HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all islands as strong winds and ongoing drought conditions will create dangerous wildfire conditions through Saturday evening.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Derek Wroe says even though October is usually a transition into the wetter season, drought continues to grip every island.
“Almost every island still has drought on it, and it’s still lingering, so areas are still very dry and ripe for burning,” Wroe said.
The warning includes the northern Hāmākua Coast, where Wroe says “the most extreme drought in the entire state” has persisted, and several fires have already sparked this summer.
Wroe adds that while August is typically Hawai‘i’s peak wildfire month, October historically ranks third for wildfire starts statewide.
“It’s not uncommon to see wildfires this late into October,” he said.
“Everyone can play a role — almost every fire in Hawai‘i is human-caused, so avoid parking in tall grass or using barbecues or power tools in windy areas.”
Utilities Monitoring Conditions, May Shut Off Power
Utility companies say they’re closely monitoring wind speeds and may proactively cut power to prevent sparks if conditions worsen.
Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) says crews are keeping a close eye on the dry south and west sides of the island.
“If wind speeds get high enough and there’s a serious danger, we might need to proactively de-energize power,” said Beth Amaro, KIUC’s communications manager. “We hope we don’t have to, but we want members to be prepared for potential outages.”
Amaro says circuits may be switched to a “one-shot mode” to prevent power lines from automatically re-energizing if they’re damaged by falling trees or debris — a step that could mean longer outages until it’s safe to restore power.
Hawaiian Electric also said in a statement that it is monitoring weather conditions statewide and could activate its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program “to proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk.”
Counties Activate Emergency Operations Centers
Maui County has activated its Emergency Operations Center to Level 3 (Enhanced Steady State) and may move to partial activation if winds strengthen or turn into a Wind Advisory.
Maui Emergency Management Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett says he prepares for the worst-case scenario.
“I look at fast, rapid-moving brush fires county-wide that could impact urban interface areas and multiple islands and how the coordination will work,” he said. He said they’ve been coordinating with private landowners on evacuation routes and private entities when it comes to removing hazards on roads like downed trees.
Lonokailua-Hewett urged residents to keep evacuation routes clear and avoid parking vehicles along narrow roads to help emergency crews respond quickly.
“If you just look at the landscape throughout the southern slope and throughout West Maui as well, it’s dry,” he said while noting the multiple water shortages in Upcountry and West Maui.
“As we look at gusts above 40 or 50 miles per hour, it becomes a major problem — it can ground aircraft, limit drone use, and make it much harder to contain fires,” he added.
Kaua‘i County officials said their EOC is at Level 2 (Partial Activation) during the day and will stand down to Level 3 overnight while continuing to monitor conditions. Honolulu’s EOC remains at Level 3 as well.
Stay Prepared
Officials are reminding residents statewide to have an emergency plan in place in case of power outages or evacuation.
“Have a plan A, B, and C,” Lonokailua-Hewett said. “Be ready to act quickly if conditions change.”
The Red Flag Warning remains in effect through Saturday evening.
For real-time updates, follow the National Weather Service, local county emergency management agencies, and your local utility company’s social media pages.