The later French landing illustrates the limits of Hawaii's military preparations. Most defenders had left the fort, but its guns remained available for the French to spike. If there was time to plan an evacuation, removing the weapons offered another possible precaution. Preserved guns might have supported an attempt to retake the fort later; their loss reduced that option.
Notable Point · 2:43-3:39
Evacuating a fort without saving its guns
The criticism of Hawaii's fort evacuation concerns the guns left behind and the possibility of preserving them for a later counterattack.