Travelers on Hāna Highway can now breathe a little easier. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) has wrapped up a significant $7.7 million emergency rockfall mitigation project, aimed at making a stretch of the scenic road safer for those driving to and from East Maui. The work spanned between mile markers 9.7 and 9.9 near Waikamoi Stream, a notorious spot for the precipitous falls of the earth.
According to a recent update from HDOT, the urgency of the project was understood back in April 2024, when a traffic emergency zone was declared to streamline the otherwise bureaucratic labyrinth of procurement, and permitting. It seems that the department's fast-tracking efforts have paid off, with the project concluding in mid-December, weeks before the New Year's arrival.
The rockfall mitigation required contractors to engage in what could be visualized as a high-stakes blend of mountain climbing and construction work. They scaled the hills in question, removing loose materials that posed a threat to vehicles below. Their solution to this elemental vexation was the installation of an extensive ring net rockfall protection barrier, blanketing a staggering 95,400 square feet of the hillside—surpassing the expanse of a professional football field, which measures at 57,600 square feet, as reported by HDOT.
With the barrier in place, HDOT crews will continue their vigilant oversight, performing routine inspections of the netted area during the workweek. These inspections are critical, as they are meant to catch any rogue rocks that might still entertain the idea of an unannounced descent. For those passing through the area, any sightings of ensnared rocks can be reported to the Maui District Highways office at 808-873-3535.
HDOT has expressed gratitude toward the public for its patience throughout the lifespan of the mitigation effort.
