A wildfire that broke out in east Maui on Wednesday evening has burned more than 420 acres in two days, forcing the closure of Haleakala National Park and the Maui County mayor to declare a two-day state of emergency.
In a statement Friday morning, the Maui Fire Department identified the fire, which broke out on Crater Road along the slopes of Mount Haleakala, as “driven by a hot spot in eucalyptus forest on the mauka flank that grew slightly in intensity overnight.”
The Maui County mayor declared a state of emergency Thursday morning but lifted it by evening as conditions improved. As of Friday morning, the fire was 70% contained to 355 acres. Multiple firefighting units, aircraft and water tankers from the Maui Fire Department and field crews from the Department of Land and Natural Resources participated in the response.
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The blaze comes just one year after the Lahaina wildfire, the nation’s deadliest in more than a century, which raged in August 2023, killing more than 100 people in just two days, destroying homes, businesses and culturally significant sites, and causing nearly $6 billion in damages.
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Hawaii’s warm, dry climate and the proliferation of invasive, fire-prone grasses and shrubs make it one of the most fire-prone areas in the nation, according to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Agency.
As Maui communities continue to recover and heal from last year’s devastating fires, travelers may be wondering if it’s safe to visit Hawaii’s second-most visited island at this time.
Here’s what travelers need to know about traveling to Maui.
Is Maui on fire again? Where is the Crater Road fire on Maui?
The Crater Road fire started Wednesday night near the entrance to the national park at an elevation of about 7,000 feet, uphill on Crater Road, also known as Haleakala Highway, a 37-mile highway that leads to Maui’s famous mountain peak.
Fire Chief Brad Ventura said at a news conference Thursday that the fire has burned more than 400 acres due to 40 mph winds and “restricted ravines on the site.”
Residents “above Kekaulike Highway and Haleakala Highway between Upper Kimo Road and Waipoli Road” were asked to be on alert for possible evacuations Wednesday night, but no more evacuations are expected. No property damage or injuries were reported.
However, Maui County continues to urge people to avoid the area if possible while response teams continue to contain the fire.
“I can assure you that the county and state are working together to maximize our resources and above all else, keep our community safe,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at a news conference Thursday. “The safety of our community is paramount. We ask that everyone remain calm and continue to monitor the situation.”
Is it safe to travel to Maui now?
Yes, it’s safe to travel to Maui as long as you avoid Haleakala National Park. The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) said in an emailed statement Thursday afternoon that the fire was “several miles away from Kahului Airport and Maui resort areas.”
“The Crater Road fire is not expected to cancel travel plans to Maui, and no travel advisories have been issued regarding it,” HTA spokesperson Ilihir Gionson said in an email to USA Today.
The fire also does not pose a threat to Maui’s water supply, according to the Maui County Water Commissioner.
Is Haleakala National Park open?
No. Haleakala National Park is closed indefinitely and the roads leading into the park are closed. All sunrise reservations at the park have been canceled until further notice and no future reservations will be accepted.
But the Kipahulu area, a lush, scenic coastal area that lies behind a dormant volcano just past the town of Hana, remains open, where visitors can visit its bamboo forests and waterfalls.
Kathleen Wong is a Hawaii-based travel writer for USA Today. She can be reached at kwong@usatoday.com..
