News and Events:
Hulu Holoholo – The most recent Evacuation Road Open House was held February 17, 2024, 9:00-11:00 AM. For more information about this event and to view a video of the road, please visit our
Hulu Holoholo website.
Waikōloa Wildfire Talk Story – The WVA Firewise Committee hosted a public wildfire talk story on October 10, 2023, 5:00-7:00PM. The panelists included:
- Elizabeth Pickett – Co-Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization
- Tim Richards, District 4 Senator, Hawaiʻi State Senate
- Mitch Roth, Mayor, Hawaiʻi County
- Cindy Evans, District 9 Councilmember, Hawaiʻi County Council
- Eric Moller, Deputy Fire Chief, Hawaiʻi County Fire Department
- Talmadge Magno, Administrator, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense
- Colton Ching, Senior Vice President of Planning and Technology, Hawaiʻi Electric Company
- Geoff Fulks, General Manager, Hawaiʻi Water Service
About Us:
The WVA Firewise Committee is a unique committee of the WVA. It was initiated by WVA Members who wished to implement a program sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) called Firewise USA Communities. This program enables local organizations to implement procedures and guidelines that reduce the risk of wildfires and therein become part of the nationally recognized Firewise USA network.
Waikōloa Village obtained Firewise Certification in 2016 and has renewed this certification each year since.
The purpose of the WVA Firewise Committee is to provide education, leadership, and direction to help WVA Members adapt to living with wildfire risks, and to encourage all neighbors in the community to work together and take action to prevent losses. This page is dedicated to providing you with information about risk, mitigation, and best practices to keep you and your ʻohana safe.
Some of the efforts being undertaken by WVA to reduce the impact of wildland fires include:
- Grazing leases for cattle on vacant WVA lands (with the help of feral goats) to reduce the fire fuel load by keeping the grasses short.
- Maintaining and expanding firebreaks around residential areas.
- Mowing overgrown grass and shrubs in accessible areas.
- Encouraging and educating residents on how to harden their properties and homes against the risk of fire.
- Familiarizing residents with the Emergency Exit Road from the bottom of Hulu St. to Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy.
- Consistent community wildfire preparedness actions to maintain annual national recognition as a Firewise USA Community.
Much remains to be done to protect our families and homes from wildfires that are predicted to grow in frequency and intensity. The WVA Firewise committee welcomes more members to join and contribute to our efforts to protect our community.
Reducing Fire Risks in Your Home:
Fire & Ignition Zone Basics
Learn the basics about fire and how to protect your home. The
Fire & Ignition Zone Basics document provides some of this basic information and guidance.
Smoke Alarms
When did you last change the batteries in your
smoke alarms. If you can’t remember, it’s time to do it. Although we don’t change our clocks twice a year, consider changing your batteries twice a year, when the mainland changes its clocks.
Fire Extinguishers
Surge Protector/Power Strip Safety
Fire Causes and Risks
The community of Waikōloa Village is one of the most
at-risk communities in the state, due to its high winds, history of nearby human-caused ignitions, location on the wildland-urban interface, and prevalence of fire-prone vegetation. The area has been the site of all of the largest fires in recent state history. A history of wildfires in our area can be viewed
here.
Its residents are living with under-addressed fire hazards that are located both adjacent to and within the subdivision, and that lie under the responsibility of diverse parties to address. It is only a matter of time before the next large wildfire will threaten the community. There is great need to foster perpetual proactive community action toward preventing ignitions, reducing fuels, and increasing emergency preparedness and planning. [Waikōloa Village Firewise Community Hazard Assessment, 10/16]
You can help us retain our certification, while improving the safety of your home. When you engage in any activities to reduce your fire risk, please record this information on our
Firewise Recording Form. You can scan the QR Code below to open the Recording Form.
The following are some examples of activities that help keep our community Firewise:
- Landscaping around your property to reduce vegetation load (eg: removing grass, tree branches, bushes, anything flammable, etc.), or contracting a company to do this for you
- Clearing flammable debris from around/on your home (eg: cleaning gutters, , removing leaves from the base of structures, etc.)
- Recording your green waste weight when you drop it off at the Transfer Station
- Altering your home to be less likely to ignite due to wild fire (eg: install a fire-resistant class A roof, cleaning out gutters, etc.)
- Developing and practicing an emergency evacuation plan (with your neighbors and family)
- Attending meetings or educational events to increase community involvement
- Participating/assisting with Firewise activities within or around your community
- Rental of a commercial container to remove green waste from yours and neighbors' properties