A powerful 8.8‑magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, 2025 triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, reaching Hawaii and causing widespread panic. As residents of Maui scrambled to evacuate, social media erupted with claims that Oprah Winfrey refused to open her private road, allegedly blocking a critical route to safety.
Social Media Claims Go Viral
One viral post stated:
“Oprah HAS NOT opened her private road from Wailea to Kula…”
The claim ignited fury online. Thousands criticized the billionaire for allegedly preventing evacuees from accessing a shortcut that connects low-lying coastal areas to higher ground. The posts suggested traffic gridlock was worsened by the road remaining closed.
Oprah’s Team Responds
In response to the backlash, Oprah’s spokesperson issued a statement clarifying that the road had, in fact, been opened in coordination with local law enforcement and FEMA.
“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local authorities to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false.”
Officials confirmed that the road was opened to vehicles in groups of 50 at a time to maintain traffic control and ensure orderly evacuation.
What Police and FEMA Confirmed
The Maui Police Department backed Oprah’s version of events. In an alert issued at 7:16 p.m., they confirmed that access through Oprah’s private road had been granted and was being used as an official evacuation route.
This is not the first time Oprah has opened the road during a crisis. During the 2019 wildfires, she allowed access for firefighters and emergency services.
Why Does Oprah Have a Private Road?
Oprah owns over 1,000 acres of land in Maui, part of which includes an expansive estate in Kula. In 2010, through her company OW Ranch LLC, she funded and paved a private road stretching around 3.5 to 4 miles, connecting her land to the coastal region of Wailea.
Originally built for personal use and emergency access, the road is typically gated and off-limits to the public. Its creation was controversial even then, as locals raised concerns about wealthy landowners building private infrastructure in areas with limited public resources.
Despite the controversy, there’s no legal requirement for Oprah to open the road—meaning every time she does, it’s by voluntary coordination with local government agencies. Critics, however, argue that in a time of crisis, public safety should outweigh private control.
The tsunami warning was downgraded later that evening, but by then the damage to Oprah’s public image was already done. While her team acted quickly and followed proper protocols, the speed of misinformation on social media outpaced the facts.
Some users later apologized for spreading unverified claims, while others remained skeptical, accusing Oprah of only reacting after the backlash grew too loud to ignore.
