UPDATE: Repeat Siren Malfunction on Maui, No Emergency

By Wendy Osher

(Update: 12:54 a.m. 7/13/11)

A second civil defense siren malfunction was reported in the Central Maui area at around 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2011.  County authorities say multiple sirens malfunctioned for a second time in several hours, mistakenly sending an audible tone.  There is no emergency at this time.

The sirens are traditionally used to alert the public when there is a emergency.  The first malfunction was reported between 8:35 and 8:39 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 in Wailuku and Kihei.

County authorities apologized for the inconvenience and continue to look into the cause of the malfunction.

(Posted: 8:45 p.m. 7/12/11)

A malfunction of the Civil Defense Sirens resulted in a false siren activation in Wailuku tonight (Tuesday, July 12, 2011). The sirens, which are used to alert the public during emergencies, were heard by multiple residents in the Wailuku area at around 8:35 p.m. The siren alert ended a short time later.

County authorities say there is no emergency at this time. It was not immediately clear if any other areas were affected by the malfunction, or what caused the mishap.  A notification issued by the county of Maui notes that sirens were also heard in the Kihei area of South Maui.

*** We will post more information as it becomes available.