Lois Larson
Maui's Kahului Airport was temporarily shut down in August 2023 due to a nearby brush fire. The fire, which was one of several on the island at the time, forced thousands of tourists to evacuate and overwhelmed the airport. The wildfires, which were fueled by Hurricane Dora, caused non-essential travel to Maui to be strongly discouraged. The airport also served as a shelter for those fleeing the fires.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wildfires | August 2023 |
| Airports Affected | Kahului Airport, Kapalua Airport |
| Impact on Airports | Kahului Airport was shut down temporarily, flights were canceled, and stranded passengers were sheltered at the airport. |
| Cause of Wildfires | A mix of hot, dry conditions, and winds from Hurricane Dora |
| Evacuations | Yes, evacuations were forced throughout the island, including in Lahaina |
| Damage | Lahaina, a historic town and popular tourist attraction, was heavily damaged. |
| Recovery | As of March 2025, only six houses out of more than 2,000 had been rebuilt in Lahaina. |
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What You'll Learn
- Kahului Airport was temporarily closed due to a nearby brush fire
- Airlines cancelled flights to Maui, with thousands stranded at the airport
- The Maui County Council has attempted to speed up permitting to rebuild homes
- The state of Hawaii flew 4,000 tourists from Maui to Oahu
- The 2023 fires caused heavy damage to the historic town of Lahaina
Kahului Airport was temporarily closed due to a nearby brush fire
Wildfires fuelled by Hurricane Dora have been tearing across Maui, forcing evacuations and travel advisories. Thousands of tourists were stranded at Kahului Airport after the wildfires forced evacuations throughout the island. The airport also served as a shelter for those fleeing the fires.
On Friday, 5 August 2023, a brush fire near Kahului Airport caused the Federal Aviation Administration to shut down operations for about half an hour. Five inbound flights had to be diverted to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu. The fire broke out at 11:01 am near Stable Road and Hana Highway. When crews arrived, they found a rapidly spreading blaze in very dry and light brush due to strong winds. By the afternoon, an estimated 30 acres of brush had been burned, but the fire was 90% contained.
The Maui News reported that five engine companies, two Maui Fire Department water tankers, the Air 1 helicopter, Mahi Pono water tankers, and the state DOT Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting units all responded to the blaze.
In the aftermath of the 2023 wildfires, a Treecovery grow hub at Kahului Airport provided free trees to residents rebuilding their homes in Kula and Lahaina.
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Airlines cancelled flights to Maui, with thousands stranded at the airport
Wildfires fuelled by Hurricane Dora have torn across Maui, causing evacuations and travel disruptions. The fires, which have spread across several islands, have engulfed Maui on multiple sides, with the historic town of Lahaina bearing the brunt of the blaze.
As a result of the wildfires, airlines have cancelled flights to Maui, leaving thousands of tourists stranded at the Kahului Airport. On Wednesday, more than 2,000 people were reported to be stranded at the airport, either due to flight cancellations or having nowhere to go. The airport also served as a shelter for those fleeing the fires, with the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) reporting that about 1,800 people took shelter there.
In response to the situation, Southwest Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines issued travel advisories for customers with flights to and from Maui between August 9 and 11, 2023. Both airlines offered customers the option to change their travel plans without incurring fees and provided discounted fares to assist people in leaving the island. Additionally, American Airlines and United Airlines cancelled all inbound flights to Kahului Airport.
The acting governor of Maui, Sylvia Luke, issued an emergency proclamation discouraging non-essential air travel to the island. The state of Hawaii planned to fly 4,000 tourists from Maui to Oahu, providing temporary accommodation at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. The wildfires have devastated communities on Maui, and the focus is now on recovery and providing support to those impacted by the fires.
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The Maui County Council has attempted to speed up permitting to rebuild homes
In August 2023, wildfires fuelled by Hurricane Dora tore across the island of Maui, forcing thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate. The fires destroyed over 2,000 homes and 3% of the island's housing stock. In the aftermath, the Maui County Council has faced criticism for the slow pace of rebuilding.
In February 2024, the Maui County Council passed Bill 21, which established a consolidated permit for rebuilding disaster-affected homes. Despite this, permitting times remained slow, with approvals taking over 50 days. To address this issue, the county took the additional step of opening a dedicated Recovery Permitting Center in April 2024, hiring private contractors to process permits. However, even with these efforts, homeowners faced challenges, such as the need to apply for new permits if their houses were older than five years.
The slow progress in rebuilding has been attributed to a range of factors, including local political dysfunction, regulatory hurdles, and the impact of the fires on permitting processes. The state's Special Management Area law, which imposes additional permitting and public hearing requirements on new development, has been a particular roadblock for communities like Lahaina, which are located near the coast.
