Firefighters are “making headway” against a large brush fire in Kawaihae burning mauka on the Kohala Mountains, fire Capt. Paul Austria said Monday.
The fire had burned more than 4,600 acres in the Kawaihae area by Monday morning, the Associated Press reported.
Firefighters are focusing on the northeast and southeast corners of the fire, Austria said, as they are the most active areas. He said they were fortunate winds did not drive the fire uphill.
The area north of Akuni Pule Highway is inaccessible, said Austria, limiting firefighting in the region to water drops from helicopters. Two county helicopters and one private aircraft worked to steadily ensure there was air support throughout Monday.
During the day, crews limited the fire’s direction and helicopters continued dropping water. By nightfall, firefighters left a night watch to monitor the blaze and prevent breakouts.
There have been some flare-ups near the Mauna Kea Beach Resort area and Kawaihae Village, but all have been controlled, firefighters said.
All roads were open Monday and there were no active evacuation orders as of press time.
Several local, state and federal agencies have been helping fight the fire, including volunteer firefighters, Army firefighters and the National Park Service.
The Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site was closed Monday and will remain closed today as staff survey damage to the area and any risks to the public.
The park might open as early as Wednesday, the NPS said, depending on firefighters extinguishing hotspots and archaeologists examining any damage to cultural sites.
“Puukohola Heiau, the massive stone temple where King Kamehameha the Great launched his successful quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands in 1810, did not sustain any damage in the fire, nor did the older Mailekini Heiau below it. The homestead site of British sailor John Young, who served as King Kamehameha’s adviser, also appears unscathed,” the NPS said in a press release.
The fire burned 90 percent of the native and non-native vegetation at the 80-acre park.
The brush fire came within “a few feet of the visitors center and park headquarters,” the NPS wrote, but firefighters were able stop it before flames reached the structures.
“We are incredibly grateful to all the agencies and volunteers who banded together to fight this fire,” said Park Superintendent Daniel Kawaiaea in the release. “Thankfully, there were no injuries to visitors or park staff. We also appreciate the kokua from our sister parks, Puuhonua o Honauanau National Historical Park, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, who are providing resources and staff,” he said.
A decision about whether the 43rd annual Hookuikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival, scheduled for Aug. 15-16, will go on as planned will be made by today.
“Our biggest concern at this point is the safety for the public, our employees and the festival participants,” Kawaiaea wrote in the release. “In addition to the fire damage, there is also a tropical storm expected to impact us later this week.”
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
