Hawaiʻi County to conduct evacuation drill for the Hulu Street emergency route on Saturday

Waikōloa Village residents will have another opportunity to become familiar with their community’s emergency evacuation route at the next Hulu Street evacuation drill on Saturday morning.

The upcoming drill is part of the County of Hawaiʻi’s efforts to collect data, including survey responses, for an Evacuation Traffic Study aimed at enhancing safety in Waikōloa Village and surrounding areas during a wildfire or other emergencies.

The drill will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21. The public can also complete the online survey until March 1.

“This drill is a great opportunity for residents to practice their emergency route before a disaster occurs,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “The route can accommodate low-clearance vehicles, and we encourage everyone to try it out. By participating in the survey, you will also be helping to enhance safety and readiness for the entire community.”

Residents participating in the drill, also known as Hulu Holoholo, can practice driving the evacuation route from Hulu Street to Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway. Upon exiting the road, motorists will be directed to turn north (right) onto Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway. Motorists wanting to go south will be instructed to turn in at Puakō to change directions.

A video of the evacuation route can be found at https://tinyurl.com/huluholoholo.

The evacuation drill began in 2022 following the Māna Road fire that forced the evacuation of Waikōloa Village in the previous year.

Originally conducted annually, the County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense started conducting the drill twice a year in 2024, doubling the opportunities for part-year residents and kamaʻāina alike to drive the route.