Oprah Winfrey Confirms Maui Private Road Open During Pacific Tsunami Alert

Following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia's eastern coast that triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including Hawaii, social media falsely accused Oprah Winfrey of blocking a private road on her Maui estate during evacuation efforts. Multiple sources, including Maui Police Department and Winfrey's spokesperson, clarified that the road was open and that local law enforcement managed traffic to ensure orderly evacuation, debunking claims that Winfrey refused public access or only opened the road due to public pressure. The road in question actually passes through land owned by Haleakala Ranch, not exclusively by Winfrey, and is a crucial route from the coastal area of Wailea to the higher ground of Kula. Videos and posts circulated on platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook showed gridlocked traffic, but these were misinterpreted or spread without full context regarding road access and management. Authorities confirmed that they were assisting residents by allowing cars through the road in controlled groups to maintain safety amid heavy congestion. Overall, Winfrey and local officials emphasized cooperation and the road's availability during the tsunami evacuation alert.