Hāna Highway (Route 360) Restricted to Local Traffic Until Further Notice

UPDATE: As part of the Emergency Rules handed down by Mayor Michael Victorino, the County is restricting travel on Piʻilani Highway from ʻUlupalakua to Kīpahulu; and on Kahekili Highway from Waiheʻe to Kahakuloa Village to local traffic only. The State Department of Transportation is also restricting travel on Hāna Highway from Kaupakalua Road to Hāna Town to local traffic only.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation informs the traveling public that Hāna Highway (Route 360) between Kapakalua Road and Hāna Town is restricted to local traffic until further notice beginning March 18, 2020.

The local access restriction is being put in place to address access and congestion concerns due to roadwork and vehicles along the two-lane highway.

HDOT is currently installing slope stabilization measures on Route 360 near Papaaea Road that requires a 24-hour lane closure.

An electronic message board informing the public of the local traffic restriction will be placed near the Haʻikū Community Center. HDOT thanks the public in advance for their cooperation and patience.

On Tuesday, Sen. J. Kalani English said he received a lot of requests from residents about tour vans and tourists coming into East Maui. He noted that he put in a request to Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara “incident commander” of Hawaiʻi’s coronavirus response, to see if there was a way to limit travel to just residents.

Fellow lawmaker, Rep. Lynn DeCoite issued an open letter to visitors, tourists and tour operators, expressing the same concerns in East Maui and the rural communities of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi.

Senator English thanks Governor Ige and Mayor Victorino for closing Hāna Highway and back-side road to non-residents

Senator J. Kalani English (D-Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lānaʻi and Kaho‘olawe) today thanked Governor David Ige for implementing his recommendation to close the Hāna Highway to non-residents to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and Mayor Mike Victorino for closing the back side county road through Kaupō to non-residents.

“On a typical day, thousands of rental cars drive the narrow Hāna Highway and congregate at lookouts and parks,” said Senator English. “During this emergency we need to keep the highway open for residents of East Maui, delivery trucks, and first responders. We cannot have thousands of tourists from around the world causing traffic and entering closed parks, coming into contact with one another and our residents. As a resident of Hāna, I know that the majority of our economy in East Maui depends on tourism and that this pandemic is causing a major hardship, but when we’re choosing between saving lives and the economy, health must come first.”

Governor Ige instructed the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation to place signs along the Hāna Highway notifying drivers that the highway is restricted to residents only. He also instructed the Maui Visitors Bureau to inform all industry partners and ask rental car companies to advise all customers of the restriction.

Mayor Victorino instructed Maui County departments to close the back-side road through Kaupo to Hāna to non-residents.