Maui Tourism & Goods Transport Face Up to 20 Minutes of Intermittent Delays on Honoapiʻilani Highway Jan. 20-21
Intermittent road closures on Honoapiʻilani Highway will cause delays of up to 20 minutes for all traffic between mileposts 10.45-10.55, impacting tourism operators, small businesses, and agricultural producers on Maui. Adjustments to travel and delivery schedules are essential to mitigate disruptions.
Rerouting or significant schedule adjustments are recommended for any operations that traverse the affected stretch of Honoapiʻilani Highway during the overnight hours of January 20-21, 2026.
The Change
Crews will be conducting essential rock scaling and removal work, including addressing a boulder caught in protective netting, along the Honoapiʻilani Highway. The closures are scheduled to occur nightly from 9:00 PM on Tuesday, January 20th, to 4:30 AM on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026. The affected section is located between mileposts 10.45 and 10.55, on the Lahaina side of the Olowalu Tunnel (also known as the Pali Tunnel). During these work periods, intermittent closures in both directions will last up to 10 minutes at a time. This means that while the road won't be fully blocked for extended periods, the cumulative effect of these short, repeated closures can lead to significant overall delay.
Who's Affected
Tourism Operators
Hotels, tour companies, vacation rental managers, and hospitality businesses should anticipate disruptions to visitor transportation. This includes airport transfers, inter-resort shuttles, and any scheduled tours operating during the late-night or very early morning hours. Delays could lead to missed connections, frustrated guests, and negative online reviews. Furthermore, staff commuting to or from late shifts may also experience unexpected delays, potentially impacting service continuity.
Small Business Operators
Restaurants, retail stores, and service-based businesses that rely on timely deliveries will be most affected. Late-night or early-morning supply runs for food, beverages, or merchandise could face cumulative delays, potentially impacting inventory levels, preparation times, and opening hours. Businesses with delivery services operating during these windows will also see their service times extended, affecting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Agriculture & Food Producers
Farmers and food producers who schedule outbound shipments of perishable goods during these late-night or early-morning hours will need to re-evaluate their logistics. Delays in transit, even if seemingly short per closure, can impact the freshness and quality of produce and other agricultural products, potentially leading to spoilage or reduced market value. Transporting goods from Upcountry farms to distribution points or shipping facilities could become less predictable.
Second-Order Effects
These short-term road closures, while necessary for safety, can cascade through Maui's island economy, which often operates on tight logistical schedules.
- Intermittent closures → Delayed deliveries → Spoilage/Reduced quality for agriculture → Lower revenue for producers.
- Intermittent closures → Guest dissatisfaction with transport → Negative reviews for hotels/tours → Reduced future bookings.
- Intermittent closures → Extended transit times for small businesses → Increased fuel costs/labor overtime → Higher operating expenses.
- Cumulative delays → Increased driver fatigue/stress → Safety concerns on West Maui roads.
What to Do
Tourism Operators
Action: Proactively communicate with transportation providers and guests regarding potential delays. Adjust scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs for services operating between 9 PM Jan 20 and 4:30 AM Jan 21. Consider alternative routes if feasible for airport transfers or between West Maui and other parts of the island. For any tours running through the night, build in buffer time or inform participants of possible minor delays.
Small Business Operators
Action: If scheduling deliveries or pickups during the affected hours on Jan 20-21, contact suppliers to confirm adjusted timing or arrange for alternative pickup locations/times outside the closure window. For businesses with delivery services, notify customers of potential minor delays and consider rerouting through alternative access points where possible, though the primary route is critical for West Maui access.
Agriculture & Food Producers
Action: Reschedule any planned shipments of perishable goods away from the 9 PM Jan 20 - 4:30 AM Jan 21 window. If unavoidable, consolidate loads and communicate potential delays to buyers and distribution partners. Explore options for utilizing cooler storage at origin or destination to mitigate the impact of transit delays.
