Bay Area residents gearing up for a weekend getaway to Lahaina might want to map out an alternate route or adjust their travel times. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced that modular homes will be transported nightly to the Ka Laʻi Ola housing site from Kahului, starting yesterday, Sept. 20, and continuing until Tuesday, Sept. 24, excluding Sunday night. This initiative is part of the recovery efforts for wildfire survivors. According to HDOT's announcement, the transport will kick off after dark, at 10 p.m., and they aim to quickly have them wrapped up by 11:59 p.m. HDOT said.
Travelers can expect possible traffic delays while the 110 modular housing units get hauled across town over the coming weeks. The first convoy, consisting of four trucks, will be departing from near the Kahului small boat ramp and trundle their way to the Lahaina site. The route's meticulously charted to minimize disruption: from Kahului Beach Road to Kaʻahumanu Avenue, then right onto Hāna Highway, another right onto Elmer F. Carvalho Way, and then westbound on Kūihelani Highway to eventually meet Honoapiʻilani Highway all the way into Lahaina. Per HDOT’s detailed plan, the trucks will finish their journey after turning right onto Leialiʻi Parkway near the Lahaina Civic Center.
For those already mentally preparing to begrudgingly sit tight in their cars, it’s not merely the size of the modular units that's likely to cause the slowdown—it’s the entire operation. Drivers will run into "traffic slowdowns and stops in both directions along the route" due to the oversized nature of the haul. Traffic control will be in full effect, with signs and personnel to manage the flow and ensure safety. HDOT has also organized escort vehicles to accompany the caravan for additional security. The advice from HDOT is clear: pay attention and follow the guidance from the controllers and the signage.
With a spirit of understanding and patience, drivers are encouraged to either schedule their travel outside the transport window or to be prepared for the occasional stop-and-go. For up-to-the-minute updates on traffic conditions and any potential changes to the plan, keeping an eye on HDOT’s notices would be wise.
