The Kula Community Association is urging the development of two new high-elevation water tanks to fight wildfires in Kula.

Jordan Hocker, president of the association, said no tangible progress has been made to secure a water backup system since the August 2023 wildfires destroyed a number of homes in the Upcountry area.

Hocker said the association has been working to have two 500,000-gallon water tanks built at a high enough elevation in Kula to enable gravity-fed water to fight wildfires, but the association hasn’t received any assurances.

“It seems not to be a priority for our leaders,” she said.

Power outages hindered firefighting efforts during the August 2023 wildfire, disabling critical pumps from pushing water uphill into tanks and reservoirs and causing a drop in water pressure for fire hydrants.

Kula resident Kyle Ellison recalled trying to use his sink to fill pots to fight the wildfire outside as firefighters scrambled to find working fire hydrants to refill their tankers.

The association said it has been working in partnership with an alliance of several Upcountry community and agricultural organizations asking for an accelerated pathway.

The association’s board warns the community “remains highly vulnerable to the exact same compounding risks experienced in 2023.”

Interagency collaboration

Ryan Kanaka’ole, chair of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and head of the land board, said state officials recognize the importance of strengthening water system resilience and wildfire preparedness for the Upcountry community.

“The 2023 wildfires highlighted the need to continually evaluate opportunities that improve emergency response capabilities while enhancing the reliability of essential public infrastructure,” Kanakaole said.

Kanaka’ole said that because municipal water infrastructure is owned and operated by Maui County, proposals involving potable water storage and distribution systems must be developed in close coordination with the Maui County Department of Water Supply.

“The state will continue to support interagency collaboration and assist, where appropriate, in evaluating opportunities that advance shared public safety objectives,” he said. “The state is committed to working collaboratively with the County of Maui, federal agencies, private landowners, community organizations and other stakeholders to explore potential projects that could improve emergency water availability, support community resilience and strengthen preparedness for future wildfires.”

Working toward solutions

The Maui County Department of Water Supply said it is committed to collaborating with the Upcountry community and its partners to strengthen wildfire resilience while protecting the area’s water resources and maintaining a reliable supply.

The county said it recognizes the urgency of strengthening emergency response capabilities and shares the community’s desire to advance solutions as quickly as possible.

“DWS has emergency generators at critical Upcountry pumping stations to help maintain water system operations during power outages and emergency situations, and welcomes continued discussions and collaboration regarding opportunities to develop additional water storage to enhance wildfire preparedness,” the county said.

The county said it is important to note that although the proposal references the use of nonpotable water, any additional water supply would still rely on the same limited water resources that serve Upcountry Maui.

“As such, available water resources must be carefully evaluated to determine what additional demands can be supported while protecting the water supply by maintaining long-term reliability for the community,” the county said.