Experience driving the Emergency Exit Road from the end of Hulu St. down to Queen Kaʻahumanu Hwy (Rt 19) on Saturday, June 18. The event will begin at 9 am with brief presentations by our Mayor, Hawai’i Fire Chief, Civil Defense, Hawai’i Police, and Hawai’i Wildfire Management Organization.  The Emergency Exit Road will be accessible from 9:15 am until noon.  This event is intended to familiarize residents with the location and condition of the road prior to the next evacuation order.  The gravel road, paved in sections, is suitable for passenger vehicles. Police and fire personnel will be assisting.

If you are unable to attend the event on June 18, you can still drive the road virtually here.

The event was planned by the WVA Firewise Committee to help alleviate some of the gridlock experienced on Paniolo during the 2021 Mana fire evacuation.  A major contributor to the gridlock was widespread misinformation that the Hulu Emergency Exit Road was only suitable for “rugged 4-wheel drive vehicles”, causing many people to avoid this road, contributing to the dangerous traffic jam on Paniolo.

The WVA Firewise Committee, working with county agencies and the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, is trying to improve the evacuation process to reduce the risk of fatalities like those experienced in Paradise, California, and elsewhere due to gridlock.

Waikōloa Village has always been prone to the risk of wildfire due to its dry climate and windy conditions, surrounded by miles of open grass and shrub lands.  That risk will only increase as our climate gets warmer.  The Pacific Fire Exchange reports: “As the climate crisis rages on, wildfires will become ever more frequent, more intense, and more wide-spreading in Hawai‘i and across the Pacific. The most affected areas will be grasslands and savannas which surround residential areas and the edges of watershed forests.”  A history of wildfires in our area can be viewed here.

Some of the efforts being undertaken by WVA to reduce the impact of wildland fires include:

• Grazing leases for cattle on vacant WVA lands (with the help of feral goats) to reduce the fire fuel load by keeping the grasses short.
• Maintaining and expanding firebreaks around residential areas.
• Mowing overgrown grass and shrubs in accessible areas.
• Encouraging and educating residents on how to harden their properties and homes against the risk of fire.
• Familiarizing residents with the Emergency Exit Road from the bottom of Hulu St. to Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy.
• Consistent community wildfire preparedness actions to maintain annual national recognition as a Firewise USA Community.

Much remains to be done to protect our families and homes from wildfires that are predicted to grow in frequency and intensity.  The WVA Firewise committee welcomes more members to join and contribute to our efforts to protect our community.  Additional information can be found on the association website here.

Please record your time and money spent on fire protection and prevention to you home and community, including the time you spend at the Hulu Holoholo event, on the Firewise Reporting Form here.