Overview: In August 2023, the Kula Fire burned approximately 300 acres of Maui up-country in the community of Kula on Haleakala Volcano. The burn extended through residential areas and unmanaged rangeland from above the Haleakala Highway (Route 377) to just above Lower Kula Road (Route 37). The fire was fueled by vegetation surrounding Pulehu Gulch, an ephemeral stream, and was carried to the NW by strong winds from Hurricane Dora. The land to the SW of the gulch is primarily unmanaged rangeland and the land to the NE of the Gulch is residential development. Approximately 20 houses burned in this fire. More than 90 landowners may be assisted by this project.

Resource Concerns: Water-induced erosion is a primary resource concern resulting from the Kula Fire. If left unaddressed, erosion is expected to undermine house foundations, obstruct flow through culverts and bridges, damage sensitive aquatic ecosystems, and degrade public use areas.

Without intervention, woody debris and sediment is expected to obstruct culverts, bridges and associated roads needed for transportation, including emergency services. For example, the bridge immediately downstream of the Kula burn unit, at Lower Kula road, already has a history of overtopping. Fire induced damage to the watershed will exacerbate this problem.

Recommended Practices:

  • NRCS recommends converting the firebreak along the SW bank of Pulehu Gulch, below Route 377, into a gravel access road. A gravel road will provide equipment access to the SW bank of the gulch, reduce dust, reduce erosion, reduce runoff, and facilitate continued firebreak protection. NRCS recommends the application of wood chip mulch and seeding between the proposed access road and the top of the gulch ban.

  • NRCS recommends the application of wood chip mulch and seeding on bare soil firebreaks and a few other targeted areas (approximately 32 acres total within the Kula burn scar).

  • NRCS recommends the clearing and removal of debris from streambeds within the burn area.

  • NRCS recommends the use of log erosion barriers in two areas where water enters Pulehu Gulch by overbank flow.

  • NRCS recommends use of a 48 x 12 x 1 foot gabion mattress below the house at 20.77571 N, 156.30572 W.

Please see the Kula Damage Survey Response Report for more information.

Kula EWP Project Status:

  • March 26, 2024:  Kula EWP Program Project Director RFI posted.

  • May 2, 2024: Final Kula Project Director proposal received.

  • June 10, 2024: The Permaculture Group contracted to serve as Project Director for the Kula EWP Project and begins working with NRCS to assess current situation and execute Landowner Agreements.

  • June 2024: Began receiving executed Landowner Agreements to allow the Central Maui SWCD to do Emergency Watershed Protection program work on their property. This is a continuing process.

  • October 15, 2024: Bid process began.

  • February 2025: Reassignment of responsibilities. Maui Environmental Consulting to manage project work on Chevalier and Linden properties; The Permaculture Group to carry out EWP work on remaining Kula properties that have returned signed Landowner Agreements.

  • February 2025: NRCS approved engineering plans for gravel access road on Chevalier property.

  • Next Steps:

    • Provide impacted landowners with schedule for Pulehu Gulch clearing; work will begin on the lower portion of the gulch.

    • Begin work on 9,200-foot gravel access road on Chevalier property.

    • Coordinate work and secure contract(s) for implementation of mulching, debris removal, gulch cleaning, log erosion barriers and vegetative buffers on various properties.

    • Secure contract(s) for Kula Lodge gulch clearing and other EWP project work.

Updated: March 16, 2025