The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has wrapped up a $7.7 million emergency rockfall mitigation project on Hāna Highway near Waikamoi Stream, bringing months of cliffside work above East Maui’s main access road to a close. The effort focused on stabilizing a steep slope looming over the highway and involved heavy rock removal along with new protective netting.
Contractors spent weeks scaling the hillside, knocking down loose rock and soil before installing a ring-net rockfall protection barrier that covers roughly 95,400 square feet, an area larger than a professional football field. The project reached substantial completion in mid December, according to Maui Now.
How the emergency zone sped up the work
To keep the repairs from getting bogged down in red tape, HDOT declared a traffic emergency zone in April 2024 for mile markers 9.7 to 9.9, as outlined on the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation website. That designation was used to accelerate procurement and permitting so the slope stabilization could move forward without long delays, and it also allowed intermittent lane holds while crews performed rock scaling and installed the ring-net system above the roadway.
What drivers and residents should know
Even with the major work complete, crews will keep an eye on the newly netted slope. Officials said they will conduct routine visual inspections during the work week and clear any debris that gets caught in the system. Members of the public can report fallen rocks or other concerns to the Maui District Highways office at 808-873-3535, per Maui Now.
Why it matters for East Maui
The stabilized embankment sits above a tight stretch of Route 360 that functions as one of the primary lifelines to East Maui. HDOT said the work is intended to cut down the risk of rockfall events that can shut the road and leave residents or visitors temporarily stranded. The agency thanked drivers for their patience during the construction period and said regular monitoring and maintenance will continue in an effort to keep the corridor open and safer for the long haul.
