Why Did the Maui PD Block Exits from Lahaina?

Investigating a disturbing piece of the Lahaina Fire puzzle.

I have now spoken with multiple, corroborating witnesses who claim that they personally saw and experienced Maui PD patrol officers blocking the exits from Front Street. The following image shows two Maui PD patrol cars blocking the north exit from Front Street to the Honoapiʻilani Highway on the north side of town.

Multiple witnesses have stated that the patrol officers made seemingly credible statements that they themselves did not know the rationale for the order to block off this street. All they seemed to know is that they had received the order to do so.

Witnesses with whom I have spoken have emphasized that it was an extremely confusing situation, with multiple fires raging in and around the town center, including a fire north of the town center, in a neighborhood on the east side of the Honoapiʻilani Highway.

Yesterday I learned through an excellent contact that members of the local, Hawaiian community know the patrol officers (who are also from the community) and do not want to throw these men under the bus. This raises the question: who in the Maui PD issued this puzzling order to these patrol officers, and why?

As I have emphasized in previous posts, I am not jumping to conclusions because doing so achieves nothing. However, based on my investigation thus far, I believe it is imperative for the Maui PD to issue a thorough, clarifying statement.