Oprah Winfrey Breaks Silence On Rumors She Blocked Hawaii Road During Tsunami Evacuation

Oprah Winfrey is setting the record straight after speculation swirled online that she had blocked access to her private road in Maui during a tsunami evacuation.

The 71-year-old, who owns multiple properties across the U.S., including homes in Montecito, California, and Telluride, Colorado, has been a part-time Maui resident for over two decades.

Oprah Winfrey began acquiring land for her $60 million estate in 2002, which features a private road that connects the Wailea coastal area to the Kula uplands.

The talk show icon’s spokesperson issued a statement on Wednesday clarifying the situation and explaining that the road was, in fact, opened to assist residents after tsunami warnings were issued.

“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened,” Winfrey’s camp said in a statement obtained by Deadline. “Any reports otherwise are false.”

The spokesperson added that local authorities were actively on-site, helping guide traffic safely through the area. “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.”

The Maui Police Department backed up the statement, confirming in an advisory that the 71-year-old’s road was “open to get Upcountry.”

The confusion surrounding Oprah’s road came during a tense few hours in Hawaii, as residents braced for potential devastation following one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded.

Early Wednesday, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific. The quake sent 16-foot waves crashing onto the peninsula’s coast, forcing residents inland and causing localized flooding.

Several people were reported injured, though none seriously.

In Hawaii, officials immediately issued evacuation orders after small tsunami waves reached the islands.

By Wednesday morning, however, the worst fears were eased when the tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory, and evacuation orders were lifted for Oahu and the Big Island.

Much of the U.S. West Coast and Japan also faced alerts. While California, Washington, and British Columbia were placed under a tsunami advisory, a stretch along the California-Oregon border remained under a warning. Japan’s Meteorological Agency eventually lowered its alert levels as well.

The tsunami warnings didn’t just impact locals. Several high-profile celebrities with homes along California’s coast were also under advisories.

Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, writer-producer Brad Falchuk, own a sprawling Spanish-style estate in Montecito, a seaside community in Santa Barbara County that was placed under a tsunami advisory. Katy Perry also owns a lavish Mediterranean-style mansion in the same Montecito neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Hollywood power couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were also affected, as their beachfront home in Santa Barbara County was under the same warning.

Hawaiian Airlines has officially resumed flights after operations were briefly put on hold during the tsunami warning.

The airline confirmed that while service is back on schedule, passengers should continue checking their flight status before heading to the airport.

“We are monitoring airport conditions with government agencies and could see operational impacts,” Hawaiian Airlines Regional Communications Director Alex Da Silva told KITV. “A waiver is in place allowing guests to adjust their travel plans.”

The temporary pause in service came as Hawaii activated emergency protocols in response to the tsunami alerts, ensuring the safety of both travelers and staff.

Experts cautioned that while the immediate danger had passed, the aftereffects of the quake could still ripple through the Pacific throughout the day.