Olowalu businesses see few impacts as 120-acre fire mostly contained | News, Sports, Jobs
Maui Fire Department firefighters mop up Wednesday in Olowalu. A fire that began Tuesday afternoon and forced multiple road closures was 90 percent contained as of Wednesday after burning about 120 acres. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
A brush fire in Olowalu burned about 120 acres and was 90 percent contained as of Wednesday after forcing multiple road closures and prompting some Olowalu businesses to close up shop early.
“We’re kind of used to this kind of stuff, so we know the drill already,” said Kylee Okazaki, general manager of Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, which closed about an hour early on Tuesday.
The fire was reported at 3:02 p.m. Tuesday and was fueled by strong winds, according to Maui County. Honoapiilani Highway closed between the Lahaina Bypass and Luawai Street in Olowalu at about 4 p.m. due to visibility from heavy smoke. The road reopened after 6 p.m., when the fire was 50 percent contained, but had to close again between from the bypass to Maalaea while state Department of Transportation highways crews worked to remove a large tree that was on fire near the roadway. The highway reopened at about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Crews worked throughout the day on Wednesday to further secure the perimeter of the fire and address hot spots, the Maui Fire Department said.
The area of light brush that burned in the fire is located mauka of Olowalu General Store and encompasses both sides of Olowalu Stream, according to the county.
A downed gate post smolders in an Olowalu field Wednesday morning.
Rylee-Ann Domogma, manager of Olowalu Store, said that the store’s owner told the workers to close early and go home.
“Right as we closed the door and we were going to turn on the store alarm, then the road closed,” leaving the four Lahaina resident workers stuck at the store, Domogma said.
As soon as the road reopened after 6 p.m., “we were honestly the first ones to leave,” she said.
Domogma said the fire didn’t threaten the general store, but things could have been worse if not for the firefighters. The fire was located near the petroglyphs about half a mile away, and some residents who live behind Olowalu Store had started hosing down the areas around their homes, Domogma said.
“The sky ended up being orange, and it wasn’t as bad as the pictures you see of the people in New York from the Canada fires, but it had that orange tint,” Domogma said.
She added she was grateful to MFD and hoped the planned fire station for Olowalu would become reality “sooner than later.”
Other than having to close early, Leoda’s didn’t see any major impacts either. The electricity stayed on and the wind blew the smoke towards Lahaina, so even inside the restaurant, “it didn’t smell smoky,” Okazaki said.
Most of the workers live in Kahului, so they were able to go straight home while the highway was closed from Olowalu to Lahaina. Some of the workers who live in Lahaina were stuck at the store until about 6:30 p.m.
She said the workers are used to fire hazards and road closures, recalling a fire down by Maalaea a few years back that trapped them on the west side until about 3 a.m.
“I know it’s impacted a lot of us here somewhat at one point,” Okazaki said.
Five engine companies, an emergency call-back crew and a relief tanker responded to the fire, along with two helicopters that operated until nightfall on Tuesday, the county said. Goodfellow Bros., West Maui Land Co. and Alpha Construction also provided water tankers and heavy equipment to help fight the fire.
No injuries were reported, according to MFD.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
* Managing Editor Colleen Uechi can be reached at cuechi@mauinews.com.
Maui Fire Department firefighters mop up Wednesday in Olowalu. A fire that began Tuesday afternoon and forced multiple road closures was 90 percent contained as of Wednesday after burning about 120 acres. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos 
A downed gate post smolders in an Olowalu field Wednesday morning.Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
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