Maui News

Beginning Saturday, all County of Maui facilities, including County parks, pools and the Waiehu Golf Course will be closed until further notice. Reservations for pool use have been canceled. The County is working with the American Red Cross to provide emergency shelters for people in Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

Douglas continues to move toward the Hawaiian Islands and remains classified as a Major Category 3 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph and higher gusts. While gradual weakening is expected to continue through the weekend, Douglas is still forecast to be near hurricane strength when it nears the islands.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino says he is asking the Governor to reinstate the mandatory 14-day quarantine on interisland travel due to the large numbers of COVID-19 cases occurring on the island of Oʻahu. 

Twenty-year-old Anne S. Salamanca from Birmingham, Alabama was arrested this morning by Special Agents from the Investigations Division of the Dept. of the Attorney General.

The State of Hawai‘i’s mandatory 14-day quarantine rule for travelers is being modified temporarily in consideration of the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Douglas.

Hāna Highway (Route 36) is expected to receive significant wave and wind action. Motorists are cautioned that the road is susceptible to landslides and fallen trees. Should motorists encounter a road obstruction they are encouraged to report it via 9-1-1 and not throw debris off the side of cliffs.

Hurricane Douglas continues to move toward the Hawaiian Islands and should be expected to bring severe weather this weekend. Joining me this afternoon are, Mayor Michael Victorino, Luke Meyers, administrator, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, John Bravender, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service and Veronica Verde, external affairs officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Maui County (including Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe) and the Big Island as Hurricane Douglas continues on a track toward the Hawaiian Islands.   The system is remains a Major Category 3 Hurricane with sustained winds near 115 mph.  

After a record number of new coronavirus cases on Thursday, today the Hawai‘i Dept. of Health (DOH) is reporting another single-day record of 60 new COVID-19 infections. The majority of the cases, like yesterday, are on the island of O‘ahu (58), with one case on Maui, and the other one is a Hawai‘i resident diagnosed out of state. 

The Emergency Department screening tent at Maui Memorial Medical Center will be taken down in preparation for Hurricane Douglas. A hospital spokesperson said the tent is rated for 30 mph sustained wind and with the threat of the Hurricane and even stronger winds, the tent will be taken down temporarily.

The Maui Department of Water Supply advises all customers to conserve water in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Douglas, which is forecast to bring strong winds, flash flooding and high surf this weekend.

The Category 3 system will continue to experience gradual weakening today through the weekend; however, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center says Douglas is still forecast to be near hurricane strength as it approaches the eastern end of the Hawaiian Island chain late Saturday night or Sunday.

During port condition WHISKEY, gale force winds of 39 mph are predicted to arrive within 72 hours. Ports status are open to all commercial and recreational traffic.

The National Hurricane Center says gradual weakening is expected to begin on Friday and continue through the weekend; and Douglas is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it approaches the Hawaiian Islands. “On the forecast track Douglas will approach the Hawaiian Islands Saturday night, and be near the Islands on Sunday,” according to the latest NHC forecast.

A 64-year-old Maui man was formally charged on Wednesday with a list of criminal counts involving threats directed at the Kīhei Police Station and a run-in with an officer at the site, according to Maui police.

“Hurricane Douglas is expected to gradually weaken as it approaches us, but we should prepare for the worst,” Mayor Victorino said. “I strongly urge everyone to prepare their families now, and be ready to possibly shelter in place.”

Douglas is now a powerful Category 4 Hurricane as it continues on an approach toward the Central Pacific. At 5 p.m., the system was tracked about 1125 miles ESE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

The Maui Emergency Management Agency advises that the potentially close passage of this hurricane brings a “triple threat of hazards” to the state, including but not limited to damaging winds, flooding rainfall, and dangerously rough seas that could result in damaging surf, especially along east facing shores.

While there was a lower level of disease activity in March when schools initially closed, health officials were asked why schools are reopening now when the state has double digit increases daily on Oʻahu.  Also, “Recent reports indicate that there may be activity occurring on Maui island… where there is evidently… a suggestion that there’s at least a low level of community circulation of the virus there,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park.

Gov. David Ige today issued a pre-landfall emergency proclamation as the State of Hawai‘i prepares for possible impacts from Hurricane Douglas. The proclamation authorizes the expenditure of state funds for the quick and efficient relief of disaster-related damage, losses and suffering that may result from the storm.