That sinkhole that swallowed both lanes of South Kīhei Road in March is not a quick fix. County officials now say the pace of repairs is effectively on federal time, with emergency highway funding and permits steering when the road can fully reopen.
The county has picked a contractor and set a notice to proceed for Monday, June 1, but warns that permanent work, custom engineering and federal approvals could keep this stretch closed for months.
Construction bids opened on May 20, and the County issued an emergency purchase order and awarded the project to P.B. Sullivan Construction Inc. on May 22, according to County of Maui. The Department of Public Works says it has asked the contractor for a construction schedule and will share updates as soon as it has them.
Why Federal Funding Will Set the Pace
The Department of Public Works says it is pursuing emergency funding commitments from the Federal Highway Administration because permanent repairs must satisfy federal funding, permitting and construction requirements. That adds extra steps before crews can button up the road for good.
According to Maui Now, the damaged section runs roughly 150 feet near Fred’s Mexican Restaurant, and county officials have floated a conservative completion target of fall 2026.
Guidance from the Federal Highway Administration on its Emergency Relief program notes that state departments of transportation submit ER applications and that detailed inspections and multiagency coordination are part of the process. All of that can influence how quickly reimbursements and approvals are granted.
Detours, Access and Business Support
For now, drivers are being told to stick with posted detours and pad their travel time while the crews move in. County officials emphasize that all nearby homes and businesses remain open and accessible, even if the usual route is off limits.
Hawaii News Now documented the March collapse that forced lane closures near Kamaʻole Beach Park II. In its press release, the County says the Office of Economic Development is working with state partners on programs to help businesses feeling the pinch from the closure.
Officials also say they intend to rebuild the roadway to better handle future storms while leaning on emergency federal funding to soften the hit to county taxpayers.
What To Expect Next
With a notice to proceed set for June 1, DPW has asked P.B. Sullivan Construction Inc. for a detailed timetable and says it will post project updates as they come in.
County and state officials caution that the mix of complex engineering work and federal funding rules makes fall 2026 a conservative estimate for completing permanent repairs. The schedule could shift as federal approvals and reimbursements move along, according to Maui Now.
