Maui residents anticipating the reopening of a damaged section of South Kihei Road can expect some relief by the end of the month. The stretch—from Wailana Place to Kūlanihākoʻi Street—has been undergoing repairs following a fierce winter storm on January 30-31, which caused significant damage with heavy rain, high winds, and flooding. According to the County Department of Public Works (DPW), the road remains on track to reopen soon.
With a nod to preventing future roadway woes, the County is considering several measures. Among them, the evaluation of the Kenolio Road extension towards North Kīhei Road has been launched, bringing with it the hope of improved connectivity and possibly some congestion relief. Playing catch-up, the technical assistance approved last month by the federal government is aimed at developing mitigation strategies on Kaonoulu Ranch Lands with studies scheduled later this year, weathering federal program continuance.
The DPW is not just eyeing the skies for answers but also negotiating with landowners for tangible solutions on the ground. Efforts include acquiring a drainageway along Kaonoulu Street to bolster its maintenance, and talks with a Waipuilani landowner for drainage path purchases and a slice of undeveloped land. Additionally, work to reinforce the bridge on South Kīhei Road at Kūlanihākoʻi is being sized up by County officials, though specifics on these negotiations have not been disclosed.
Actions extend to the uplands, where a continuation of drainage studies in Maui Meadows aims to ensure the waters from above do not wreak havoc below. Alongside these proactive steps, the County has a significant fund boost with a $25 million RAISE grant for the North-South Collector Road (Liloa Drive Extension), with a ground-breaking horizon in the not-so-near 2028. More information can be funneled from the DPW’s website for those inclined.
