Kamehameha Schools Installs Wildfire Detection Cameras Across Hawaii

Live feeds of the cameras will not be publicly available initially, but community engagement is planned.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 1:15am

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Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii's largest private landowner, has installed the first of seven wildfire detection cameras across Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. The cameras are part of a statewide network of AI-powered cameras that can spot early signs of heat anomalies and smoke, sending alerts to local fire departments. While the live camera feeds will not be publicly viewable at first, Kamehameha Schools plans to engage with the community on how the feeds can best support public safety.

Why it matters

The camera network reflects Kamehameha Schools' commitment to wildfire prevention and protection as a shared responsibility, especially in the wake of the 2023 Maui wildfires. The cameras are intended to strengthen the safety net for entire communities, not just Kamehameha's own lands, as wildfires do not stop at property boundaries.

The details

The first camera is installed at the Kalama Village Shopping Center in East Oahu, with another planned for a Koko Crater ridge. The other five cameras will be in more remote areas. Homes captured in the camera feeds will be pixelated to protect privacy. Kamehameha Schools owns significant acreage around Kalama Valley, where a 2010 brush fire forced evacuations.

  • The first camera was installed last week.
  • All seven cameras are expected to be operational by March 31, 2026.

The players

Kamehameha Schools

Hawaii's largest private landowner, installing a network of wildfire detection cameras across the state.

Hawaiian Electric

Owns and operates dozens of wildfire detection cameras in Hawaii, with live feeds viewable by the public.

Perry Kealoha

Director of Land Operations at Kamehameha Schools, stating the institution's commitment to wildfire prevention and protection as a shared responsibility.

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What they’re saying

“The camera live feeds will initially not be available for public viewing. Moving forward, we plan to engage with the community and authorities to understand how the camera live feeds can best support the area's safety.”

— Sterling Wong, Spokesperson, Kamehameha Schools

“Wildfires don't stop at boundary lines. And neither should the work to prevent them. Our goal is not only to protect our own lands, but to be a good neighbor — to strengthen the safety net for entire communities.”

— Perry Kealoha, Director of Land Operations, Kamehameha Schools

What’s next

Kamehameha Schools plans to engage with the community and authorities to determine how the camera live feeds can best support public safety in the future.

The takeaway

Kamehameha Schools' investment in a statewide wildfire detection camera network demonstrates a proactive approach to community safety, going beyond just protecting its own lands to strengthening the safety net for entire neighborhoods and regions.