Motorists in Kahului, Hawai‘i, should expect nightly closures on Puʻunēnē Avenue between Papa Avenue and Kūihelani Highway starting Monday, Sept. 8, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT). The closure will allow for utility crossing and pavement reconstruction work as part of a larger improvement project on one of central Maui’s main roads.
The initial closure will take place from 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8 until 5 a.m. the following morning. From Tuesday, Sept. 9 through Friday, Sept. 12, and again from Monday, Sept. 15 to Friday, Sept. 19, the avenue will close each night from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., with work scheduled to end at 5 a.m. on Fridays. HDOT noted that the schedule may change if work is completed ahead of time.
During these hours, northbound traffic at the Maui Veterans Highway and Puʻunēnē Avenue intersection will be prohibited from passing through. Drivers heading to Kahului must detour by turning right onto Mayor Elmer F. Cravalho Way and then left onto Dairy Road. Those traveling to Wailuku can turn left at the intersection onto Kūihelani Highway; Maui Lani Parkway provides an additional route into Wailuku or Kahului.
Drivers traveling west on Mayor Elmer F. Cravalho Way will not be able to turn right onto Puʻunēnē Avenue, while those heading east on Kūihelani Highway cannot turn left onto Puʻunēnē Avenue.
At the Papa Avenue and Puʻunēnē Avenue intersection, southbound travel will not be allowed; there will be no right turns from West Papa Avenue nor left turns from East Papa Avenue onto Puʻunēnē Avenue.
Access for residents living on East and West Hawaiʻi streets will be available via East Papa Avenue only during construction hours. In addition, Puʻukani Street at Puʻunēnē Avenue will remain closed during this period.
HDOT provided additional details in maps available online: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Puunene-TCP-Main.pdf and https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Puunene-Night-Utility-TCP-Papa-.jpg
The improvement project aims to widen Puʻunēnē Avenue from two lanes to four between Wākea Avenue and Kūihelani Highway, aligning it with other sections of the roadway and updating traffic signals to improve traffic flow and freight movement in central Maui.
All scheduled work is subject to weather conditions. Updates are available on HDOT’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation) or Twitter/X account (@DOTHawaii).
