MAUI FIRE UPDATE
- Olinda fire (initially reported 8/8): now 85% contained. Estimated 1,081 acres. The Maui Fire Department is assisting State Division of Forestry and Wildfire with this joint firefighting effort. Twenty-seven firefighters, six engines, and other equipment are engaged in the battle. The perimeter is holding, with suppression focusing on extinguishing scattered hotspots, mainly in the area gulches.
- Kula fire (initially reported 8/8): now 80% contained. Estimated 202 acres.
- Lahaina fire (initially reported 8/8): now 89% contained. Estimated 2,170 acres.
- Pulehu / Kihei fire (initially reported 8/8): The Pulehu/Kihei fire was declared 100% contained 8/12. There are no active threats at this time.
MAUI FIRE FATALITY UPDATE
The most up-to-date fatality numbers and identification information are included in the Maui Police Department’s daily press release, anticipated to be issued by 6 p.m. daily. For that information, please visit: bit.ly/MauiPoliceNews . At the time of this announcement, there are 114 confirmed facilities with 85% of the disaster area searched. There are no new positive identifications of the deceased to be announced at this time. Names will be released upon notification of next of kin. The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to support with victim identification efforts.
MAUI FIRE UNSAFE WATER ADVISORY
The Unsafe Water Advisory for the Lahaina Water System was expanded to include the area from Kaniau Road to Leialiʻi Parkway. The advisory remains in effect for Lahaina and Upper Kula, where several water sites and potable water tankers are located.
Until further notice, residents in these areas should only use bottled water or potable water from these tankers for things like drinking, brushing teeth, ice-making, and food preparation. Residents in impacted areas are not able to treat the water in any way to make it safe to consume.
An updated map of the areas impacted by the Unsafe Water Advisory is available on the Department of Water Supply website, www.mauicounty.gov/water Water sampling will continue Sunday and beyond. The county follows state Department of Health and federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations regarding health and safety.
ENTRY INTO MAUI FIRE DISASTER AREAS
Currently, the disaster area is restricted to authorized personnel only. At this time, media and residents are not allowed in the disaster area as significant hazards exist. For those accessing areas outside of the disaster area, the county urges individuals to continue to avoid all burn areas and do not enter any areas where structures were burned until you receive a clearance from authorities.
Dangers include ash that may contain toxic and cancer-causing chemicals including asbestos, arsenic, and lead and debris including broken glass, exposed electrical wires, nails, wood, plastics, and other objects. Unstable buildings and structures may contain hazardous materials and could collapse causing injury. For those who can return to their properties County officials urge all individuals to utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) For more recommendations regarding PPE, including masks and associated hazards, go to https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/doh-advises-caution-for-residents-returning-to-west-maui-area/.
Recovery and other emergency response operators have been instructed to report any stray animal sightings to the Maui County Emergency Operations Center. The information will then be provided to Humane Society experts, so they can safely support the reported animals. The Maui Humane Society continues to search the perimeters of the affected area.
WEATHER
Remnant moisture from post-tropical cyclone Fernanda is forecasted to approach the state starting late Sunday, with the highest rainfall totals for windward and mountain slopes of Maui County expected to occur between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. With the possibility of heavy rains and flooding on the horizon, the U.S. Coast Guard and Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation have worked to deploy storm drain inlet protection devices and absorbent booms in several areas impacted by wildfires, including eight storm drain outfalls entering the ocean within the impacted areas of Lahaina town.
EMERGENCY SHELTERS (internet available, no media allowed inside)
As of today, 8/19, there are 43 residents in the congregate shelter locations listed below.
- War Memorial Gymnasium, Wailuku
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kahului
- Kings Cathedral Church, Kahului
- South Maui Community Park Gymnasium, Kihei
The shelter at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center is scheduled to close tomorrow, 8/20, as no residents are utilizing the shelter at this time. Approximately 1,226 individuals are reported to be sheltered at six hotel locations around Maui.
ROAD OPENING
Late-night access on the road to Lahaina is limited to West Maui residents, first responders, and West Maui employees from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. All motorists may enter from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The Maui Police Department will cite and tow vehicles parked at the Lahaina Bypass, where there are no-parking signs.
TRANSPORTATION
Maui Economic Opportunity will offer free rides for medical appointments for people impacted by the fires who are sheltering at the South Maui Community Park Gymnasium. The service, by reservation, operates daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations can be made from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at (808) 877-7651.Daily county shuttle service is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Central Maui shelters to go to Central Maui shopping and medical locations. Riders are required to call Roberts Hawai‘i for same-day reservations at (808) 871-4838. Mobility devices accommodated. Luggage and bags will be limited to what can be carried. For all other transportation needs, riders may use The Maui Bus.
LANA‘I FERRY
The ferry from Maui island to Lana‘i continues to offer service from Ma‘alaea Harbor to Mānele Bay three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday departing Ma‘alaea at 1 p.m., Mānele at 3 p.m.
