Governor Josh Green and Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen attended the dedication of the Puʻunēnē Avenue Improvements Project in Kahului on April 17. The project, which cost nearly $26 million, expands Puʻunēnē Avenue to four lanes between West and East Wākea Avenues and Kuihelani Highway. It also adds bike lanes, ADA-compliant sidewalks, improved drainage, updated traffic signals and lighting, as well as sustainable landscaping.
The improvements are intended to make the roadway safer for all users and support better movement of freight and vehicles through Central Maui. Governor Green said, “Keeping our communities healthy and safe is one of my top priorities. The improvements on Puʻunēnē Avenue achieve this by enhancing drainage and creating safer spaces for people to walk and bike. As always, we’re grateful for the support of the Federal Highways Administration and appreciative of the project team for delivering these improvements on time and on budget.”
Funding came from both federal sources—$20.4 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—and state funds totaling $5.1 million. According to Sniffen, “I cannot overstate the importance of Kahului for freight and economic development on Maui. Puʻunēnē Avenue leads right to Kahului Harbor and is a stone’s throw away from our second-busiest airport in the state. Our improvements create consistency by matching up to the existing lanes past Wākea and improve access for nearby schools and businesses in Central Maui.”
The new lanes opened at 7 a.m., Thursday, April 16; construction began in November 2024 with Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company as contractor.
According to the official website, Hawaii Department of Transportation manages airports serving domestic/international carriers, commercial harbors, highways across six major islands; it operates within Hawaii’s executive branch government structure according to its official site. The department runs eleven commercial service airports, four general aviation airports, nine commercial harbors, plus about 2,450 lane miles statewide according to its official website. Its mission includes delivering a safe transportation system that supports mobility while fostering economic growth according to its official website.
The department works across all six major islands according to its official website collaborating with agencies like Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), county planning departments among others according to its official website.
