The Maui Emergency Management Agency alerts the public to a High Surf Advisory for all north-facing shores of Maui and Molokai, and High Wind Warning for Haleakala summit continuing through 6 p.m. Friday.
Maui County announced all county offices will be closed Friday except for essential emergency services including police, fire and emergency management, which will remain operational. County offices will reopen Monday.
The University of Hawaii also announced its UH Maui College campus in Kahului and Molokai and Lanai Education Centers will be closed on Friday.
Maui County’s Department of Water Supply announced heavy rains have broken a main water line in Hapapa Gulch in Kula, affecting Ihe Place to Kanaio Road, Lower Kula Road, Ioio Place and Upper Naalae Road, including all side roads. Crews are unable to assess the damage because of raging waters.
They estimate water service will be out until 7 p.m. Saturday. Potable water buffalos will be staged at the bottom of Copp Road and Kula Highway.
The Kipahulu and Summit districts of Haleakala National Park closed Thursday closed Thursday and will remain closed at least through Saturday morning, according to a park release. Park staff are working to clear roadways of debris, assess trails and restore power to park facilities. Reopening will depend on weather conditions and damage.
As of 8:30 a.m. Friday, HDOT reports crews are clearing debris on Hana Highway and on the pali leading to and from Lahaina. There is also a report of a boulder at mile marker 30 on Honoapiilani Highway near Office Road and flooding at the intersection of North and South Kihei roads. Avoid the area if possible.
Shelters opened on Thursday in preparation for the storm at Kihei Community Center, Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall, Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Makawao and Hana High and Elementary School. Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center in Wailuku also opened its cafeteria with limited amenities for up to 30 individuals. For more information, call American Red Cross at 800-733-2767.
As of 8 p.m. Thursday, Hawaiian Electric reported roughly 6,500 customers were without power due to fallen trees and branches on lines, the majority of them in parts of Upcountry Maui and the North Shore. People can report power outages or downed power lines to the Trouble Line at 808-871-7777 on Maui and 1-877-871-8461 on Molokai and Lanai. View the Maui County Outage Map.
The Hawaii Department of Health issued a Brown Water Advisory for the entire island of Maui. In a news release, the agency urged beachgoers to stay out of waters that appear brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain, as it may contain higher than normal pollutant levels. DOH recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped. DOH also recommends avoiding swimming, wading in or drinking water from any freshwater streams or pond, to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria.
The county urges residents to stay informed by checking the National Weather Service website, signing up for Maui Police Department road closure notifications and signing up for Maui Emergency Management Agency alerts.
Editor’s note: The article has been updated with the extended closure of Haleakala National Park and the Brown Water Advisory. (January 31, 2025)
