As Hawaii residents breathed a sigh of relief after the tsunami threat dissipated on Wednesday, social media platforms were still buzzing with claims alleging that Oprah Winfrey had denied immediate access to a private road that could have provided locals with a quicker escape route.
These allegations emerged following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the century’s most formidable quakes, that occurred off a Russian peninsula. This triggered tsunami warnings and advisories across the Pacific region. However, viral posts on social platforms like X and TikTok suggested that Winfrey had declined to open her private road during the evacuation or delayed in doing so.
Contrary to these claims, the private road in question does not belong to Winfrey. The road’s true owner is Haleakala Ranch, which also controls the surrounding lands. Scott Meidell, president of Haleakala Ranch, clarified that while the road is often dubbed “Oprah’s road,” Winfrey does not own it. Instead, she holds an easement agreement permitting her to utilize the road and make certain enhancements. According to her representative, Winfrey paved the road as part of this arrangement.
Ultimately, Haleakala Ranch has the authority over whether the road is opened to the public. Meidell explained that during the emergency, his team engaged in dialogue with Winfrey’s land management team. “We made sure to consult them throughout the process,” he said.
About 3 p.m. local time, not long after the tsunami warning was issued, the ranch reached out to the local fire department and the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Meidell stated. By around 5 p.m., the road was accessible, and ranch staff facilitated the evacuation of approximately 150 to 200 vehicles. The evacuation continued until the last group was safely escorted up the road by 7 p.m.
Maui County officials issued a press release shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday to confirm that the road was opened to the public. Updates reiterating its availability were circulated at 9:30 p.m. Nonetheless, Meidell noted that further evacuation efforts were deemed unnecessary after 7 p.m., as police confirmed the main highway had been cleared of traffic.
Despite inquiries, Maui police and the Maui Emergency Management Agency did not provide immediate responses. However, Winfrey’s representative asserted that upon noting the tsunami warnings, they reached out to local authorities and FEMA to ensure the road’s accessibility, emphasizing that reports to the contrary were false. The decision to open the road was promptly executed as the evacuation call was made, coordinated with local officials and Oprah’s Ranch, a representative reiterated.
When the road was utilized, evacuees were directed in separate caravans, with a leading and trailing vehicle to ensure no mishaps occurred on the mountain path, as per Meidell.
Spanning roughly 30,000 acres, Haleakala Ranch stretches from the southern shorelines to Upcountry Maui, and has been a family-run enterprise since the late 1800s. The privately-owned road connects a public roadway to a highway that runs along the island’s coast.
There has been long-standing discontent among Hawaii residents with the immense tracts of land purchased by prominent public figures like Winfrey on Maui. Concerns have been voiced against the proliferation of short-term rentals contributing to the chronic housing shortage on the island, a problem exacerbated in 2023 after a catastrophic wildfire dismantled much of Lahaina, a prominent Maui town and former Hawaiian kingdom capital. The wildfire stands as the deadliest in the U.S. in a century, with over 100 casualties.
During that crisis, social media claims—unsupported by evidence—alleged that Winfrey employed private firefighters to safeguard her property and employed security to prevent others from accessing it. Additionally, some users propagated unfounded theories linking Winfrey to the fire’s inception. In response to the disaster, Winfrey collaborated with Dwayne Johnson to initiate the People’s Fund for Maui, committing $10 million to aid displaced residents. By April 2024, the fund had roughly $60 million.
Notably, back in 2019, Winfrey confirmed via the social platform X that county officials had been granted access to the private road during a brush fire in southern Maui, although it was ultimately unused. Conversely, Maui County spokesperson Chris Sugidono provided this information at the time.