Maui Emergency Management Agency chief Herman Andaya said he did not regret the decision not to activate sirens around the island.
Maui's emergency management chief has quit a day after defending his agency's failure to activate its alarm system in last week's fatal wildfire.
Herman Andaya, who had no prior experience in emergency management, cited "health reasons" for resigning.
In the days since, residents of the Hawaii island have told the BBC a stronger emergency response could have saved more lives.
At least 111 people have been declared dead.
Hundreds are still missing.
Maui's sophisticated system, which includes 80 sirens around the island, is tested on the first of every month, its 60-second tone a normal part of life in Lahaina.
But on the day of the fire, they remained silent.
On Wednesday, Maui Emergency Management Agency boss Mr. Andaya insisted he did not regret that decision.
He said he had feared the sirens - most often sounded for tsunamis - would have sent some in Lahaina running to higher ground, potentially into the path of the fast-moving blaze.
But in Lahaina on Thursday, none of the residents who spoke to the BBC accepted this explanation, saying the siren would have provided a crucial warning of the approaching danger.
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