Ask the Mayor: When Will Flooding on Our Street Be Fixed?

Ohaʻa Street/West Papa Avenue intersection. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Mr. Mayor:

Q: Sir, on behalf of the citizens here on Maʻalo Street in Kahului, we would like to know when will you do something about the flooding on our street. It floods with every little bit of rain and it’s becoming unsafe and unsanitary. Kids are walking and playing in muddy water going to and from school, and adults can’t leave for work until flood waters subside. This has been going on for as long I lived here.

A: I would gather that the flooding you’re referring to is occurring near the Oha ʻa Street intersection, which is the lowest point on Ma ʻalo Street. There is an injection well just mauka of the Oha ʻa Street intersection and two other grated inlet catch basins across the street that presently intercept storm runoff on Ma ʻalo Street.

Our Public Works Department is working on a proposal to have the injection well and grated inlet catch basins cleaned out in the near future, to allow storm runoff to drain more quickly off of the roadway. Specialized maintenance is required because the well is fairly deep, which is why the work must be put out to bid.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at [email protected], by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.