Experience driving the Emergency Exit Road June 18 from the end of Hulu Street in Waikoloa Village down to Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway.
The event, aimed at familiarizing residence with the location and condition of the emergency evacuate route, will begin at 9 a.m. with brief presentations by Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth, Hawaii Fire Chief Todd Kazuo, as well as members of Hawaii County Civil Defense, Hawaii Police Department, and Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization.
The Emergency Exit Road, last utilized to evacuate the village on Aug. 1, 2021, as the island’s largest fire in history raced toward the village, will be accessible from 9:15 a.m. until noon June 18. It is intended to familiarize residents with the location and condition of the road prior to the next evacuation order.
The gravel road, paved in sections, is suitable for passenger vehicles. Police and fire personnel will be assisting.
The event was planned by the WVA Firewise Committee to help alleviate some of the gridlock experienced during the 2021 fire evacuation. A major contributor to the gridlock was widespread misinformation that the Hulu Emergency Exit Road was only suitable for 4-wheel-drive vehicles, causing many to avoid the road, contributing to a traffic jam on Paniolo Avenue and Waikoloa Road.
The WVA Firewise Committee, working with county agencies and the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, said it is trying to improve the evacuation process to reduce the risk of fatalities like those experienced in Paradise, California, and elsewhere due to gridlock.
More details can be found at Waikoloa.org/HuluHoloholo.