Two escape routes could have saved dozens of Maui fire victims

The largest concentration of people who died in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire — nearly three dozen victims — was found in the Kuhua Camp neighborhood, where downed trees and power lines blocked many trying to flee down narrow paths.

However, everyone would have escaped that day if the neighborhood had had two key evacuation routes: a direct path instead of a dead end at the north end of Kuhua Street, which connects it to Keawe Street, and an Aki Street that runs along the entire street. Neighborhood not divided halfway by a private lot.

This is according to a special computer model that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently provided to Maui County. County planners say plans are already underway to build those routes.

Currently, Kuhua Street is a dead end to the north and Aki Street is divided by a private residential lot. Removing that dead end and connecting the Lower Aki to the Upper Aki would provide critical evacuation routes that were not available during the deadly Lahaina Fire.

In the model scenarios, opening those routes “made a big difference,” said Erin Wade, chief of planning and development in the county CEO’s office.

Wade and other county planners presented the Army Corps’ findings to local residents earlier this month during a meeting at Lahainaluna Middle School. The model showed what would have happened if Lahaina had suffered the same wildfire with those routes in place, providing more options for escape.

If they had existed, “there wouldn’t be anyone caught,” Wade said.

Army Corps officials did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Brian Acason, a 50-year Maui resident who owns the lot that bisects Aki Street, confirmed Monday that he is in negotiations with the county to widen the road through his property.

“I want to be part of the solution,” Acason said.

Civil Beat Report: Critical closed door ignored in Maui fire evacuation investigation

closed doors prevented the escape of many evacuees in Lahaina during the fire. In the Camp Kuhua area, dozens of people found themselves trapped by a fence separating the residential neighborhood from the former Pioneer Mill industrial property immediately to the west.

The only way out of that neighborhood was to head south, toward the flames, and reach Lahainaluna Road. However, a tree and utility lines downed by high winds blocked access to that main road for many evacuees.

Six of the victims, including an 11-year-old boy and his parents, tried unsuccessfully to flee the fire by taking refuge in one of several corrugated steel Quonset huts that ran the length of the door.

Lahaina Deathtrap: The fire of the day engulfed Kuhua Street

In addition to opening those two critical Camp Kuhua routes, the Army Corps model made several suggestions to improve evacuation in Lahaina.

That includes creating a new connection to the Lahaina Bypass at Hakau Street, connecting all divided segments of Dickenson Street to run contiguously, and linking the Wahikuli neighborhood to the old cane road that lies above using Fleming and Wahikuli roads, as well as Malani Street.

Wade said the county has also considered extending Aki Street further west, through the gated area and the former Pioneer Mill property, to connect with Honoapiilani Highway. However, Wade said the current owner of that industrial zone, Kaanapali Land Co., is in talks to sell the land, which is complicating that effort.

It is unclear how long it will take to complete the changes. Maui County Public Works Director Jordan Molina was not available Monday to provide an estimate.

doivil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is funded in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.