Erosion from recent heavy rains in the remote area of Alelele Point on the southeast side of Maui has made the roadway unstable for heavy trucks and equipment. The roadway will be limited to local traffic in passenger vehicles, such as sedans and pickup trucks, effective immediately, the County of Maui Department of Public Works announced today, Jan. 30, 2024.

Recent rain conditions caused the makai edge of the road near Mile Marker 39 to collapse. A geotechnical engineering assessment has been conducted, which deemed the underlying ground not suitable for heavy traffic, the department added.

The following traffic is prohibited:

• Heavy trucks and other equipment
• Visitor traffic

Local traffic in sedans and pickup trucks are urged to avoid crossing the area when heavy rain or large surf is occurring.

In order to complete necessary repairs, the roadway at Alalele Point is expected to be closed for at least two months. The road will be open to local passenger vehicle traffic only during non-working hours once crews begin repair work. Conditions will be monitored daily.

Closure signage has been placed on both the Kīpahulu and Kaupō ends of Alelele Point. Message boards are being stationed in ʻUlupalakua and in Hāna.

The same area of roadway — less than a mile between Mile Markers 38 and 39 — was closed in May last year due to rockfall hazards along the mauka slope; the road, which connects rural communities of Kīpahulu and Kaupō, underwent extensive rock scaling and other work before reopening.