Govind Tekale
A brush fire in Kahikinui, Maui has blazed through approximately 500 acres since Sunday morning, forcing the evacuation of 105 homestead lots and triggering emergency proclamations from both county and state officials.
The fire began at 9:54 a.m. on June 15, 2025, as a quarter-acre burn near Mile Markers 24 and 25 of Piilani Highway. Within half an hour, it had expanded to 20 acres. By 3:30 p.m., fire crews reported the blaze had grown to 200 acres as it pushed upslope through rugged terrain. At 7 p.m., revised mapping confirmed the fire had consumed 500 acres.
Matthew Wells of the Hawaii Red Cross noted, “Any fire situation is going to create that jump in your throat, especially now as we get closer to the two-year remembrance of what we saw in Lahaina. This really becomes a situation where preparedness is key.”
Containment estimates remain unavailable. Firefighting efforts continued overnight with six Maui Fire Department engine companies, three mini units, four air assets, two tankers, and emergency personnel working alongside County Public Works resources and private contractors.
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Maui Emergency Management Agency issued evacuation orders at approximately 11 a.m. through the Genasys Protect app, MEMA alerts, and door-to-door notifications. Residents were directed to move toward the ocean side of the highway for safety, following protocols similar to those used in large-scale wildfire evacuations elsewhere.
The American Red Cross established a shelter at King Kekaulike High School gymnasium at 5:30 p.m., with water and snacks provided by the Maui Food Bank. These emergency shelter operations mirror Red Cross psychological first aid and relief efforts deployed in other natural disasters.
Piilani Highway remains closed from Mile Marker 20 to Mile Marker 41 as emergency operations continue.
Wind conditions complicated firefighting efforts, with measurements from the National Weather Service in Honolulu showing gusts reaching 20 mph with locally higher gusts approaching 50 mph. The fire moved through Kahikinui’s challenging landscape – a 22,861-acre area that includes approximately 4,500 acres of native forest on Haleakalā’s slopes.
Mayor Richard Bissen signed an Emergency Proclamation at 5:45 p.m., enabling access to federal assistance programs. Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, serving as acting governor while Governor Josh Green was out of state, signed a state proclamation at 6:08 p.m. This action activated the Hawaii National Guard and suspended laws that might impede emergency functions.
This marks the 23rd proclamation supplementing the emergency declaration issued on August 8, 2023, following the Lahaina wildfires.
Officials reported no injuries or structural damage as of 7 p.m. Sunday. The coordinated emergency response to this incident demonstrates systems similar to those used in other large-scale evacuation and shelter operations during natural disasters.
Residents seeking current information should monitor MEMA alerts through the County of Maui’s official channels and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s updates.
