water 5 hours. How arrogant!!

[Gigikelly]

He must resign immediately. His arrogance is over the top. His helpers put a reporter in a Chock hold. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS ENTIRE HORRIFIC EVENT. EVERY LEADER MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THERE ARE 1700 MISSING CHILDREN.

[diannaboss]

Sad to see Mayor, be a disgrace to all US Citizens ; but, especially to the Ohuna and People of West Lahaina

[Rickbrown-dmxz]

Where the hundreds of missing children are their parents wondering where the children why is the police chief also the coroner it goes against the law why are they blocking out the city from anybody witness in the cover-up

[fastback]

Eventually these politicians are going to start pointing fingers at each other when charges start being talked about 🍿

[Blake.Cooper]

This Mayor needs to be FIRED. Unreal we are still listening to him dodging questions. He doesn't hold up well under pressure that's for sure...

[SmoothCinnamonX]

When the mayor says he can't speak to social media, what he is actually doing is dismissing the first-hand accounts of survivors.

[JeanneFerrariamas-srml]

This was a disaster waiting to happen after the plantations closed there was no accountability for the. new absentee landowners. I do believe MaUi did not have the resources to deal with a fire Hurricane -as an ER RN on Kauai I am very aware of the lack of resources on the outer islands—we have to be smart and accountable-leaders in Hawaii have to have communication skills and intelligence, they can’t rely on the old way of using aloha to silence people, and can not continue the insular mindset

[MonicaCoburn-uh]

Both Mayor and General Ohara were very disrespectful to the reporter and acted very entitled. Maui residents have had enough. Not even an ounce of accountability or remorse for the people of Maui who perished