UPDATE: UPDATE: Kuakini Highway, from Onioni St to Nakukui St, is now open to traffic. Slow down in the area. Drive with caution. Thank you for your patience.
ORIGINAL POST: The Hawaiʻi Fire Department is battling an active brush fire in Kailua-Kona, between Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Kuakini Highway, near the University of Nations. The brushfire has prompted evacuations of the Kona Hillcrest subdivision and the Pottery Terrace Industrial Area. Additionally, Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway is closed between Hualālai Road to Puapuanui Street, and Kuakini Highway is closed between Oni Oni Street and Nakukui Drive. An evacuation shelter has been set up at the Kailua Park Gymnasium (the Old Kona Airport). Fire and Police are going door-to-door in the affected neighborhoods to get residents out safely. At this time, there is no information related to the cause of the fire.
The County of Hawaiʻi would like to remind residents that the situation remains fluid and additional evacuations may be necessary, as the brushfire is not yet contained. Therefore, we encourage residents in the area to remain cautious and visit the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Administration Hazard Map for up-to-date information.
Updates will continue to be provided as the situation progresses.