Federal funding headed to Kaua‘i for repairs to Kūhiō Highway following March 2021 flooding

Hawai‘i is set to receive $24.4 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to cover the costs of repairs to roadways and structures on Maui and Kaua‘i that were damaged by landslides and severe rain in recent years.

Financed through a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, the money will address the landslide in March 2021 that blocked Kūhiō Highway at Hanalei Hill, effectively cutting off the north shore communities for several weeks.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation worked for several months to clear the highway and stabilize the hillside. Emergency repairs were completed in October 2021.

“This new federal funding will help repair storm-damaged roads and structures and make them more resilient to flooding, enabling commuters across the state to get around more quickly and safely,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

The funding will also be used for repairs on Maui to repair damaged portions of Hāna Highway as well as Na‘ili‘ili-Haele and Ka‘aiea Stream Bridges, improving their resilience to flooding and severe rain conditions.