The Kula Community Association and a coalition of Upcountry organizations are formally urging Maui County and state legislators to fund two 500,000-gallon water tanks in Upper Kula before peak wildfire season. The group says existing federal mitigation projects are stalled with no clear timeline, leaving the area vulnerable to the same conditions that contributed to the 2023 disaster.
- The coalition wants immediate funding for two 500,000-gallon tanks that would provide a one-million-gallon emergency water reserve independent of the electrical grid.
- Upper Kula’s water pumping stations can be disabled by storm-caused power outages, potentially leaving residents and firefighters without water during a wildfire.
- A resiliency framework submitted to the Governor’s office in May 2025 has not advanced, and federally funded regional projects remain on a multi-year list with no set timeline.
- The proposed tank system is designed to circulate water continuously, avoiding quality issues from stagnant storage and reducing post-fire line-flushing needs.
- The Kula Community Association, established in 1953, is backed by five additional Upcountry organizations in pressing for this shovel-ready infrastructure solution.
Source: Maui Now
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