Hawaii County Conducts Hulu Holoholo Evacuation Drill in Waikōloa Village

Residents in Waikōloa Village drove the community evacuation route from the end of Hulu Street onto Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway as Hawaii County held its Hulu Holoholo drill Saturday, running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense organized the exercise in cooperation with the Hawaii Police Department, Waikoloa Community Emergency Response Team and the Waikoloa Village Association Firewise Committee.

The drill is explicitly tied to an Evacuation Traffic Study the county is conducting to improve safety during wildfires and other emergencies. Mayor Kimo Alameda urged participation, saying, "This drill is a great opportunity for residents to practice their emergency route before a disaster occurs," and adding, "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." The county is accepting survey responses online through March 1.

Operational instructions practiced during the drill sent motorists from Hulu Street onto Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, where exiting drivers were directed to turn north, or right. Motorists who wanted to travel south were instructed to turn in at Puakō to change directions. Officials noted the route can accommodate low-clearance vehicles, a point emphasized in county messaging and Mayor Alameda’s remarks.

The Hulu Holoholo exercise grew out of wildfire experience in the district: the Māna Road fire forced the evacuation of Waikōloa Village in 2021, and the evacuation drill began in 2022 following that event. Originally held once a year, the County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense increased frequency to twice a year beginning in 2024 to double opportunities for part-year residents and kamaʻāina to practice the route.

A video of the evacuation route is available on YouTube and the County of Hawaiʻi announced the drill in a Feb. 18 news release; a photo used in local coverage is credited to the Office of Mayor Kimo Alameda. The county said the drill will assist with data collection for the Evacuation Traffic Study, and that feedback from participants will be part of the information gathered.

Public health and safety officials say regular drills and the March 1 survey are aimed at reducing the risk to residents during fast-moving wildfires and other disasters, and at improving traffic flow off the plateau onto Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway. The twice-yearly schedule instituted in 2024 reflects county policy changes meant to reach more residents, including part-year homeowners and local families who may not be present for a single annual exercise.