On July 29, 2025, as Hawaii faced tsunami waves after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia, a rumor claimed that Oprah Winfrey prevented people from using her road to evacuate on the island of Maui. Winfrey has been a part-time Maui resident since buying property on the island in 2003.
Numerous posts highlighted the routes people were taking to escape the imminent tsunami waves, claiming that the media mogul's private road on her estate was a shortcut to getting to higher ground but was closed. Per one post:
BREAKING: Oprah HAS NOT opened her private road from Wailea to Kula, Hawaii, which would allow coastal folks to reach higher ground quickly, locals tell me
OPEN THE ROAD, @OPRAH!
Roads on Maui are GRIDLOCKED as people try to escape the incoming Tsunami
"I'm stuck with my children in the truck with sirens going off," Maui resident Shelby Hosana tells me
"If Oprah's road was open, I could have a way to get out. Instead we will just hope and pray the first wave time estimates are correct and we still have time to get to higher ground."
(X user @nicksortor)
The above post stating the road was blocked was shared around 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. Per a Maui County tsunami alert on July 29 for 7 p.m. HST (published at 7:16 p.m.), Winfrey's road was open for the public to use:
Maui Veterans Highway is congested; use Cane Haul Road toward Hansen and Pulehu roads to get to Kula. Road above Makena Golf Course provides access to Ulupalakua. Also, Oprah's road is open to get Upcountry, according to Maui Police Department.
A number of posts on X and TikTok claimed (without evidence) that Winfrey only opened her road in response to public pressure. Winfrey denied these reports. In a statement on her official X account, a spokesperson wrote:
As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false. Local law enforcement are currently on site helping residents through 50 cars at a time to ensure everyone's safety. The road will remain open as long as necessary.
We should also note that the road in question does not actually belong to Winfrey. According to The Associated Press, Winfrey has an easement agreement (a right to use someone else's land) with the privately owned Haleakala Ranch, which also owns the land surrounding the road. Winfrey had even paved the road herself at one point, per the agreement. The road is commonly known as "Oprah's road" in the area.
Scott Meidell, president of the ranch, told The Associated Press that Winfrey's team was consulted in the process of opening the road but the decision was up to them. The ranch contacted local authorities after 3 p.m. local time, the road was made accessible after 5 p.m. and ranch personnel helped evacuate around 150 to 200 vehicles until the final group was escorted up the road at 7 p.m.
The tsunami waves first hit Hawaii's island of Kauai at around 7:30 p.m. local time. The first major tsunami wave in Maui was recorded on the island's North Shore at around 8 p.m. local time. However, by July 30, 2025, there were no reports of widespread damage and the tsunami warnings were downgraded, then canceled entirely.