Maui County Warns Against Burning Old Cars in Wake of Paia Fire

In response to a major wildfire near Paia this week, Maui County officials urge locals to not set cars left on the side of roads on fire, to instead just leave them abandoned and flame-free.

The burned-out abandoned cars phenomenon on Maui has lingered for many years, and has become kind of a running joke among people who’ve lived on island a while.

“We’re used to seeing abandoned cars along roadways, particularly rural routes or even along the Road to Hana,” said Christopher Waiho of Waiehu. “In fact, a few years ago, I remember that some local arts fanatics started a burned out abandoned cars on Maui group, wanting to preserve burnt roadside clunkers as works of art.”

However, with a brush fire Tuesday near Paia forcing evacuations and modest panic due to memories of the Lahaina wildfire disaster of 2023, Maui officials ask the public to refrain from lighting abandoned cars aflame.

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“We understand the longstanding desire to just leave old cars along roads instead of paying to have them disposed of properly,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “However, we ask for the public’s cooperation in not setting the said abandoned cars on fire. As this week’s close call shows, we can’t afford to light car fires due to unpredictable conditions and winds.”

Maui County firefighters bravely fought and contained the Paia fire within hours. Ultimately about 400 acres of brush burned and no structure damages or injuries were reported.

Maui residents on Thursday pondered the burned-out abandoned cars topic, and expressed relief that firefighters had water this week.

“It’s weird how you might see abandoned boats on Maui, or other types of vehicles left on the side of the road, but they are not all burned out like the cars,” said Joe Maopopo of Paia. “It’s probably a good idea for Maui officials to focus at least a little attention on why cars get lit up. Firefighters won this battle, but the winds were not terrible so helicopters were used. But we worry when we see smoke, because who knows if Maui fire hydrants will have water.”

Joanne Akaaka of Hana, a co-founder of the Maui Burned Out Abandoned Cars Association (BOACA), said her group plans to meet tonight to discuss potential action regarding the Maui County Council’s preliminary stance on burning old cars.

“My initial reaction is a feeling of opposition,” Akaaka said. “We have been admiring and evaluating burned-out abandoned cars for years now and believe the artistic opportunity might be lost if we ban or otherwise forbid burning them.”

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