New Outdoor Warning Sirens Being Installed, Tested on Maui

Maui siren. File photo by Wendy Osher.

The Maui County Civil Defense Agency announced that new sirens have been installed at various locations on Maui, with testing scheduled for this week, Wednesday, Feb. 24 and Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016.

The testing, which is being conducted by Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, which coordinates the sirens throughout the state, will be conducted at the following dates and times as follows:

Wednesday, Feb. 24 (9 a.m. – noon)

• D.T. Fleming Beach Park, Kapalua

Thursday, Feb. 25 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

• Wailea-Mākena, Wailea/Kīhei
• Richard Pablo Caldito Sr. Park (formerly Waiheʻe Ball Park), Wailuku
• Waiehu Heights, Wailuku
• Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, Kahului

Residents nearby may hear the siren sound six to eight times for 30-second to one-minute intervals during the identified timeframe. Testing will include short blasts known as “burps.” During the tests, emergency management officials and technicians will check that installation work on this siren has been completed properly. Questions regarding the tests should be directed to the Maui County Civil Defense Agency at (808) 270-7285.

“The installation of the new sirens is part of a statewide project to update older sirens as well as to increase overall siren coverage by putting in additional sirens,” said Anna Foust, Maui County Emergency Management Officer in a press release announcement.

“We are pleased to see progress on the repair, replacement and installation of sirens on Maui. The sirens are an integral part of our warning system, which also includes Civil Air Patrol flyovers, phone, text, email, and radio. Having more tools in the toolbox enhances public safety and increases our ability to notify people throughout our County of impending threats,” said Foust.