in 2018, Fiona Cleary is a retired trauma nurse who is determined to push local politicians and businesses to strengthen their response to dire situations like hurricanes and tsunamis. As an activist, Fiona has many allies—but also many adversaries. Politicians don’t like to be criticized, and businessmen don’t want to be pressured to spend money. When someone kills her, there are no shortage of suspects.

Because Maui detective Kailani Panui has gotten in trouble on a similar investigation in the past, she calls upon Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa'aka to fly into Lahaina and help with the investigation.