The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced an overnight closure of Puʻunēnē Avenue (Route 3500) in Kahului for traffic signal installation. The closure will occur nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., starting Monday, Feb. 2, with the final closure ending at 4:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 6.
The affected section runs from Wākea Avenue to Kūihelani Highway. During these hours, drivers heading to Kahului from Maui Veterans Highway (Route 311) are advised to take a detour by turning right onto Mayor Elmer F. Cravalho Way (Route 3800), then left onto Dairy Road due to a roadblock at the intersection of Maui Veterans Highway and Puʻunēnē Avenue.
For those traveling to Wailuku from Maui Veterans Highway, HDOT suggests turning left onto Kūihelani Highway and using Maui Lani Parkway for access into Wailuku or as an alternative route to Kahului.
Construction barriers will be set up at key turns onto Puʻunēnē Avenue to maintain safety during the work period. No right turns will be allowed from West Papa Avenue onto Puʻunēnē Avenue, and no left turns from East Papa Avenue onto Puʻunēnē Avenue. Access to Puʻukani Street can be made via Hukilike Street.
A detailed detour plan is available online for residents living near Puʻunēnē Avenue at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Detour-Plan-Full-Closure.pdf. Workers will assist motorists throughout the closures.
Additional night closures are expected during the week of Feb. 9 through Feb. 13, depending on progress in the first week; further details will be announced when available.
According to HDOT, “The work is part of the Puʻunēnē Avenue improvements project, which is designed to help improve traffic flow and enhance vehicle and freight circulation with the addition of more lanes and updated traffic signalization, on one of central Maui’s main thoroughfares.”
All scheduled work is subject to weather conditions. Updates or changes can be found on HDOT’s social media pages at https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation and Twitter/X @DOTHawaii.
