The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) has completed improvements to Pa‘akea Road, providing a new secondary access route for the Wai‘anae Coast between Nānākuli and Māʻiliʻili Beach. The road, located between Lualualei Naval Road and Hakimo Road, will open to the public at 10 a.m. on October 1, 2025.
HDOT worked with nearby property owners and landowners to upgrade the road to current standards. The project included resurfacing and reconstruction of the roadway, as well as enhancements to safety features such as guardrails, end treatments, signage, striping, and bridge railings. The total cost for these improvements was about $2 million.
Governor Josh Green commented on the collaboration required for the project: “Opening the Pa‘akea Road extension took a lot of coordination and communication between the state, City and County of Honolulu, private landowners and the Department of the Navy,” explained Governor Josh Green. “We’re thankful to all the parties involved for their cooperation and support to make this alternative to Farrington Highway in Nānākuli safe and accessible for people to use on a regular basis.”
Representative Darius K. Kila (D-44 Honokai Hale, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili) noted that local residents have long faced traffic challenges due to limited routes in and out of their communities: “For years, Westside residents have endured heavy traffic on our roads, and the reality of having only one route in and out of our communities, which has created serious risks during times of emergency,” said Representative Darius K. Kila (D-44 Honokai Hale, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili). “When I first came into office, I recognized this was one of the community’s top priorities, and I’m grateful to finally see the Pa‘akea Road extension come to fruition, thanks to the collaboration between government, the private sector, and our community. This project brings long-overdue relief for our residents.”
A future lane closure will be necessary when materials arrive for permanent bridge railing installation; updates will be posted in HDOT’s weekly lane closure listing at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/oahu/.