It was not until October 2024 that Hawaii Governor Josh Green issued an emergency exemption, sparing multifamily homes from "Special Management Area" reviews. This exemption was expected to expedite the permitting process for 533 houses by waiving the need for coastal environmental reviews, which typically added a year to the permitting process.
The prolonged recovery process has had significant humanitarian consequences, with thousands of people still in emergency shelters months after the fires. The slow pace of rebuilding has also exacerbated existing social and economic tensions on the island, highlighting the challenges faced by Maui's diverse population, including low-income residents, wealthy retirees, and Native Hawaiians, among others.
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The state of Hawaii flew 4,000 tourists from Maui to Oahu
Maui, the fourth-largest island in the Hawaiian chain, is typically a popular tourist destination, receiving between 100,000 and 130,000 visitors each month. However, in August 2023, the island was devastated by wildfires, which forced thousands of tourists to evacuate and overwhelmed the Kahului Airport. The fires, fuelled by hot, dry conditions and winds from Hurricane Dora, spread across multiple areas on the island, including the historic town of Lahaina, which was suspected to have sustained heavy damage.
As a result of the fires, the state of Hawaii flew 4,000 tourists from Maui to Oahu, where they were placed in the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. This decision was made during a press conference, where it was announced that the airports were functioning efficiently, but a large number of visitors were expected to want to leave the island. The Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu provided a safe haven for these displaced tourists.
The evacuation of 4,000 tourists from Maui to Oahu was a necessary step to ensure their safety, as Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke stated, "This is not a safe place to be." The fires caused significant disruptions to travel, with airlines such as Southwest Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines issuing travel advisories and cancelling flights to and from Maui. The situation was further complicated by the closure of roads in and out of affected towns, making it challenging for those trying to leave the area.
The impact of the wildfires on Maui's tourism industry was substantial, with thousands of tourists stranded and evacuations overwhelming the Kahului Airport. The fires also caused damage to popular tourist attractions, such as Front Street in downtown Lahaina, and affected beachfront resorts in the area, leaving them without power and communication abilities. The exact number of tourists evacuated to Oahu, and the subsequent impact on Oahu's tourism numbers, is unclear, but it is likely that the sudden influx of 4,000 tourists would have had some effect on the island's visitor statistics for that period.
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The 2023 fires caused heavy damage to the historic town of Lahaina
In August 2023, wildfires fuelled by Hurricane Dora tore across the island of Maui, Hawaii, forcing thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate. The island was engulfed in flames on multiple sides, with the historic town of Lahaina being one of the most severely affected areas.
The fires in Lahaina began as a small brush fire just beyond the town's eastern outskirts in the early morning hours of August 8. By mid-afternoon, the fire had intensified, driven by high winds, and moved downslope into the town. The fire spread rapidly due to the combination of dry and gusty conditions, the parched grassy landscape, and the town's predominantly wooden buildings. Within 15 minutes, the fire had reached the town centre, causing widespread destruction.
The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated that over 2,200 buildings were destroyed in the Lahaina fire, including many historic landmarks. The damage caused by the fire was estimated to be nearly $6 billion, with the official damage total released by the United States Department of Commerce in September 2023 being $5.5 billion.
Among the structures lost in the fire were the Waiola Church, the Lahaina Jodo Mission, the Pioneer Inn, and the Nā ʻAikāne Cultural Center. The Maria Lanakila Catholic Church was also damaged, although the main church building and steeple survived. Lahaina's famous banyan tree, the largest in the United States, was left standing but had most of its foliage charred.
The 2023 fires in Lahaina, Maui, resulted in heavy damage to the historic town, with a significant loss of life, extensive property destruction, and a high economic cost. The community is still recovering from the devastating impact of the wildfires.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Maui Airport, also known as Kahului Airport, was impacted by the 2023 wildfires. Operations were shut down for about half an hour on Friday, August 5, 2023, due to a nearby brush fire. The airport also served as a shelter for those evacuating from the fires.
Yes, the wildfires caused significant disruptions to air travel, with airlines canceling flights and issuing travel advisories. Thousands of tourists were stranded at Kahului Airport, and flights from other airlines were diverted to alternative airports.
The 2023 wildfires caused widespread devastation, particularly in the historic town of Lahaina, which was heavily damaged. The fires also impacted local businesses, resorts, and communication infrastructure. Additionally, power lines in West Maui were left exposed, creating potential future hazards.
As of April 2025, a Treecovery grow hub at Kahului Airport has been providing free trees to residents of Kula and Lahaina to help them reclaim and replant their lost landscapes. However, the overall recovery process has been slow, with political and regulatory hurdles hindering reconstruction.
