Traveling to Hawaii? Here’s what to know as Maui rebuilds.
Hawaii residents are dealing with the aftermath of historic wildfires in Maui. If you’re planning to travel to Hawaii, here’s what to know.
Ryan Ross and Claire Hardwick, USA TODAY
A brush fire that started in eastern Maui Wednesday evening burned through over 420 acres in the span of two days, prompting the closure of Haleakala National Park and a two-day emergency proclamation by the Maui County Mayor.
The Maui Fire Department identified the fire, which began on Crater Road along the slopes of Haleakala, to be “caused by hot spots in a eucalyptus grove on the mauka flank that slightly grew in intensity overnight,” according to a Friday morning announcement.
The Maui County Mayor declared an emergency proclamation Thursday morning but lifted it by nighttime as conditions improved. As of Friday morning, the fire has been 70% contained to 355 acres. The response included multiple Maui Fire Department fire crews, aircraft, water tenders and Department of Land and Natural Resources wildland crew.
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The recent fire comes on the heels of the first anniversary of the Lahaina wildfires – the nation’s deadliest wildfire in over a century. In just two days, the August 2023 fires killed over 100 people and left almost $6 billion in damages, destroying homes, businesses and culturally significant sites.
Hawaii has one of the highest wildfire risks in the nation due to its warm, dry climate and the growing presence of non-native, fire-prone grasses and shrubs, according to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization.
As the Maui community continues to recover and heal from the devastation of last year’s fires, travelers may be wondering if it’s safe to visit Maui, the second-most visited island in Hawaii, at this time.
Here’s what travelers should know about traveling to Maui right now.
The Crater Road fire began uphill on Crater Road – also known as Haleakala Highway is the 37-mile-long main road winding up to Maui’s famous summit – near the entrance to the national park at an elevation of about 7,000 feet on Wednesday night.
The fire swept through over 400 acres due to strong winds of 40 mph and “inaccessible gulches in the area,” according to Fire Chief Brad Ventura in a press conference on Thursday.
On Wednesday night, residents “above Kekaulike and Haleakala highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads” were asked to keep watch for potential evacuations, but that is no longer expected. No structural damages or injuries have been reported.
However, Maui County is asking people to continue to avoid the area if possible as response teams continue to contain the fire.
“I want to assure you that the county and the state are collectively working together to maximize resources and most importantly, keep our community safe,” said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Thursday in a press conference. “The safety of our community is of the utmost importance, and I encourage everyone to remain calm and continue to monitor the situation.”
Yes, travel to Maui is safe if visitors avoid Haleakala National Park. On Thursday afternoon, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) said in an email statement that the fire “is many miles away from Kahului Airport and Maui’s resort areas.”
“The Crater Road fire should not deter any planned visits to the island of Maui, nor have any travel advisories to that effect been issued,” said Ilihia Gionson, HTA’s public affairs officer, told USA TODAY in an email.
The fire also does not threaten Maui’s water supply, according to the County Water Supply Director.
No. Haleakala’s National Park is closed indefinitely, with road closures leading up to it. All sunrise reservations at the park are canceled until further notice, and no future reservations are being accepted.
However, the Kipahulu District, the lush scenic coastal region located on the backside of the dormant volcano past the town of Hana, is open as usual. In Kipahulu, people can visit bamboo forests and waterfalls.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
