Ask the Mayor: When Will Civil Defense Sirens Be Repaired?

Maui Civil Defense siren. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Aloha Mayor,

Q: The Civil Defense siren at the corner of Uluniu and W. Līpoa in Kīhei has been inoperative for about a year-and-a-half. A year ago, April 2014, I was told by Maui Civil Defense that the county would not repair the siren because the state was in the process of upgrading our sirens. Would someone please take action to repair or upgrade this vital warning device? We are 300 feet from the water and would appreciate some warning time before the next emergency.

A: Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), which owns and maintains the statewide system of outdoor warning sirens, dispatched technicians to Maui to troubleshoot the Līpoa siren. Upon investigation, the technicians determined that the siren is irreparable. The state is currently undergoing a statewide siren modernization project, and the siren you are referencing is scheduled for replacement. The county, along with the State of Hawaiʻi, is working through permitting issues to ensure compliance.

Please be assured that our Maui Civil Defense Agency is aware of the inoperable siren and has made preparations for alternate public notifications, if needed, by utilizing our partner agencies (Civil Air Patrol, Maui Police Department and CERT volunteers). In the meantime, I encourage you to sign up for Civil Defense notifications so you can receive email and/or text messages on hazardous conditions.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AsktheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.