Kawaihae fire continues up Kohala Mountains

“We’re making headway” against a fire in Kawaihae, said fire Capt. Paul Austria on Monday.

The fire remains in a similar situation as on Sunday, continuing to burn mauka on the Kohala Mountains.

Firefighters are focusing on the northeast and southeast corners of the fire, Austria said, as they are the most active areas of the fire. He said they were helped by the fact the wind did not drive the fire uphill.

The area north of the Akuni Pule Highway is inaccessible, said Austria, limiting firefighting in the region to water drops from helicopters. Two county helicopters and one private machine worked together to make sure there was a drop every one to two minutes.

During the day crews limited its direction and helicopters continued dropping water. At nightfall, firefighters left a night watch to monitor the blaze and prevent breakouts.

There have been some flareups near the Mauna Kea Beach Resort area and Kawaihae Village, but all have been controlled, firefighters said.

All roads are open and there are no active evacuation orders as of press time.

One of the supporting agencies has been the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, which sent 22 firefighters, four engines, three water tanks and a brush truck to control the fire, according to a press release.

Also involved have been volunteer firefighters, Army firefighters and the National Park Service.

The Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site was closed Monday and will remain closed today as staff survey damage to the area and any risks to the public.

The park may open as early as Wednesday, the NPS said, depending on firefighters extinguishing hotspots and archaeologists examining any damage to cultural sites.

“Puukohola Heiau, the massive stone temple where King Kamehameha the Great launched his successful quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands in 1810, did not sustain any damage in the fire, nor did the older Mailekini Heiau below it. The homestead site of British sailor John Young, who served as King Kamehameha’s adviser, also appears unscathed,” the NPS wrote in a press release.

The fire burned 90 percent of the native and non-native vegetation of the 80-acre park.

The brush fire came within “a few feet of the visitor’s center and park headquarters,” the NPS wrote, but firefighters halted it. Both lack phone and Internet service, but the visitor center still has water and electricity.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the agencies and volunteers who banded together to fight this fire,” said Park Superintendent Daniel Kawaiaea in the release. “Thankfully, there were no injuries to visitors or park staff. We also appreciate the kokua from our sister parks, Puuhonua o Honauanau National Historical Park, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, who are providing resources and staff,” he said.

A decision to hold or cancel the 43^rd annual Hookuikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival, scheduled for Aug. 15 and 16, will be made by Tuesday.

“Our biggest concern at this point is the safety for the public, our employees and the festival participants,” Kawaiaea wrote in the release. “In addition to the fire damage, there is also a tropical storm expected to impact us later this week.”