Hawai‘i

Summary of Fire Past and Present

Wildfires in Hawaiʻi were once limited to those caused by active volcanic eruptions and infrequent dry lightning strikes. People first arrived to the islands between 1,000-4,000 years ago and, as everywhere else in the world, they brought change to the landscape. Nearly all fires in Hawaiʻi are human-caused and they often pose threats to communities and natural and cultural resources.

Having evolved in the absence of frequent fires, Hawaiʻi's native ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to fire disturbance, which is often associated with the spread and establishment of nonnative grass and shrub species. Over the past decade, Hawaiʻi has experienced an average of >1,000 ignitions burning >20,000 acres (8,000 ha) each year across the main inhabited islands.  Fire response agencies are able to contain 90% of wildfire ignitions to less than one acre in size, but large fires (>1000 acres) have occurred on all islands, and happen multiple times each year across the state.

Hawaiian Islands

Hawai`i Island: Leilani Fire, August 12, 2022

Hawai‘i Island

Hawaiʻi Island is unique in that it is the only Hawaiian island with ongoing active volcanic eruptions. However, humans are still by far the leading cause of wildfire ignitions. The…

Lahainaluna, Maui, Aug 2018 (Credit: Hank Oppenheimer)

Maui Nui (Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe)

Maui Nui consists of four high islands–Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe–and the small islet Molokini Crater. Each island has unique characteristics that affect their susceptibility to wildfires. The majority of…

Makaha Valley, O`ahu, Aug 2018. (Credit: Clay Trauernicht)

O‘ahu

As the most populated island in Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu experiences a significantly higher number of wildfire ignitions than other islands. This elevated ignition rate, coupled with densely populated communities in close…

Limahuli Kaua`i, June 2019.  (Credit: Mike Walker, DLNR)

Kaua‘i

Near the geographic center of Kauaʻi is one of the wettest known places on earth, Mount Waiʻaleʻale. Despite this, wildfires can and do occur on the island. Steep slopes, rough…

Mapping Out the Past Century of Fire

Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and partners are tracking Hawai‘i records for ignitions, the extent and perimeters of areas burned. To access these data >> CLICK HERE

Hawai‘i Fire History and Agricultural Decline (Credit: Trauernicht & HWMO)
Hawai‘i State Fires 1999-2022

Colonization (18 C. to present) Radically Transforms the Landscape to Include Fire

Since the arrival of European and American settlers in the late 18th century, the cultural and economic landscape of Hawaiʻi has undergone rapid and profound transformations. These changes, accompanied by the replacement of native ecosystems with invasive weedy plants, particularly fire-prone grasses, and the introduction of non-native animals, have brought significant alterations to the environment and fire dynamics. >>READ MORE

Today's Fire Challenges in Hawaiʻi

As the human population in Hawaiʻi has risen, ignitions have followed. The vast majority of ignitions in Hawaiʻi are caused by humans while wildfires spread across the expanse of non-native vegetation accounting for c. 25% of Hawaiʻi's land area. >> READ MORE

Maps, Images, Factsheets & Plans

Statewide Wildfire Ignitions (2016)
Palehua, O`ahu, Aug 2014 (Credit: Clay Trauernicht)
Wildfire In Hawai‘i Fact Sheet
CWPP Cover Kauai 2016

Recent Resources For Hawai‘i

Vegetation—Rainfall interactions reveal how climate variability and climate change alter spatial patterns of wildland fire probability on Big Island, Hawai’i (Science of the Total Environment, 2019)

February 10, 2019

Author Clay Trauernicht provides a spatial fire occurrence models to reveal the relative influence of multiple drivers, and discusses rainfall-vegetation interactions as a key predictor of fire risk variability as well as future drying predictions with climate change.

Webinar: Kickin’ Grass in Hawaii for Wildfire Management & Restoration

November 20, 2018

What: Observations and experiments on tropical grasses, including information on different grass species and on herbicide timing, application method, and ingredients. James Leary presents on over a decade of observations…

Wildfire In Paradise – Management Context and Challenges

October 1, 2018

This 2-page fact sheet explains the problem of wildfire on tropical islands as it intersects with watershed and marine resource health, invasive species, climate and weather. Tags: Hawaii, Climate &…