Maui County report shows Olowalu dump site has had no significant environmental impacts

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OLOWALU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Maui County says the dumping of 7,000 truckloads of fire debris in Olowalu has had no significant environmental impacts.

That’s the key takeaway from the county’s first quarterly report, which covers the first 90 days of the temporary site for Lahaina’s ash and fire debris.

Special Section: Maui Wildfire Disaster

More than 100,000 pounds of debris from more than 600 properties are now stored there.

However, the county says air quality remains safe, and no leaching has occurred through the ground’s liner.

The report is available online here.

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Maui County Councilmembers will take a final vote this week on a temporary disposal site for the Lahaina fire debris.

Right now, the debris is expected to go to Olowalu until a permanent location can be determined.

However, a long-time family from the area is asking decision-makers to reconsider.

“My family has been here since time in immemorial. We never left,” said Olowalu native Hinano Rodrigues.

Rodrigues’ mother Adeline Kamaileolihau Kaahui was born in Olowalu 1929. She died in Olowalu in 2022.

“She’s named after Mount Lihau, which is the peak on that side of the mountain,” Rodrigues said. “My sister’s name is Kapualehuaolihauulakalaeohekili which means that when the red lehua blossoms on Mount Lihau, its redness is reflected at the ocean at Cape Hekili which is about a half a mile from here.”

Rodrigues said they are much more than residents of Olowalu, they are deeply connected to the land.

His great-great grandmother, his Tutu Haehae, helped build the Olowalu Lanakila Hawaiian Church back in the 1800s.

His great-grandmother, Victoria Lono Puha Hoolulu Kaahui, was born in Awalua in Olowalu.

Rodrigues said Awalua is the area of the temporary disposal site for the Lahaina fire debris.

He said the fact that this location is even being considered breaks his heart.

“Our family and the Nahooikaika family are the last Native Hawaiian families left and we are an extreme minority,” he said. “So, I think that was taken into consideration when the decision was made to use Olowalu, we only got a dozen people, let’s just do it.”

County officials say there are no perfect sites. However, they believe the Olowalu location is the best option because they are facing quickly approaching timelines to move the debris.

Hinano said he is grateful Olowalu will no longer be considered a permanent location for the Lahaina fire debris. However, he is hoping councilmembers will also reconsider it as a temporary location.

“We are going to recommend that they use the shipping containers and use the shipping containers to contain the ashes that will eventually we hope be shipped off Island,” he said.

He said although there are not many of them left, he hopes their voices can still be heard.

Council members will vote on the temporary debris disposal site on Friday at 9:00 a.m.