HANAPEPE, Hawaii — Firefighters continue to respond to a brush fire in Kaumakani. As of a 9:30 p.m. update on Monday, an evacuation notice for Kaumakani residents remains in place. Kauai Police Department personnel completed door-to-door evacuations for more than 200 homes.

What You Need To Know

  • Kauai Police Department personnel completed door-to-door evacuations for more than 200 homes

  • Kaumuali‘i Highway, between Lele Road in Hanapēpē and Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites, is now open for one lane of alternating traffic. For updates on road closures, call 808-241-1725

  • The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative announced it is de-energizing its transmission lines from Kaumakani to Mana because of the fire and all customers served by these lines will not have power until further notice
  • As of 9:30 p.m., there are two shelters open, one at Waimea High School and another at Hanapepe Neighborhood Center

One lane is open; Kaumualii Highway between Lele Road in Hanapepe and Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites is now open for one lane of alternating traffic. For updates on road closures, call 808-241-1725. There is no evacuation order for the Hanapepe Heights area.

The fire has encompassed 1,000 acres between Hanapepe and Kaumakani. According to the Kauai Fire Department, 60% of the fire is contained. Air assets were suspended at nightfall and will resume Tuesday morning. Ground crews continue to fight the fire overnight.

Officials have confirmed that one structure — a shed with no homes attached to it — at Kaumakani Camp was destroyed by the fire. No injuries have been reported. Firefighters continue to extinguish hot spots around Kaumakani Camp’s residential area.

As of 9:30 p.m., there are two shelters open, one at Waimea High School and another at Hanapepe Neighborhood Center. Those west of the Makaweli Post Office road closure who need shelter should go to the Waimea High School cafeteria. People who need shelter who are located east of the Hanapepe road closure should go to the Hanapepe Neighborhood Center. At the time of the latest update, there were 120 people located at Waimea and 30 people in Hanapepe. 

Because of the highway closure, Summer Fun staff will remain at the Kekaha, Kalaheo and Hanapepe locations with participants until the highway reopens.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative announced it is de-energizing its transmission lines from Kaumakani to Mana because of the fire and all customers (approximately 1,100 members in Kekaha, Mana, Hanapepe, Kaumakani, Pakala and Kokee) served by these lines will not have power until further notice.

Members in Waimea are encouraged to conserve power. Crews are working overnight to replace damaged poles and lines. Lines will be re-energized once repairs are done and KIUC inspects them to ensure it is safe.

Just before 5 p.m. on Monday, the Department of Water issued a water conservation notice for customers from Hanapepe to Kekaha until further notice.

Customers are advised to limit water use, including turning off appliances and fixtures that automatically draw water such as ice machines and irrigation systems, refrain from washing cars or using water recreationally.

The Kauai Police Dispatch advises the community to call 911 only for emergencies as dispatchers are being inundated with too many calls, according to a county update.

Kauai’s Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operation Center remains fully activated. 

According to the release, in a preliminary report, the Kauai Police Dispatch received a report of the brush fire shortly before noon on Monday.

Editor’s note: The article has been updated with information from the 9:30 p.m. Monday update. (July 15, 2024)