The Holomua wildfire that burned about 400 acres, led to the evacuation of over 1,600 Paia residents, and has closed a school for three days was intentionally set, Maui Fire Department officials said today.

A MFD investigator found “two separate suspected areas of origin” for the fire that began Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release.

“Each area of origin is estimated at 20 feet by 20 feet, and the two locations are roughly 300 feet apart,” MFD officials said. “Both the suspected areas of origin were along the upper portion of Holomua Road, about a mile below the Baldwin Avenue intersection, in Paia. The investigator has classified the fire as ‘incendiary’.”

“A separate brush fire was reported in the same general vicinity the previous night. The close temporal and geographic pro

See Full Page