After complex repairs from storm damage, South Kīhei Road near Kamaʻole II Beach Park will reopen to traffic on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, according to the County of Maui Department of Public Works (DPW). The reopening is ahead of the original completion estimate of this fall.

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A powerful Kona low in March damaged multiple infrastructure systems on the roughly 150-foot section of County roadway.

In response, County DPW coordinated a multidepartment repair effort to safely restore the area and strengthen its infrastructure. After securing federal emergency funding commitments, DPW issued an emergency purchase order and awarded the project to P.B. Sullivan Construction Inc. in May.

Repairs include the following:

• Roadway repairs, including drainage improvements, slope and site stabilization
• Waterline restoration
• Curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements
• Paving and restoration of the adjacent park area
• Installation of traffic signs, roadway striping and pavement markings
• Cleanup of the project area

Record-breaking rainfall from the Kona low caused a high volume of stormwater to overwhelm the drainage system, resulting in more extensive roadway damage than typically seen during major storms. The repair work is layered and time-consuming due to the following factors:

• Damage affected multiple underground infrastructure systems
• Stormwater caused significant undermining beneath the roadway
• Permanent repairs require custom engineering designs rather than routine fixes
• Repairs must meet federal requirements for funding, permitting and construction
  
  

Businesses and restaurants in the surrounding area have remained open throughout construction and continue to serve customers. During the closure, the County of Maui Office of Recovery installed signs near detours and other strategic locations and ran radio advertisements to encourage the public to support affected businesses. A partial rental assistance program was also offered to eligible businesses.

For general information on DPW, visit www.mauicounty.gov/publicworks. For information on recovery from the Kona low storms, visit https://mauirecovers.org.