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Sunday, September 28, 2025
Petition: Close Holomua Homeless Camp, Protect Paia from Fires
By News Release @ 4:47 PM :: 663 Views :: Maui County, Homelessness

Close Holomua Encampment, Protect Kuʻau & Pāʻia, Safety for Maui

Change.org Petition, September, 2025

After the Pa'ia fire and with the success of making Amala Place and Ukumeheme safe again, it can be done…let's make Pa'ia and Ku'au safe. 

We need your help.

PETITION: >>> SIGN HERE <<<<

It is not about the encampments, it is about the safety of Maui people from these dangerous situations. The Lahaina fire taught us what happens when warning signs are ignored. How much ignoring needs to happen? Tuesday's Pa'ia fire came way too close to keiki, homes, and was a reminder of the devastation that can happen so quickly!!! Thankfully for our amazing MFD and all those fighting to save Pa'ia - it was saved. Let's stop while we are ahead.  We cannot afford another mistake in Kuʻau/Pa’ia. 

PLEASE support this petition:

We are asking the County to act now using the powers it already has:

1. Provide encampment people a Safe Parking Program, allowing them their own space for safe cooking, camping overnight, sanitary restroom facilities in an area close to resources for assistance to get them back on their feet and a place to call home so they do not have to move from community to community putting residents and themselves at a safety risk. Provide an incentive program - help clean up Maui and receive assistance.

2. Clear out and CLOSE Holomua from rubbish and camping, making it safe from fire risk spreading to Ku'au and Pa'ia. The Origin of the Tuesday's Pa'ia fire was a started on Holomua and set INTENTIONALLY.

3. Enforce laws to keep Holomua, Pa'ia and Ku'au safe.

4. Expedite the Holomua Road gate, keeping Holomua beautiful, safe and secure. Gate would be shut from 7pm - 7am with automatic emergency access.

5. Expedite the Tsunami siren M108 installation to put our community at ease.

In the meantime: 
1. Submit complaints and reports of conditions/violations to
SEE-CLICK-FIX

2. Report any abandoned vehicles to the non emergency number 808-244-6400 extension 0. This helps get presence around the area and remove this safety hazard.

3. Voice your concerns, your stories, your impacts. We hear about the homeless side of things, but not the impacts of the Community and residents being affected with the same issue. Let’s come together for a bigger impact in a solution vs. just moving these people around to the next community. Be involved - submit testimonies, attend meetings.

4. DO YOUR PART - be proactive, protecting our own homes and educating others to do the same (with the flyers/brochures residents have been receiving from Maui Fire and other County departments). In the event of a fire, these steps will really help mitigate the impacts and could help save homes and the fire from spreading.

The Issue:
Ku’au  and Pa'ia residents are very concerned for our safety from the lawless, dangerous activity on Holomua Road. We know exactly what can happen when fire moves unchecked through dry brush in high winds. We saw it Tuesday, Sept 23, 2025!!

No one listened after July 1, 2016 when a fast-moving arson fire broke out upwind of our homes in Kuʻau around Holomua area. Within minutes, wind-driven flames pushed dangerously close to our homes. Evacuations with young children and pets while other Ohana members stayed back to monitor and prepare. Thanks to quick action from Ku’au driveways and helicopters, our homes were saved. But the ash, smoke, and fear stayed with us.

Our fear reminds us of how our lives are threatened by Holomua. We are all aware NOW how quickly this whole area, densely populated, could go up in flames leaving us all in another horrible situation as our whole community lives off the 2 lane highway that would be quickly congested leaving us all trapped.

The encampment poses a threat with over 100 fires in 12 months —most human-caused, many dangerously close. The risk to our families is growing by the day.

In addition to fire risk, resident’s safety are threatened from walking to check the mail, previous walks along Holomua with their dogs and keiki. There are inebriated walkers along Hana Highway who loiter on our streets during the day and all hours of the night. They verbally harass and stare at the keiki, trespass, set up camp on our private property, use the restroom in the open, pass out, and verbally harass us when we ask them to leave.

Drug dealing, drug use, theft, loud noise pollution, prostitution, violent fights, loitering and fires ignited have been reported to the police, council, and community. 

Our concerns and experiences have been communicated with County and we support their efforts towards solutions to stop this situation.  Each department is empowered to help with their role’s power, ongoing efforts but laws and civil liberties have been challenges.

Let’s come together for a change we all want to see………

Maui safe and beautiful for all!

PETITION: >>> SIGN HERE <<<<

---30---

MN: Petition calls for Holomua Road closure after 380-acre fire; houseless community says it’s not to blame : Maui Now

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