UPDATE: Large Landslide on Hāna Hwy Cleared, Road OPEN

Landslide, Hāna Highway, May 2, 2014. Photo Courtesy Kaliko Sanchez.

By Wendy Osher

***UPDATE 4:30 a.m. 5/3/14

Maui Police have reopened the Hāna Highway in the area of Nuaʻailua/Honomanū following a large landslide that spanned 100 feet and was an estimated 20 feet in height. 

State Transportation officials say Maui Highways District crews, working in cooperation with Maui County Public Works and a private contractor cleared approximately 2,000 cubic yards of mud and debris from the landslide that occurred on Hāna Highway near Mile Post 14.8 on the Kahului side of Keʻanae. 

The Department of Transportation’s Caroline Sluyter issued a statement overnight saying state engineers continue to monitor the hillside to assess it for stability. 

***UPDATE: 11:58 p.m. 5/2/14

Maui Police have opened one lane of travel on the Hāna Highway in the area of Nuaʻailua/Honomanū to contraflow traffic.  County officials advise motorists traveling the route to proceed with caution as state and county workers are still working to clear the rest of the road.

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A landslide measuring 100 feet wide and 20 feet high came down from a hillside along the Hāna Highway in East Maui near Nua’ailua Bay on Friday afternoon, blocking traffic in both directions.

Fire officials say the incident was reported at 5:56 p.m. on Friday, May 2, near mile marker 14, on the Kahului side of Ke’anae.  This is located in the vicinity of Honomanū Bridge.

Fire crews from the department’s Air 1 helicopter and Rescue 10 personnel out of Kahului responded to the incident, and determined that no vehicles were pushed off, but could not confirm if any vehicles had been buried beneath the landslide, said Fire Capt. Lionel Montalvo.

Special Response Units on scene at the roadway above Nuaʻailua Bay on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

When Engine 7 out of Hāna arrived on scene at 6:35 p.m., they established a command post on the East side of the landslide, fire officials said.

“Firefighters along with Maui Police officers surveyed the area and reported no injuries thus far. It is still unconfirmed that no vehicles are involved,” said Capt. Montalvo in a press release statement issued at 8:48 p.m.

According to Montalvo, Acting Battalion Chief James Brent reported that State Highway crews with heavy equipment are on scene; however, the landslide is still actively moving making cleanup and clearing efforts unsafe at this time.

Special Response Units on scene at the roadway above Nuaʻailua Bay on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

“The Highway remains blocked to traffic as crews standby for a scene assessment by State Highway Engineers to determine the scene safe for heavy equipment work to clear the area,” said Captain Montalvo.

Witnesses on the Honomanū side of the landslide described the debris as covering an area as long as a football field, standing about 20 feet high, and moving.

Some residents headed out to East Maui for the Annual Taro Festival on Saturday turned around when they reached the landslide and opted to take the back road into East Maui through Kaupō.

Senator J Kalani English: East Maui Taro Festival to go on as Planned:

Senator J Kalani English of East Maui provided us with the following statement regarding the incident:

“Earlier this evening, a landslide blocked both lanes of Hāna Highway in Nua’ailua Valley, right past Honomanū in East Maui, and county officials have said that there is no estimated time on when the highway will be reopened.

“This weekend is the East Maui Taro Festival. Each year, this event brings thousands of residents and visitors to the area. My concern is that many of them will try to take Hāna Highway to the festival unaware of the roadblock ahead of them. We will have a huge traffic problem on our hands.

“I want to get the word out about this so that people are prepared. If you’re headed to Hāna, take the backside road via Kaupō to Hāna.”

Maria Orr, president of the East Maui Taro Festival said the event will go on as planned tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., despite the landslide.   “People wanting to come to the festival should come to Hāna through Kaupō. The weather today in Hāna was very sunny and hopefully will be sunny tomorrow,” said Orr.

Red Cross Shelter in Hāna:

County Communications Director Rod Antone said the Red Cross has opened up an emergency shelter at the Hāna High School tonight for those displaced on the East side of the incident by the landslide.

***We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.