UPDATE: Highway 270 in Kohala reopened; evacuation orders lifted

UPDATE: 4:27 p.m.

Hawaii Fire Department reports Akoni Pule Highway, Highway 270 in Kohala, which was closed earlier due the brushfire in the area, is reopened, and the mandatory evacuations of Kohala Ranch have been lifted.

Evactuation orders for the Villas and South Fairways at Mauna Kea Resort also have been lifted.

The National Weather Service’s red flag warning for the leeward areas of Hawaii Island remains in effect because of critical fire weather conditions such as strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures.

The public is urged to postpone and avoid all outdoor activities using open flames and parking of vehicles on dry vegetation after driving.

UPDATE: 3:18 p.m.

The two new brushfires that flared this afternoon in Na‘alehu and Pahala “have been neutralized” thanks to the swift work of the Hawaii Fire Department, according to Hawaii County.

UPDATE: 2:20 p.m.

Hawaii County is working to contain two new brushfires in Ka‘u, one in the Na‘alehu area and the other in Pahala.

The Na‘alehu brushfire is reported to be under control, as fire crews shift focus to Pahala.

The Akoni Pule Highway brushfire remains at roughly 60% contained and maintains a threat to structures in the southern portion of Kohala Ranch between Kamakani Loop and the highway, according to the county.

Access is available to the northern portion of Kohala Ranch, above Kamakani Loop, via Kohala Mountain Road. Akoni Pule Highway remains closed between the 6- and 17-mile markers.

Multiple fires in the Mauna Kea Beach area continue to threaten structures, with one support structure having sustained significant damages.

Guests at the Mauna Kea Resort continue to shelter in place. Access to the resort area will remain closed until further notice.

Residents have returned to the North Fairways at Mauna Kea, while the South Fairways and the Villas at Mauna Kea remain evacuated.

Queen K‘ahumanu Highway is now open between the 69-mile marker and the Kawaihae Road Junction.

The flare-up near Spencer’s Beach Park has made no progress toward the park overnight. Campers in the area were evacuated as a precaution prior to any threats in the immediate area.

The Lalamilo fire in Waimea has been contained, though crews remain on scene to monitor in the scene if a flare-up occurs.

UPDATE: 2:07 p.m.

President Joe Biden said today he has ordered “all available federal assets on the islands to help with response” to the devastating wildfires on Maui and the Big Island.

In a statement released by the White House, Biden said, “Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui, and our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed. We are grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who continue to run toward danger, putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives.”

“I have ordered all available federal assets on the islands to help with response. The Hawaiian National Guard has mobilized Chinook Helicopters to help with fire suppression and search and rescue on the Island of Maui,” Biden said. “The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Third Fleets are supporting response and rescue efforts. The U.S. Marines are providing Black Hawk Helicopters to fight the fires on the Big Island.

“The Department of Transportation is working with commercial airlines to evacuate tourists from Maui, and the Department of the Interior and the United States Department of Agriculture stand ready to support post fire recovery efforts.”

UPDATE: 1:51 p.m.

The Hawaii Army National Guard and 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks have deployed personnel and helicopters to assist with devastating fires on Maui and the Big Island.

On Maui, 16 Guardsmen were activated Tuesday night and started assisting the Maui Police Department with traffic control. Another 20 will start today along with helicopter fire suppression from two CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

Another 12 Guardsmen will be assisting First Responders with Search and Rescue starting today.

For Hawaii Island, 30 Guardsmen started this morning to assist with traffic.

The 25th Infantry Division is supplying fire suppression support.

Multiple helicopters, two UH-60 Blackhawks and one CH-47 Chinook, are assisting with fire suppression as weather permits.

UPDATE: 12:10 p.m.

The Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu is preparing to shelter up to 4,000 Maui residents and visitors who are evacuating from the Maui wildfires today.

Convention Center General Manager Teri Orton said officials were told during an emergency briefing this morning that as many as 2,000 people were stranded at the Kahului Airport overnight.

But Orton said the center is preparing for as many as 4,000 evacuees, which also will include homeless individuals. She said pets are welcome, too.

Orton said the center is hosting a large banquet event in all three exhibit halls today, but fortunately had other space to host evacuees as occupancy at Oahu hotels is at 90% and there are few rooms available to accommodate the emergency.

“We are ready. We have prepared to put them in our fourth-floor ballroom and then overflow will go into our third-floor meeting rooms,” she said. “We are prepared to distribute food to those that need it. We also are near the Ala Moana Center and other attractions so if people want to leave the shelter during the day there are things for them to do.”

She said the center has been told to prepare to host evacuees for at least 24-hours, but possibly up to 48-hours.

“It’s all hands on deck and we are doing call outs to security providers,” she said, adding that the center had previously served as a shelter in 2020 for Hurricane Douglas.

Orton said its still unclear when the first evacuees will arrive as “there is a challenge getting them onto planes and transportation from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport also must be worked out.”

UPDATE: 11:10 a.m.

Wildfires killed six people on Maui, Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said at a morning news conference. He said he had just learned the news and didn’t know the details of how or where on the island the deaths happened.

Six patients were flown from Maui to Oahu on Tuesday night, said Speedy Bailey, regional director for Hawaii Life Flight, an air-ambulance company.

Three of them had critical burns and were taken to Straub Medical Center’s burn unit, he said. The others were taken to other Honolulu hospitals.

At least 20 patients were taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, he said.

PREVIOUSLY

Multiple brushfires are continuing to burn along the South Kohala coastline.

The Akoni Pule Highway brushfire is roughly 60% contained and remains a threat to structures in the southern portion of Kohala Ranch between Kamakani Loop and the highway, according to Hawaii County.

Access is available to the northern portion of Kohala Ranch, above Kamakani Loop, via Kohala Mountain Road.

Akoni Pule Highway remains closed between the 6- and 17-mile markers.

Multiple fires in the Mauna Kea Beach area continue to threaten structures, with one support structure having sustained significant damages.

Guests at the Mauna Kea Resort continue to shelter in place. Access to the resort area is closed until further notice.

Emergency medical personnel are on the scene to monitor the situation and provide medical services, if needed.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway is closed between the 69-mile marker and the Kawaihae Road Junction.

A flare-up near Spencer’s Beach Park has also been reported, according to the county. Campers in the area were evacuated as a precaution prior to any threats in the immediate area.

The Lalamilo fire in Waimea has been contained.

Hawaii Fire Department crews are on the scene at all incidents and working to contain the fires.

Further evacuations may be necessary. Individuals in and around the area should remain on high alert.

Shelters remain open at Hisaoka Park in Kapaʻau and Waimea Community Center in Waimea. Additional shelters may be opened based on need.

Breezy, dry conditions are causing a continuance in the red flag warning for the county. A red flag warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.

The public is also encouraged to visit the official county hazard map at https://tinyurl.com/3edh6xfn.

Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation today to extend the state of emergency to all counties, discourage nonessential air travel to Maui, and order all affected state agencies to assist with the evacuation, the governor’s office said today.

A massive wind-swept wildfire swept through Lahaina town Tuesday, forcing large-scale evacuations, burning homes and businesses, and leading to the rescue of a dozen people who fled into the ocean to escape the flames and heavy smoke that has destroyed much of historic Front Street.

In addition to Lahaina, major fires in Kula and Kihei, led to evacuations in those Maui communities. Roads and schools were closed today as firefighters and other first responders struggle to keep up with the unprecedented disaster.

“This is an unprecedented disaster as an indirect result of Hurricane Dora passing just south of our islands,” Luke, who is acting governor while Gov. Josh Green is traveling, said in a statement. “It is truly devastating and my heart goes out to the residents of Maui and all those impacted.”

In a separate news release, the governor’s office said Green will be returning today from his travels to deal with the emergency. He said, “Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring, but some loss of life is expected.”

As the wildfires continue, visitors with current and planned lodging at West Maui hotels may not have accommodations, state officials said.

“This proclamation is to discourage travel to the affected areas so we can prioritize our scarce resources for Maui residents who desperately need assistance,” Luke said.

The proclamation encourages visitors in West Maui to depart the island as soon as safe and practicable.

Green said, “The wind-fueled fires have devastated many of our communities and people will be looking to our office for leadership while we address the ongoing emergency and do what we can as a state to rebuild lives,” Green said in the statement.

“We have suffered a terrible disaster in the form of a wildfire that has spread widely as a result of hurricane-force winds in the region and underlying drought conditions. Maui and the Big Island both experienced significant fires. Much of Lahaina on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced,” he said.

He said he has named Adjutant General Ken Hara as the state incident commander, and the Hawaii National Guard has mobilized and is being supported by FEMA.

“The White House has been incredibly supportive and we expect to submit a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration in the next 36 to 48 hours, once we know how vast the damage is,” Green said. “Our state appreciates the incredible outpouring of concern and prayers from the mainland. We won’t forget the aloha you have already begun to share with us.”

Green had been scheduled to return to Hawaii from personal travel Aug. 15, but will be back in the state tonight to address the crisis, his office said.

Four shelters were open on the Valley Island including Maui High School, the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, Maui Preparatory Academy, and War Memorial Gym. The quick-moving brushfires forced two other shelters to relocate. The Lahaina Civic Center shelter was moved Tuesday night to Maui Prep in Napili-Honokowai “to place evacuees away from impacted Lahaina town,” the Maui Fire Department said, and residents at the Kihei Community Center evacuation site were relocated to Maui High “as a precautionary measure.”

Alan Dickar said he’s not sure what remains of his Vintage European Posters gallery, which was a fixture on Front Street in Lahaina for 23 years. Before evacuating with three friends and two cats, Dickar recorded video of flames engulfing the main strip of shops and restaurants frequented by tourists.

“Every significant thing I owned burned down today,” he said. “I’ll be OK. I got out safely.”

Dickar, who assumed the three homes he owns burned down, said it will take a heroic effort to rebuild what has burned in Lahaina, which is home to about 13,000 people.

“Everyone who comes to Maui, the one place that everybody goes is Front Street,” he said. “The central two blocks is the economic heart of this island, and I don’t know what’s left.”

The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which was passing to the south of the island chain at a safe distance of 500 miles, was partly to blame for gusts above 60 mph that knocked out power as night fell, rattled homes and grounded firefighting helicopters. Dangerous fire conditions created by strong winds and low humidity were expected to last through this afternoon, the weather service said.