POWER RESTORATION
In coordination with State and County response efforts on Maui, Hawaiian Electric crews are working to restore critical circuits in West Maui that serve essential services. These include grocery stores and pharmacies, along with a County wastewater pumping facility in the Lahaina area. Once that circuit is restored, coordination between County response teams, individual businesses, and private properties will determine next steps toward respective reopening at these commercial facilities. In West Maui, crews are also working to restore a second critical circuit in Lahaina, which serves additional businesses that provide essential services, in the upcoming week. Installation of a second mobile substation, which will serve the Launiupoko to Olowalu area, is continuing. This mobile substation takes time to install to ensure safe and reliable connection to the island’s electric system.
MEDICAL RESOURCES
Two Kaiser Permanente First Aid Stations will permanently close on Sunday, 8/20. The War Memorial Gymnasium station will close at 8 a.m., with the Napili Plaza station closing at 4 p.m.
Kaiser Permanente will continue to provide medical services to the public at three locations in Lahaina. Pharmacy courier services will be available at all three sites, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.
- Lahaina Gateway (closed Sunday, 8/20): Providing first aid, pediatric services, and OB/GYN services (Fridays only)
- First Aid Stations at the Hyatt Regency Lahaina, Lahaina Ballroom.
Maui Health clinicians and physicians will continue providing first-aid, wound care, health and wellness checks and pharmacy services, including baby formula for all community members in need, regardless of health insurance, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Napili Plaza. The Lahaina Gateway Center clinic will be closed Sunday, 8/20, and will resume their 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. hours on Monday, 8/21. The Maui Health Community Medical Clinic will then move to Hyatt Regency Maui Resort from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Saturday, 8/26. For details, visit www.mauihealth.org/wildfire.
Hawaii CARES 988 is a 24/7, free support service for help with crisis, mental health, and substance abuse. If you need mental health-related or addiction crisis support, or are worried about someone else, you can also call or text 988 (TTY 711) or visit the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s chat for free, confidential support with a trained crisis counselor.
SCHOOLS
King Kekaulike High School is scheduled to reopen for staff on Monday, 8/21, with the anticipated return of students on Wednesday, 8/23.
FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER (Due to privacy, no media allowed)
For those seeking information regarding loved ones or those who are unaccounted for, the Family Assistance Center is located at the Hyatt Regency’s Monarchy Ballroom, 200 Nohea Kai Drive in Kaʻanapali. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Expanded resources will be offered, with staff working with families and individuals to gather information and administer DNA swabs to assist with identification. For details, call 1-800-RED-CROSS. If you live on a neighbor island or the continental U.S., are the immediate family member (parent, sibling, or child) of a person missing as the result of the Maui wildfires, and you wish to provide a DNA sample to assist, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation Honolulu Division at (808) 566-4300.
COUNTY DISTRIBUTION AND DONATION SITES
The county-run resource distribution sites at Lahaina Gateway Center and Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center (QKC) will be closed tomorrow, 8/20. Donations at QKC will also not be accepted when it is closed. Both sites and their operations will reopen on Monday, 8/21; Lahaina Gateway from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., QKC from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Upon reopening, QKC will accept donations of non-perishable food, bottled water, and hygiene products at the Kane Street entrance. No clothes at this time, please. The Napili Plaza resource distribution site remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for food, water, and other needs.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCY HUBS
Mobile waste and hygiene facilities are available for community-led resiliency hubs assisting with recovery efforts. These include: rubbish dumpsters (please no charred fire debris), cardboard recycling bins, portable toilets, handwashing stations, and mobile showers. Leaders of these hubs are asked to contact the Maui County Department of Environmental Management at (808) 270-7880 or email re**********@ma********.gov with their requests. Supplies of these mobile hygiene and waste facilities are limited. We appreciate the patience of hub leaders as DEM works to allocate the appropriate resources to these hubs based on their needs and capacity.
FEMA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER ON MAUI
Maui residents affected by the recent wildfires can apply for federal disaster assistance, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at a joint Disaster Recovery Center that operates daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College, 310 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Kahului. Speak to FEMA specialists, get help registering for disaster assistance, connect with volunteer organizations, and have access to federal and state resources.
ONLINE RESOURCE HUB: Donation & Volunteer Information
An online, centralized hub to respond to the impacts of the Maui Wildfire Disaster is available at mauinuistrong.info . The County of Maui’s “Maui Nui Strong” site offers information on how to donate, volunteer, offer services, and locate support. It is administered through the County’s Office of Economic Development, and will be utilized to connect people to resources and services.
COMMUNICATION
Text, not talk, is best for locations that have connectivity. Maui County updates will now be aired daily at noon on local radio stations.
DMVL SATELLITE OFFICE IN LAHAINA
The County of Maui Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing’s Lahaina Satellite Office will reopen Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lahaina Gateway Center, 325 Keawe St., to assist West Maui residents whose Hawaiʻi driver’s licenses or Hawaiʻi State Identification cards have been lost or destroyed by wildfires. The daily satellite office opened 8/16. For more information, call (808) 270-7363.