Serious weather forces are closing, opening shelters on Maui

On January 31, 2025By Littum

Wailuku (Hawaiinewsnow) – strong wind and heavy rain forced more closures and opened shelters at Maui on Thursday.

The county’s emergency surgery center was activated around 2 p.m. 06.45

“Avoid unnecessary travel,” said Maui Emergency Management Agency (Mema) Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett. “Try not to drive through a flooded area. Avoid flooded areas. Turn around. Expect to have power cuts and prepare for these power cuts. Stay informed. Listen to local news. Sign up for Mema alarms. “

Traffic signals were out at the intersection of Haleakala Highway and Makani Road and Haleakala Highway and Makawao Avenue, which got the Maui Police Department to issue This alarm about running carefully.

There were also reports of several abandoned trees, including a giant on Kekaulike Avenue in KULA, blocking the way home for more residents.

“I’m ready to be in my hot bed. It’s cold, ”said Sophia Robison, who was unable to get home. “I like the rain. I just hope everyone is able to stay in safety in this weather. It’s a little scary. “

There were also reports of trees down on Awalau Road in Haiku.

“I’m a little worried about tonight. I don’t know. I hope it’s going okay tonight. With the number of trees we have here in KULA, old trees, large trees that come down in the wind, it’s a bit. We have many people with one -way roads, only one way in and out. My kids are afraid of a fire again after all that happened. The fire started in our house, KULA Fire. But I told them it’s raining. So at least there is this time. But they are afraid of wind when it whistles, ”said KULA -resident Kyle Ellison.

There were also reports that part of the roof of Alfred “Flako” Boteilho Sr. Gymnasium in Paia blew off.

The county opened several shelters to provide a safe place for residents and visitors at. 16.45

They include:

Kīhei Community Center, 303 E. Lipoa St., Kīhei
Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall, 1840 Honoapiʻilani Highway, Lahaina
Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, 91 Pukalani St., Makawao
Hāna High and Elementary School, 4111 Hāna Highway, Hāna

Ka Hale a Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center in Wailuku also opened its cafeteria on Thursday to offer a safe space for unprotected people with limited facilities for 20 to 30 people.

“Although there are currently no evacuation orders, shelters have opened proactively to provide a safe place for residents and visitors to worsen. The duration of the shelter’s operations depends on the severity of the weather, ”county officials said in a statement.

Mema officials said that additional shelters can open if additional needs arise.

Haleakalā National Park was closed Thursday due to the serious weather.

All playing courses and stadiums, including Waiehu Golf Course, closed at noon.

Office of Recovery-West Maui at Lahaina Gateway closed at noon.

Recycling centers in Makawao, Kīhei and Haʻikū are closed so far.

All County of Maui offices also closed at noon, and officials assess whether to open them again on Friday.

Officials said Kaunoa Senior Center’s meals on the Wheels program have delivered non -perishable food for homemade seniors so they can be prepared for potential power breaks.

In addition, they said that the Department of Public Works herds has cleaned drains and coal plants throughout the county this week, including in Lahaina, Wailuku, Makawao and Hāna as well as on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

They also said the herds have staging equipment and prepared for potential adverse conditions in areas that have been affected by floods in the past, including the Kaupō area of Piʻilani Highway and South Kīhei Road at Kaonoulu Road and Uwapo Road in Kīhei.

Officials said the Department of Water Supply and Department of Environmental Management (them) topped fuel tanks in heavy equipment and prepared generators. They said staff also monitor storm water pools at our landfill to provide capacity in anticipation of heavy rain.

The Hawaii Department of Education -Employees also announced that all public schools in Maui County will remain closed Friday.

View Hawaiian Electric Maui County -Trøm disconnection for information about the latest power cuts at www.hawaiianelectric.com.

For more information about the American Red Cross, call 1 (800) 733-2767 or download the American Red Cross app.