Evacuation order issued for Olowalu Village on Maui due to brush fire
A brush fire near Olowalu Village on Maui forced evacuations and shut the main highway into West Maui for hours, reviving fears from the 2023 Lahaina disaster.
- The fire broke out Saturday afternoon in the hills near Olowalu Village, triggering emergency sirens and evacuation alerts.
- Honoapiilani Highway was closed for over six hours, stranding a line of cars stretching for miles.
- High winds from Hurricane Nolo passing south of the islands are fanning the flames and making the fire hard to fight — the same setup that ignited the Lahaina fire three years ago.
- No homes or lives have been threatened so far, and crews are working the fire from the air and on the ground.
- Two shelters opened, at the Lahaina Civic Center Gym and a community park and gym in Kihei, with evacuees told to bring their own bedding, food, and water.
Outlook: Firefighters will work the fire through the night, and residents near Olowalu should stay ready to leave while the winds hold up.