Work is underway on the Pu‘unēnē Avenue Improvements Project in Kahului to help improve traffic flow and enhance safety for one of Central Maui’s key transportation corridors.
Officials from the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Transportation joined state and county representatives on Nov. 12 for a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony at the $26 million project’s staging site.
“The Pu‘unēnē Avenue Improvements project achieves the goal of enhancing vehicle and freight circulation with the addition of more lanes and updated traffic signalization on one of Central Maui’s main thoroughfares from Kahului Harbor to the rest of the Valley Isle,” said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen in a release. “The highway upgrades and improvements will ensure operational efficiency and safer commuting for all highway users in the heart of Kahului.”
The project includes widening Pu‘unēnē Avenue from two to four lanes between Wākea Avenue and Kūihelani Highway, matching the configuration of the rest of the roadway. New concrete sidewalks and multiuse shoulders are planned to improve pedestrian and cyclist access, while updated traffic signal systems and improved street lighting will increase safety for all users of the roadway.
Environmental upgrades include the installation of landscaped drainage channels called bioswales and permeable pavement to manage stormwater runoff and reduce the impact on existing systems. Soundwalls will also be built at the southern end of the project to minimize noise for nearby residents.
Crews have started work on a retaining wall, with lane-widening efforts scheduled to begin this month. Once completed, the improved Pu‘unēnē Avenue is expected to better support freight and vehicle circulation between Kahului Harbor and Central Maui. Construction will be carried out in phases, with completion expected by April 2026.
The project is funded through $20.4 million from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $5.1 million in state funding. Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company Inc. is overseeing construction, with Wilson Okamoto Corp.serving as project designer.
