Hawaii Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for Hawaii - June 23, 2026

Overview

Hawaii is entering a potentially longer and more severe 2026 wildfire season, prompting fire departments and state agencies to strengthen statewide readiness. Due to the potential for drier conditions later in the year associated with El Niño, the risk for wildfires is growing. State agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), are proactively mobilizing resources and enhancing preparedness to protect communities, watersheds, native ecosystems, and critical infrastructure.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: Over the past 72 hours, there have been no reports of large, uncontained wildfires threatening communities across the state. Fire departments and emergency responders remain on high alert as the hot season (kau wela) continues and vegetation dries out.

Key Fires: There are currently no significant active wildfires to report in Hawaii.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: Extensive vegetation management is underway across the state. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and DLNR are actively removing dry vegetation, invasive plant species, and accumulated fuels to create defensible spaces and maintain critical evacuation routes in vulnerable communities. Concurrently, the Department of Health's Clean Air Branch has issued mandatory "No Burn" periods prohibiting agricultural and open burning across Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and parts of Hawaii Island (including the North Kona, South Kona, and Kau districts) to prevent human-caused ignitions.

Air Quality: With no major active wildfires, air quality remains generally stable across the islands. The strict enforcement of mandatory No Burn periods is helping to mitigate local smoke impacts and reduce the risk of accidental fires.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: A Red Flag Warning is currently in effect for leeward areas and interior sections of the islands, including the Big Island. This is being driven by gusty trade winds and low relative humidity dropping to 35 to 45 percent.

Forecasted Weather: A dry and locally windy trade wind flow is expected to continue producing critical fire weather conditions. Winds will be strongest over and downwind of terrain. While a Red Flag Warning does not predict new fire starts, the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures means that any fires that do ignite will catch and spread rapidly and erratically.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents and visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution, as the smallest ember can blow miles away and ignite dead and drying debris. The public is strongly encouraged to create defensible space around their homes, clear dead brush, maintain vegetation, and prepare emergency evacuation plans.

Resource Allocation: The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife recently acquired 15 new wildland fire engines to improve ground-based response capabilities. Additionally, the Hawaii National Guard has launched Operation Hoʻopauahi 2026, preparing Army aviation assets—including UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters—to conduct aerial firefighting operations and provide water drop bucket support to local fire departments.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency: dod.hawaii.gov/hiema

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.