All lanes of Puʻunēnē Avenue (Route 3500) in Kahului will be closed nightly from 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 to 4:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT). The closure will affect the section between Wākea Avenue and Kūihelani Highway (Route 380).
The nighttime closures are planned so contractors can program new traffic signals and remove old signal poles. This work is scheduled overnight to reduce daytime traffic disruptions and ensure safety during pole removal.
Earlier this week, new poles were installed, allowing programming of the signals to proceed on an expedited schedule beginning Wednesday night.
Motorists traveling from Maui Veterans Highway (Route 311) toward Kahului will need to detour by turning right onto Mayor Elmer F. Cravalho Way (Route 3800), then left onto Dairy Road due to a roadblock at the intersection with Puʻunēnē Avenue. Those heading toward Wailuku from Maui Veterans Highway may turn left onto Kūihelani Highway and use Maui Lani Parkway for access into Wailuku or as an alternative route to Kahului.
Construction barriers will block right turns onto Puʻunēnē Avenue from Mayor Elmer F. Cravalho Way and left turns from Kūihelani Highway onto Puʻunēnē Avenue during the work period. There will also be no right turns from West Papa Avenue or left turns from East Papa Avenue onto Puʻunēnē Avenue; Hukilike Street can be used for access to Puʻukani Street.
Details about residential access for those living on adjacent streets can be found in the detour plan posted at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Detour-Plan-Full-Closure.pdf. Workers will assist motorists during the closure.
A future overnight closure for paving work on Puʻunēnē Avenue is planned but has not yet been scheduled.
This effort is part of broader improvements designed to enhance traffic flow and vehicle circulation along central Maui’s main routes through additional lanes and updated signalization.
The HDOT manages transportation infrastructure across all six major Hawaiian islands, including airports, harbors, and highways such as this one, supporting mobility for people and goods while aiming for safety and efficiency throughout its statewide network (https://hidot.hawaii.gov). The department operates under Hawaii’s executive branch government structure and collaborates with federal agencies as well as local county departments (https://hidot.hawaii.gov).
All construction activity is weather dependent. For updates or changes to the schedule, HDOT advises checking their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation or Twitter/X @DOTHawaii.