A brush fire, fanned by powerful gusts of up to 50 mph, exploded from a modest 20-acre ignition at about 10 a.m. Sunday to a massive 330–500 acre inferno in mere hours—prompting sudden evacuations of at least 50–105 residents from homes in Maui, Hawaii.
No injuries or structural damages have been reported so far, but the rapid spread has revived haunting images of the Lahaina catastrophe in August 2023, where over 100 people vanished in flames, according to AP.
***UPDATE 11:30am MPD is shutting down the road leading from Hana towards Ulapalakua to minimize traffic through the fire area for the safety of the public and responders. ***
— Maui_County_Fire_Department (@Maui_Fire_Dept) June 15, 2025
According to the new update from the Maui County Fire Department:
EVACUATION ORDERS LIFTED
Evacuation orders were LIFTED as of 7 p.m. today, 6/16, due to increased fire containment, according to Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Notifications were sent via Genasys Protect evacuation app and MEMA Alerts.ROAD REOPENED
Maui Police Department (MPD) REOPENED Pi’ilani Highway (Highway 31) access at 7 p.m. today, 6/16. However, it will close again from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow, 6/17, between Mile Marker 20 to 41 for firefighting equipment and work. Residents should plan accordingly, and area motorists are urged to use caution and remain vigilant as firefighting resources will remain in the area.FIRE UPDATE
The Kahikinui brush fire mauka of the highway near Mile Marker 24 and 25 is now 93% contained and 330 acres as of 7 p.m. tonight, 6/16, according to County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety (MFD). Crews continued working on hotspots and containment today. Personnel will continue monitoring and patrolling the fire overnight. No injuries or structural damages have been reported.SHELTER
Keokea Community Center, which opened at 7 a.m. today, 6/16, will close at 8:30 p.m. tonight.PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE
Pi’ilani Highway (Highway 31) between Mile Marker 20 to 41 will CLOSE from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow, 6/17, for firefighting equipment and work. Residents should plan accordingly, and area motorists are urged to use caution and remain vigilant as firefighting resources will remain in the area.BACKGROUND
MFD reported the Kahikinui brush fire at 9:54 a.m. 6/15. MEMA’s Emergency Operations Center was partially activated by midday. Evacuation orders were issued 6/15 by MEMA for Kahikinui homes near Mile Marker 24 and 25 due to the fast-moving brush fire, fueled by strong winds. There are approximately 105 Kahikinui homestead lots in the area. MPD and MFD conducted door-to-door evacuations. Also, evacuation orders were sent around 11 a.m. 6/15 through the new Genasys Protect app and MEMA alerts and later with an island-wide Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA). Evacuation orders were lifted at 7 p.m. today, 6/16. A temporary evacuation point at Grandma’s Coffee house was open midday until 4:30 p.m. 6/15. King Kekaulike High School gymnasium shelter opened at 5:30 p.m. 6/15 and closed at 6:45 a.m. 6/16. Mayor Richard Bissen signed an Emergency Proclamation at 5:45 p.m. 6/15 in response to the ongoing fire, which authorizes the County to access federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for emergency response efforts to ensure continued and effective countywide response.
