Motorists Urged to Avoid Travel on Hāna Highway During Storm

Hāna Highway landslide at Wailua after it was cleared. Photo 7.19.16 credit: Boeche ʻOhana.

Maui County officials are urging motorists to avoid travel on the Hāna Highway (360) as Tropical Storm Darby approaches.

The recommendation comes after the extended closure of the highway three times since Sunday, July 17, 2016, due to separate landslides.

County officials say these landslides indicate that areas in East Maui are already saturated.

Because of this and the fact that the county is currently under a Tropical Storm WARNING and Flash Flood Watch, the Maui Civil Defense Agency is urging both residents and visitors to refrain from using Hāna Highway for any non-essential travel until the storm conditions subside.

“Otherwise motorists take the chance that they could be trapped on either side of another landslide for an undetermined amount of time,” said County officials.

Also to be considered is that the alternate route from Hāna through Kaupō may become compromised due to high surf, as East Maui is also under a High Surf Warning during the storm.