The Maui wildfires have been tied directly to negligence by Hawaiian Electric Co, which failed to put insulation on the wires, or even to cut the tall vegetation growing near them.

The pylons holding the wires were wooden and decrepit, and did not comply with the updated standard adopted back in 2002.

I wonder if the company's judgment for damages will exceed its market value. If so, Maui will get an easy opportunity to take over the company and make it publicly owned henceforth.

If the company covers all the Hawaiian islands, they should all participate in owning it. The state of Hawaii could buy the whole company from Maui, or the other principal islands could buy shares of the company from Maui.

Splitting up the company is also conceivable. That would be feasible if the facilities operate separately from island to island, which I expect is the case.