Road to Hana Highway road closures

Current Closures and Updates

There are currently no known closures on the Hana or Pi`ilani Highway.

Previous Closures and Updates

June 2009
Kaumahina Wayside Park will be closed for maintenance during June 2009. You can read more information about the closure here.

May 4, 2009 - June 1, 2009
Currently the temporary bridge at Paihi Stream (at mile marker 45.5 on Highway 31) is being removed; as can be seen via the updates below, this bridge has existed here for some time. Construction on the new permanent bridge is also being finalized. The bridge is expected to open around June 1, 2009 (extended from the original date of May 25th). This bridge is located between Hana and the `Ohe`o Gulch (see the map), so to access the Kipahulu portion of Haleakala National Park visitors will have to use the Pi`ilani Highway - Highway 31 (aka the 'back route').

October 4, 2008 The Piilani Highway has officially reopened. View Maui News article...

October 2006 - October 4, 2008
For well over a year now we've been asked by visitors where the road closures exist along the Hana Highway on Maui. Many read articles about the Pa'ihi bridge being damaged in the October 2006 earthquake (off the Big Island's coast) and assume that's the closure. But it's not. Here's the real scoop on the closures.

Paihi Bridge (between Hana and Kipahulu at mile marker 45.5) is NOT closed, but it does have a temporary bridge that was installed Dec. 3, 2006. The bridge was damaged during the earthquake and torrential rain in mid-October 2006. and is being replaced. It was already slated for replacement before the earthquake.

I think many folks confuse this bridge (which was closed for a few days) and the barricaded bridge, Kukui'ula, which is a half-mile past the 40 mile marker (between Kipahulu and Kaupo). Kukui'ula bridge at Lelekea remains barricaded due to the danger of rockslides beyond this point and Manawainui bridge (the large gulch bridge).

The county plans to stabilize the cliffs between Kipahulu and Kaupo and then work on the rock cliffs above Manawainui. This entire project may take up to two years (or longer) to complete.

You CAN reach the 'Ohe'o Gulch. You CANNOT go beyond the Gulch and complete the "loop" tour that concludes in Upcountry.