Daniel K. Inouye Highway Reopened, Brush Fires Contained

A portion of Daniel K. Inouye Highway has reopened after it was shut down due to a brush fire in the area.

State and local fire crews have contained two brush fires that ignited Thursday, July 21, in South Kohala and Pōhakuloa Training Area.

Firefighters responded to the DKI Fire, located in South Kohala, Thursday afternoon. By Thursday night, the blaze forced the closure of a portion of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway between the Highway 190 Junction and the Old Saddle Road Junction.

The road reopened this afternoon.

According to Hawai‘i Fire Department, the brush fire is currently 100 acres in size. DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife is leading the firefighting efforts.

During the highway’s closure, motorists were being detoured through Old Saddle Road. However, that thoroughfare is now closed due to a traffic crash.

Fire crews continue to monitor the blaze. The cause is under investigation.

The Pōhakuloa Wildland Fire is contained. PTA officials say it’s not immediately clear how that fire started.