KAHULUI, Hawaii — Maui’s first electric vehicle charging station funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program is undergoing construction, announced the Hawaii Department of Transportation last week.

Work began Feb. 1 on four 150kW chargers at the Kahului Park & Ride on Kuihelani Highway around Puunene Avenue. A portion of the lot will be closed during construction, but the lot will still be accessible to users.

“The Federal Highway Administration is proud to partner with the Hawaii Department of Transportation as it begins construction of the state’s first federally funded EV charging station made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt in a news release.

“This milestone represents an important step forward not only for Hawaii, but for the entire nation’s historic transition to electric vehicles, as we build a national network of publicly accessible EV charging stations that will ensure a convenient and reliable charging experience for drivers,” said Bhatt.

Completion is expected by late February.

“The NEVI stations will help Hawaii meet its renewable energy goals by increasing availability of fast, dependable EV charging,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “Thank you to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration for its approval and support of the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan.”

In July 2023, HDOT announced the first two sites for electric vehicle charging stations through NEVI funding. The second site will be at Aloha Tower Drive fronting Pier 7 on Oahu, which will also include four 150kW chargers.