A route proposed as an alternative to the coastal Honoapiʻilani Highway has been selected by the state Department of Transportation. The map is available for public review and comments. Courtesy photo

The state Department of Transportation has selected a preferred six-mile route in its pursuit of an alternative to the two-lane coastal Honoapiʻilani Highway in West Maui.

The proposed rerouting of a portion of the highway from Ukumehame to Launiupoko goes farther away from an ocean that has required the installation of concrete walls in certain places to fend off waves.

Flooding caused by high waves are regular occurrences on this low-lying highway, the state said.

Adraft environmental impact statement describing the alternate route as well as other proposed corridors is available for review at bit.ly/40nN8rN. Comments may be submitted through Feb. 24.

Under a state proposal, the jurisdiction of the existing coastal highway would be turned over to the county and eventually become a county road with opportunities to have public parks, beaches and open space consistent with the Pali to Puamana Parkway Master Plan. Each proposed alternate route assumes the existing highway would become a local access road.

The impact statement says the existing coastal highway, assuming sea level rise could reach as high as 3.2 feet, would be at risk.

According to state officials, to avoid new shoreline hardening, there may be future local decisions to close damaged sections of the existing highway that cannot be resolved using nature-based solutions.

If local jurisdictional agencies determine sections of the existing highway cannot be safely utilized, the existing highway could be limited to small sections for local access only and may not be a continuous roadway from the Lahaina Bypass to Papalaua Wayside Beach.

State officials added that the Nature Conservancy is researching nature-based solutions, which could be used along the existing Honoapiʻilani Highway, as a separate project.

That project could inform the county on potential uses of the existing highway and also methods to preserve wetlands and water resources in the area, according to state officials.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Jan. 23 inside the Lahainaluna High School cafeteria, 980 Lahainaluna Road.

The state plans a virtual public hearing from 5-8 p.m. Jan. 28 via Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/86860732576.