Oprah Refuses to Open Private Maui Road as Residents Plead for Escape During Tsunami Emergency
When disaster strikes, every second matters. On Maui, Hawaii, as residents braced for a potential tsunami, that truth became heartbreakingly clear — and now a single road is at the center of a storm of anger, fear, and confusion.
According to viral social media posts spreading rapidly on Saturday, Maui residents fleeing low-lying areas were caught in paralyzing gridlock on the island’s main evacuation route. Panic grew as the tsunami warning sirens wailed — and so did their desperation for another way out.
A Road in the Spotlight
The center of the controversy? A private road owned by Oprah Winfrey, who has large properties on Maui, including her ranch on the island’s Upcountry slopes.
Locals claim the road — which leads to higher ground — could have served as a critical escape route. In a widely shared post, an aerial map showed the gridlocked main road marked in red and Oprah’s private road marked in blue.
The caption read in part:
“BREAKING: People on Maui trying to escape the tsunami are BEGGING Oprah to open her private road to higher ground, and she’s STILL REFUSING. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.”
The Viral Outrage
The claim triggered an avalanche of outrage online.
Thousands of comments flooded X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. Some demanded Oprah “do the right thing,” while others questioned whether the post was spreading misinformation at the worst possible time.
“People are scared. They just want to get to safety,” one Maui resident wrote on Facebook.
Another added: “If she can help, why wouldn’t she?”
What’s Actually Happening?
As the viral claims spread, many on Maui were quick to point out that the truth may be more complicated than a headline.
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Private roads and liability: In Hawaii, private landowners often face legal complications when opening private property to the public during emergencies. Issues of insurance, responsibility for accidents, and local regulations can delay action — even when lives are on the line.
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Access questions: Some local reporters noted that Oprah has previously opened her land during past crises, including wildfires, and that she’s donated to emergency relief efforts in Hawaii before.
At the time of writing, no confirmed statement from Oprah or her representatives has been issued regarding the tsunami road claim — leaving the story swirling in speculation.
Maui’s Reality: Few Roads, No Time
Hawaii’s geography adds to the tension. Maui has limited roadways, and during disasters, bottlenecks form fast.
Locals say there are really only two main escape routes to higher ground from the threatened area:
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The main public road (marked in red in viral images)
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Oprah’s private road (marked in blue)
With the main road jammed, the idea of an unused, empty road nearby struck a nerve — especially when people’s safety is at stake.
A History of Help — and Controversy
This isn’t the first time Oprah’s landownership on Maui has stirred debate.
She has previously made headlines for purchasing large parcels of land, sparking both praise and criticism from locals. Many acknowledge her charitable donations to Hawaiian communities, but others worry about wealthy outsiders holding so much land on an island already struggling with housing and displacement.
Now, as tsunami fears grow, that tension has resurfaced — fueled by the uncertainty over what’s true in the heat of the moment.
The Bigger Issue: Access and Equity
Regardless of whether the viral claim about Oprah refusing to open the road proves true, one thing is undeniable: Maui’s evacuation infrastructure is fragile.
When roads clog, options vanish.
Disasters like this raise urgent questions:
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Should private roads be made accessible during emergencies?
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How can legal and logistical barriers be cleared fast enough when lives hang in the balance?
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And, in moments of panic, how do we separate fact from viral claims?
Waiting for Answers
As of now, Oprah has not directly addressed the viral posts. State officials also haven’t confirmed whether her road was requested for evacuation use — or whether any attempt was made to open it.
But online, the outrage continues. The combination of a natural disaster, a global celebrity, and an unverified claim has ignited a storm of emotion and blame.
A Community on Edge
In Maui, the fear is raw. For those stuck in gridlock, every minute feels like an eternity.
And for those watching from afar, one question lingers in the headlines and hashtags:
Will the road be opened — and will it be in time?