Ask The Mayor: Will Haʻikū Roads Ever be Paved?

Road work ahead. File photo by Wendy Osher.

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: I was wondering if the well-traveled roads of Haʻikū are scheduled for repaving anytime soon. Kaupakalua and Kokomo roads are to a point where it is unsafe to drive, the potholes, ruts, bumps and cracks are highly dangerous and are destroying cars of tax-paying residents.

Kokomo has not had any major restoration for over 10 years while Hāna Highway seems to have an annual repaving whether it needs it or not. Please let the citizens know when we can drive in peace again. Mahalo.

A: I do have an update since we last ran a Q&A about these rural collector roads: The first paving project is expected to commence in less than two months. Work on Kokomo Road, one of the bumpiest, is anticipated to begin in February 2015, with completion by September 2015; this phase runs from the intersection of Kokomo with Makawao Avenue and Kaupakalua Road to Mile Marker 3.

The next phase, Kokomo Road and Makawao Avenue, is expected to start in November 2016 and run from Haʻikū Road to Mile Marker 3 on Kokomo Road, and from Kokomo Road to Pi‘iholo Road on Makawao Avenue. Work on Kaupakalua Road has a tentative start date of mid-2017, and will run from Kokomo Road to West Kuiaha Road.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email: AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, phone: 270-7855 or mail: 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.