Kahoolawe fire has burned 6,000 acres
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The Maui News
A large brush fire continued to burn on Kahoolawe unabated for a sixth day Thursday, consuming more than 6,000 acres since it began Saturday morning.
The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, caretakers of the uninhabited former U.S. Navy bombing practice site, said a team flew over the island Thursday morning and saw the fire burning in the Ahupu Gulch.
The Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana also did a visual pass of the island on Thursday. They observed two fire heads, one near Kuheia progressing northeast toward the base camp of the 'Ohana at Hakioawa and one heading southwest back toward Honokanai'a.
The 'Ohana landed safely on the island and built a firebreak around its primary structures, which includes a traditionally-constructed hale and water tanks. The roof of the hale was sprayed with water and the surrounding area cleared of debris in an effort to create the firebreak and prevent the structure from catching fire, the organization said.
The 'Ohana hopes to deploy fire buckets to protect the structures, noting that the Hakioawa base camp area was twice cleared of unexploded ordnance to a depth of 4 feet and that the structures are close to the ocean.
The danger from unexploded ordnance from the old Navy exercises on the island has deterred efforts to battle the fire.
The 'Ohana also thanked KIRC for its help to get to the island.
Fire damage, so far, includes KIRC's Squid storage facility, a bathroom with a composting toilet and inoperable vehicles being used for spare parts.
The storage facility held the majority of KIRC's restoration and irrigation supplies and equipment, five 2,500 gallon water catchment tanks, a fleet of all-terrain vehicles used to transport volunteers and gear to work sites, and watercraft used for ocean management projects and activities.
KIRC has begun a fundraising campaign to help replace what was lost. The donation site can be found at www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov/home.php. Look under "Quick Links" and click on "Kahoolawe Brush Fire Relief Fund." To donate to the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana visit www.protectkahoolaweohana.org.
In its last update Tuesday, the Maui Fire Department estimated the fire had burned about 6,400 acres.