Major Flooding and Rockslides Force Road Closures Across East Maui

Major flooding, rockfalls, and downed trees trapped East Maui residents at home and forced widespread road closures after a near-stationary band of rain dropped 0.5 to 1.5 inches per hour over Hāna on Thursday, October 29, 2026, according to Hawaii News Now.

Why was Maui County’s Emergency Operations Center activated?

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced that the county’s new Emergency Operations Center was activated for the first time in response to the severe weather. While no injuries or damage had been reported, officials strongly advised the public to stay off the roads, particularly Hāna Highway. The county opened a temporary evacuation point at Helene Hall in Hāna, which accommodated five visitors earlier in the day.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen explained the situation regarding visitors in the area:

Five individuals did use those resources earlier. Nobody’s there right now. Those are all visitors as well. So again, we’re discouraging visitors from going into East Maui, especially if there’s a landslide that could cause them to be stranded either on the road or on either side of the landslide.

Which roads and facilities were closed by the weather?

Heavy rain and debris forced the closure of multiple roadways across the region. Closures included:

🚨 NEWS — HĀNA, MAUI — FLOODING PROMPTS TEMPORARY EVACUATION SITE AND ROAD CLOSURES📂 Category: Flash Flooding / Public Safety📅 Date: October 29, 2026📍 Location: Hāna, East Maui, Hawaii🚨 Status: Temporary evacuation point open; flooding-related road closures remain listed…
— https://x.com/Will466513/status/2115935128622907856

Keanini Drive and Uakea Road in Hāna town
Piʻilani Highway in East Maui between Mile Markers 50 and 51
Hāna Highway between Mile Markers 37 and 39

Earlier in the day, additional segments of Hāna Highway near Mile Markers 15 and 16, as well as Kahekili Highway in Waiehu, were temporarily shut down due to rising water before crews began clearing debris. Additionally, the State Department of Education closed Hāna High and Elementary School for the day. The County Department of Parks and Recreation also shuttered numerous athletic complexes, golf courses, and gym facilities.

What were conditions like on the ground in East Maui?

Residents faced hazardous conditions as local waterways swelled dangerously high. Ryan Poe, an ʻUlaʻino resident, described a river near his home reaching roughly five feet deep and moving with such force that attempting to cross it in a truck would guarantee the vehicle would flip.

Meanwhile, other community members highlighted the immediate human toll of the infrastructure isolation. East Maui resident Kamalani Pahukoa pointed out that kūpuna needing medical care were effectively landlocked while crews worked to clear the blocked routes.

There is one of our kūpuna that needs to go to the doctor and she’s landlocked. So, we’re just hoping our state crews can clear the way, and we can head back to town.

Further up the slopes, Haleakalā National Park issued an evacuation warning for the Kipahulu district due to flash flooding and small landslides, which Haleakalā National Park Public Information Officer Nick Clemons noted was done to ensure the safety of both the public and park staff.

How can residents track updates and emergency alerts?

Although flash flood warnings expired across Maui County by 7 p.m. on Thursday, local officials continue to urge vigilance. Residents looking for real-time updates on remaining blockages can check the Maui County Road Closure Notifications page. To receive direct safety notices, officials recommend downloading the Genasys Protect app via Maui County Genasys and signing up for notifications through the Maui Emergency Management Agency.