HomeMy WebLinkAboutCom_.No. 2021-04 Draft Letter to Director - Mana Rd. Fire Communication No. 2021-04
Mitchell D.Roth 40JN<VfOF h,�,, Zendo Kern
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Mayor ����d�',�, Director
Lee E.Lord Jeffrey W. Darrow
Managing Director fu_ Deputy Director
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West Hawai'i Office East Hawai'i Office
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy • 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3
Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 County of Hawai 1 Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Phone(808)323-4770 Phone(808)961-8288
Fax(808)327-3563 PLANNING DEPARTMENT Fax(808)961-8742
SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
ACTION COMMITTEE
September 13, 2021
Zendo Kern, Director
County of Hawai'i Planning Department
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Director Kern:
SUBJECT: Request for Information on Mana Road Fire Emergency Evacuations
On behalf of South Kohala communities, we are requesting information on the emergency
evacuations of Pu'ukapu Hawaiian Homesteads, Waiki'i Ranch, and Waikoloa Village in late
July/early August 2021 due to the Mana Road fire. We have received general information but
seek specific details and expertise from the County as outlined below. We ask that this request
be forwarded to Mayor Roth and the following County departments: Civil Defense; Fire; Police;
and the Department of Public Works.
Background information: A fire in South Kohala started on the morning of July 30, 2021,
reportedly due to human error on Parker Ranch properties. High, blustery winds quickly moved
the wildfire primarily south and west, threatening Pu'ukapu Hawaiian Homesteads and Waiki'i
Ranch homes forcing evacuations of these sparsely populated areas. By Sunday, August 1, 2021,
the fire spread and crossed Hwy. 19 to the point that it endangered Waikoloa, a village with
6,500 residents. Mayor Roth promptly issued the first-ever evacuation order for Waikoloa
Village at 12:15 P.M. In response, the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Avenue was
blocked off by Hawai'i County Police and traffic was directed out of the Village.
Initially, people left via the one west bound lane of Waikoloa Road. Also, and for the first time,
the fire emergency road off Hulu Street was opened to allow west bound traffic out of the
Village to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. This emergency exit gravel road was built by the
County in 2006, in large part, as a response to the fire that threatened Waikoloa Village in
August 2005. Many current Villagers are unaware of its location or how drivable this single lane
www.planning.hawaiicounty.i,4ov Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning�Lhawaiicounty.gov
Mr. Zendo Kern, Director
Planning Department
September 13, 2021
Page 2
road is, which is now partially paved and can be used by a standard vehicle. There was no
signage on Paniolo Avenue to indicate Hulu emergency exit was open, although the information
was broadcast by radio. Both the westbound Waikoloa Road and Hulu Street exit feed off
Paniolo Avenue, the Village's only main artery.
There was some east bound, incoming traffic, as residents returned to the Village to evacuate
family, pets, etc. At some point, the east bound lane of Waikoloa Road, makai of Paniolo
Avenue, was converted to an additional west bound lane to expedite the evacuation. At 7:00
P.M., the evacuation order was cancelled, regular traffic flow was established on Waikoloa
Road, and people could return home.
Request: The South Kohala Community Development Plan-Action Committee requests an
accounting of the evacuations of residents from the affected areas in South Kohala, including
information from Police, Fire, and Civil Defense departments. Please reflect the timeline of
activities and actions taken, communication efforts to the affected communities and their
effectiveness, the data collection process from the departments and evacuees, the results on
evacuation activities, any information on those who wanted to evacuate but were unable due
to lack of transportation or medical needs, and any other pertinent information the County has
gathered.
Finally, we would like to understand the County's process and plan for sharing back to
community what worked well, lessons learned, and what revisions are being made to future
evacuation plans as a result of this event.
We would like to thank everyone in the County who either worked or volunteered during this
emergency, and the citizens for their orderly cooperation. We are especially grateful to
Councilman Tim Richards for his communication efforts on the larger evacuation of Waikoloa
Village on August 1. It was an important source of current, real-time information for many
evacuees.
The SKCDP-AC meets again on November 8, 2021; however, a response would be appreciated
as soon as it's available. We never know when the next fire might break out and want to be as
prepared as possible.
Sincerely,
RUTH A. SMITH, Chair
South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee