Lahaina Civic Center to become emergency shelter for those affected by fire
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Lahaina Civic Center Gym is transitioning into an emergency shelter for residents and others evacuating Olowalu Village due to a brush fire and for those affected by power outages in West Maui.
Maui County officials opened the gym as a temporary evacuation point at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, after evacuation orders were issued for Olowalu Village from Luawai Street to Ehehene Street while the brush fire posed an immediate threat to life and property.
Emergency shelters provide a safe place for residents displaced by the brush fire and offer charging stations for personal electronic devices.
Residents should bring their own bedding, food, drinking water, medications, charging cables and other essential items. Pets are allowed but must be in crates.
Shelter operations, including available amenities and how long shelters remain open, will depend on fire conditions and community impacts and will be assessed as conditions evolve.
South Maui Community Park Gym in Kihei, which was opened at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, will remain a temporary evacuation point.
Temporary evacuation points provide a safe gathering area, but they do not have the supplies and amenities of a regular emergency shelter.
Sites are located in:
• WEST MAUI -- Emergency shelter site at Lahaina Civic Center Gym, 1840 Honoapiilani Highway
• SOUTH MAUI -- Temporary evacuation point at South Maui Community Park and Gym, 1501 Liloa Drive, Kihei
An evacuation order remains in effect for Olowalu Village from Luawai Street to Ehehene Street. Residents and others in the affected area should leave immediately, evacuate away from the fire area and follow directions from emergency officials.
Honoapiilani Highway is closed from North Kihei Road to Olowalu General Store, 820 Olowalu Village Road.
In addition, the area from Mile Marker 35 on Honoapiilani Highway near Honokohau Stream to Waihee School on Kahekili Highway is limited to local traffic only. Motorists should avoid the areas and use alternate routes.
Flames and smoke spread across a hillside near Olowalu on Sept. 26. Photo courtesy Maui County
Maui County officials and emergency response agencies are responding to the fire, which was reported at approximately 1:57 p.m. Saturday near Olowalu Village.
Emergency sirens were sounded at approximately 2:40 p.m., shortly after the evacuation order was issued.
Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
For updated road closure information, visit mauicounty.gov/roadclosures. For emergency information, visit mauicounty.gov/MEMA.