New security measures will be in place for the “commercial bubble” area of the Lahaina Impact Zone starting on Tuesday at 6 a.m., according to the Maui Emergency Management Agency.

What You Need To Know

  • The changes, which will coincide with a shift change in security personnel, are part of ongoing wildfire recovery efforts coordinated among local, state and federal authorities
  • The affected area spans the area between Shaw Street and Kenui Street, makai of Honoapiilani Highway, including all streets that feed into the region
  • As part of the scheduled changes, the number of security checkpoints within the commercial bubble will decrease to four from nine
  • MEMA continues to work with local, state and federal authorities to coordinate ongoing debris removal, reinforcement of historic structures, infrastructure work and other efforts to address unsafe conditions

 

The changes, which will coincide with a shift change in security personnel, are part of ongoing wildfire recovery efforts coordinated among local, state and federal authorities.

The affected area spans the area between Shaw Street and Kenui Street, makai of Honoapiilani Highway, including all streets that feed into the region.

MEMA said the changes are necessary to balance recovery and safety concerns while accommodating the needs of commercial debris removal operations and other reconstruction efforts.

As part of the scheduled changes, the number of security checkpoints within the commercial bubble will decrease to four from nine. MEMA aims to further reduce the number of checkpoints as conditions permit.

The four existing checkpoints will be relocated to Front Street and Papalaua Street; Lahainaluna Road and Luakini Street; Prison Street and Luakini Street; and Front Street fronting Kamehameha Iki Park driveway (just past Shaw Street intersection).

Signs will be installed to restrict vehicle access at the Shaw and Front streets intersection, with monitoring to occur from the repositioned checkpoint.

Existing hard barricades on the makai side of Honoapiilani Highway at the Papalaua, Dickenson and Prison streets intersections will remain in place. Motorists will be able to use the traffic signals at the Lahainaluna Road and Shaw Street intersections on Honoapiilani Highway. The mauka side of Dickenson Street will be barricaded with access provided through Mill Street.

The County Department of Public Works has installed signs around the commercial bubble to notify the public of these changes. New signs will identify areas as “Local Traffic Only,” “Uneven Roads” and “Not a Through Street” (for dead ends due to barricading of highway intersections without traffic signals).

In addition, light towers will be installed at the four remaining as a temporary measure to ensure public safety during night hours. Ongoing efforts to restore residential and commercial area lighting are underway.

MEMA continues to work with local, state and federal authorities to coordinate ongoing debris removal, reinforcement of historic structures, infrastructure work and other efforts to address unsafe conditions. The agency said it would maintain a security presence in the remainder of the commercial bubble as necessary during the rebuilding process continues.