A brush fire in Maui, Hawaii has rapidly escalated from a manageable 20 acres to a staggering 330–500 acres, fueled by fierce winds of up to 50 mph. This unexpected burst of flames forced the evacuation of between 50 to 105 residents from their homes on Sunday morning.
Fortunately, no injuries or structural damage have been reported thus far. However, the speed of the fire’s spread has triggered unsettling memories of the Lahaina disaster in August 2023, where over 100 lives were lost in a devastating inferno, as highlighted by AP.
***UPDATE 11:30am: The Maui Police Department is closing the road from Hana to 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 latest from the Maui County Fire Department:
EVACUATION ORDERS LIFTED
As of 7 p.m. on June 16, evacuation orders have been lifted due to improved fire containment, as reported by the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Notifications were disseminated via the Genasys Protect evacuation app and MEMA Alerts.ROAD REOPENED
At 7 p.m. on June 16, the Maui Police Department (MPD) reopened Pi’ilani Highway (Highway 31). However, it will be closed again from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 17, between Mile Markers 20 and 41, for firefighting operations. Residents are advised to plan accordingly, and motorists are urged to exercise caution, as firefighting resources will remain active in the area.FIRE UPDATE
The Kahikinui brush fire, located mauka of the highway near Mile Markers 24 and 25, is currently 93% contained and has burned approximately 330 acres as of 7 p.m. on June 16. Fire crews continue to address hotspots and ensure containment. No injuries or structural damage have been reported.SHELTER
The Keokea Community Center, which opened at 7 a.m. on June 16, will close at 8:30 p.m. tonight.PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE
Pi’ilani Highway (Highway 31) will be closed again between Mile Markers 20 and 41 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 17 for firefighting efforts. Residents should plan accordingly, and motorists are advised to remain vigilant due to the presence of firefighting resources.BACKGROUND
The Kahikinui brush fire was first reported at 9:54 a.m. on June 15. By midday, MEMA’s Emergency Operations Center was partially activated. Evacuation orders were promptly issued that day for homes in Kahikinui near Mile Markers 24 and 25, driven by the rapidly advancing fire and strong winds. Approximately 105 homestead lots were affected. The MPD and MFD conducted door-to-door evacuations and issued evacuation alerts via the Genasys Protect app and island-wide Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The evacuation orders were lifted on June 16 at 7 p.m. Temporary evacuation points, such as Grandma’s Coffee House, operated from midday until 4:30 p.m. on June 15, while King Kekaulike High School’s gymnasium served as a shelter from 5:30 p.m. on June 15 to 6:45 a.m. on June 16. Mayor Richard Bissen signed an Emergency Proclamation at 5:45 p.m. on June 15, allowing the County to access federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, providing crucial funds for emergency response efforts.
