Motorists rejoice as the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces the completion of the full nighttime closure of Kūhiō Highway at Hanalei Hill. According to the HDOT's press release, this concludes a series of closures that began July 8, 2025, and continued until this past Friday, during which the highway underwent major pavement reconstruction and permanent striping.
While this phase is complete, drivers should prepare for upcoming daytime work starting September 22, 2025, which will focus on additional slope stability measures—including drainage improvements, guardrail installations, and landscaping, the work on the road isn’t over just yet, daytime crews will continue to mend what nighttime toil has wrought, refining the nuances of our daily routes.
Travelers have faced major detours and disruptions due to essential infrastructure work on Hanalei Hill, where slope stabilization has been a key concern. The project, including the Waikoko slope work, is expected to be completed by November 2025.
