In Hawaiʻi, wildfires are a year-round risk made worse by drought and dry conditions. Whether you’re out in the yard, lighting up the grill or just enjoying a weekend with ʻohana, we all have a part in protecting our homes, communities and ʻāina.
Kamehameha Schools is partnering with the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization to share trusted tips and tools grounded in our collective kuleana. As stewards of ʻĀina Pauahi, we mālama our lands to help create a stronger, more resilient Hawaiʻi. Wildfire preparedness takes all of us working together to keep our communities safer for our keiki and generations to come.
“We all need to be stepping up and taking action in the ways that we can, as residents, as policymakers, as teachers, as media,” Elizabeth Pickett said in an episode of Hawaiʻi Matters. She is the co-director at HWMO. “We really need to shift culture — meaning how we live every day and what we think about — to one that includes wildfire readiness as a way of life.”
Here are three simple but powerful things HWMO recommends you do this dry season:
Lighten your landscape
Fires need fuel, so the less there is, the better for everyone. Reduce the risk around your home by keeping grass short, trimming overgrown trees and removing any dry or dead vegetation. Make sure any plants or shrubs are at least five feet away from your house or structure to create a buffer around your house, free of anything flammable.
Harden your home
A wildfire-safe home starts with materials and maintenance. Flying embers can travel far during a wildfire. Use non-combustible building materials where you can and coveri vents and eaves with metal screens.
Plan ahead
Don’t wait until you see smoke. Have your go-bag primed and your evacuation plan practiced. Know who in your neighborhood might need help getting out and consider them in your plan. Stay vigilant and know to leave early and immediately.
Under the right conditions, anywhere in Hawaiʻi can burn. So let’s stay alert and do the little things that matter: enjoy fireworks at public displays, not in dry fields, avoid using machines or BBQs near brush when it’s windy, and always put out fires completely.
The more prepared we are ahead of time, the safer we’ll all be. Small, consistent actions now can help protect the people, homes and ʻāina we love. Learn more at hwmo.org/lookout.
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