Wildfire, Maui
- When
- January 22, 9:00 AM HST to January 23, 3:00 PM HST
- Where
- Maui County, 2 mi NE of Olowalu
- Injuries
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 20.868, -156.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Wildfire in Hawaii, January 22 to 23, 2001
A fire burned an 800-acre area of brush in the Cut Mountain section of West Maui between Olowalu and Launiupoko. The fire, spread by strong trade winds, scorched that part of the isle from the 1200-foot level of the mountain down to Honoapiilani Highway that runs along the coast.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS HFO wrote it up.
A fire burned an 800-acre area of brush in the Cut Mountain section of West Maui between Olowalu and Launiupoko. The fire, spread by strong trade winds, scorched that part of the isle from the 1200-foot level of the mountain down to Honoapiilani Highway that runs along the coast. The highway had to be closed for 7 hours, 1038 to 1740, on the 22nd, causing a severe traffic jam.The blaze had threatened two homes and a piggery, but no damage was reported to these structures. A shed burned to the ground, with a loss of the building and tools, including a few generators, inside the shed. No estimated cost of the loss was available.Many firefighters took part in dousing the flames, with three receiving minor injuries. Four water-bucket carrying helicopters were used in containing the fire as well. The cause of the brush fire was unknown.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Honolulu, HI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 22, 4:57 AM HST, 4 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 22, 4:57 AM HST, 4 hours 3 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES LIMITED MOISTURE CAUGHT UP IN THE TRADE WIND FLOW OF 15 KTS OVER THE ISLAND. LITTLE CHANGE IS LIKELY OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. THERE IS A WEAK FRONT TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE ISLAND BUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO AFFECT WAKE EXCEPT FOR A TURNING OF THE WINDS TO A MORE SOUTH DIRECTION IN TIME. AS A RESULT...EXPECT A MOSTLY SUNNY SKY WITH ONLY A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR ANY ZBRIEF PASSING SHOWERS. A NORTHWEST SWELL UP TO 7 FEET OR SO SHOULD BE AFFECTING WAKE TODAY BEFORE BEGINNING TO SUBSIDE ON TUESDAY.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Wildfire
- A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 2001
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5227611.