"Fire in Maalaea, Jan. 21, 2016. Photo credit: Melinda Harrigan Fasel"
Over 5 years ago, a large brushfire burned in the same area as the newest Maalaea fire, which burned over 80 acres and shut down Honoapiilani Highway. This is a prime example of an area riddled with the fire cycle issue: constant growth of invasives plus frequent ignitions leading to wildfires and thus new growth of invasives and the cycle continues.
"The fire started on the mauka side of Honoapiilani Highway, a quarter mile to the south of Maalaea Harbor.
Fire was burning towards the Kaheawa Wind farm but has not reached it yet.
Ground crews have no way to get to the fire because of steep mountainous terrain and no road access, so the fire is being fought with water drops from two helicopters."