Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Thursday, May 9, 2024 81° Today's Paper

Photo Galleries

Waimea on Hawaii island scorched by the state’s largest-ever wildfire

By Caleb Jones/Associated Press

Aug. 13, 2021

Hawaii Photos

1/23
Swipe or click to see more
Kumu Micah Kamohoalii drives toward smoke from a wildfire near Waimea on Hawaii island Wednesday, Aug. 4. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Fires on many islands in the Pacific burn large areas of land and are causing environmental damage from the mountaintops to the coral reefs.
2/23
Swipe or click to see more
Miki Brand's house is shown on Native Hawaiian homestead land near Waimea on Hawaii island Wednesday, Aug. 4. Brand's property narrowly escaped flames from the state's largest-ever wildfire that scorched the area.
3/23
Swipe or click to see more
Native Hawaiian Mikiala Brand stands on her homestead property near Waimea on Hawaii island Wednesday, Aug. 4. Brand's home narrowly escaped the state's largest-ever wildfire.
4/23
Swipe or click to see more
Kumu Micah Kamohoalii looks out at smoke from a wildfire near Waimea on Hawaii island Wednesday, Aug. 4. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire.
5/23
Swipe or click to see more
A truck destroyed by fire sits on Joshua Kihe's property near Waimea on Hawaii island on Wednesday, Aug. 4. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire.
6/23
Swipe or click to see more
The burnt remains of Joshua Kihe's home is shown near Waimea on Hawaii island on Wednesday, Aug. 4. The home was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
7/23
Swipe or click to see more
Vehicles destroyed by a wildfire sit on Joshua Kihe's property near Waimea on Hawaii island Wednesday, Aug. 4. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
8/23
Swipe or click to see more
Motorcycles and an ATV destroyed by wildfire sit on Joshua Kihe's property near Waimea on Hawaii island Wednesday, Aug. 4. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
9/23
Swipe or click to see more
A coffee mug sits among the burnt remains of Joshua Kihe's home near Waimea on Hawaii island Wednesday, Aug. 4. The home was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
10/23
Swipe or click to see more
A car drives by a burnt roadside sign that says, "Please Prevent Fires, Mahalo," on Thursday, Aug. 5, in Waimea on Hawaii island. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire.
11/23
Swipe or click to see more
A dry creek bed is shown as wildfires burn in Waimea on Hawaii island on Thursday, Aug. 5. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire.
12/23
Swipe or click to see more
A field of dry grass is shown near Waimea on Hawaii island on Friday, Aug. 6. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire.
13/23
Swipe or click to see more
A truck drives into Waikoloa Village as wildfires burn in the distance on Friday, Aug. 6. near Waimea on Hawaii island. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire and the village of about 7,000 people narrowly escaped the blaze.
14/23
Swipe or click to see more
A U.S Army firefighter sprays water on a hot spot near Waimea on Hawaii island on Wednesday, Aug. 4. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire.
15/23
Swipe or click to see more
Linda Hunt, who works at a stable in Waikoloa Village, carries horse feed out of a corral on Friday, Aug. 6, near Waimea on Hawaii island. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
16/23
Swipe or click to see more
A Big Island firefighter puts out a blaze near Waimea on Hawaii island on Thursday, Aug. 5. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Experts say wildfires in the Pacific islands are becoming larger and more common as drought conditions increase along with climate change.
17/23
Swipe or click to see more
A Big Island firefighter puts out a blaze near Waimea on Hawaii island on Thursday, Aug. 5. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
18/23
Swipe or click to see more
A Big Island firefighter puts out a blaze near Waimea on Hawaii island on Thursday, Aug. 5. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
19/23
Swipe or click to see more
A charred goat skull lays amid ashes from a wildfire on Thursday, Aug. 5, near Waimea on Hawaii island. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
20/23
Swipe or click to see more
Wild goats stand amid ashes from a wildfire on Thursday, Aug. 5, near Waimea on Hawaii island. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
21/23
Swipe or click to see more
A fire official drives through a dry field after a wildfire on Thursday, Aug. 5, near Waimea on Hawaii island. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.
22/23
Swipe or click to see more
A couple walks on a beach near Waimea on Hawaii island on Friday, Aug. 6. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Wildfires in the Pacific Islands are becoming more common as drought conditions increase along with climate change. Fires on many islands in the Pacific burn a proportion of land equal to fires in U.S. Western states and the blazes are causing a cascading effect of environmental damage that impacts island communities that rely on the local ecosystems.
23/23
Swipe or click to see more
A U.S Army fire official walks along a section of burned grassland near Waimea on Hawaii island on Wednesday, Aug. 4. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire.

Related Story

Climate-fueled wildfires take toll on Pacific islands
Previous Gallery
White Sox, Yankees play at MLB's Field of Dreams
Next Gallery
University of Hawaii football team prepares for season opener against UCLA

More Photo Galleries

Subscriber Favorites

Flip through MidWeek online

Looking Back


Honolulu Local Business Guide