Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (from left) and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen (third from right) participate in a maile lei ceremony celebrating the opening of the four-lane Puunene Avenue in Kahului on Friday. Others include state Transportation Director Ed Sniffen; Maui County Council Member Kauanoe Batangan; state Deputy Transportation Director for Highways Robin Shishido; Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. official Len Dempsey; and Kahu Kalani Wong. Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Transportation

Gov. Josh Green and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen on Friday celebrated the widening of Puunene Avenue, a major transportation artery on Maui.

With ceremonies at the Kahului Hongwanji Mission and a blessing by the Rev. Kalani Wong, a portion of the road was opened to four lanes of traffic between West and East Wākea Avenues and Kuihelani Highway.

The nearly $26 million project focused on seven-tenths of a mile that is heavily used by residents, visitors and freight carriers, officials said.

The improvements provide quicker access to communities in south, west, north and Upcountry Maui.

“I’m here just to say this is awesome,” Green said.

Green said he was grateful for the work of Bissen in helping support road improvements on the island, still recovering from the 2023 Lahaina fire.

“I’m grateful that we can bring money and resources to Maui,” Green said. “We’re headed toward three years after the fire, and this may not be the epicenter, but we know it affected the entire island, so without a doubt it’s a serious, serious time of recovery.”

Bissen said the road improvements bring relief to many Maui residents who dread driving during morning and afternoon rush hours on Puunene Avenue.

“All of us people from Maui dread driving on Puunene Avenue,” he said. “There’s so much volume of people coming out of the airport, going to Kihei, Makena, Wailea or Kaanapali — all got to go through here — and now it’s so much easier.”

Puunene Avenue is seen at its intersection with Papa Avenue in Kahului following completion of a project widening a portion of the road to four lanes. State and county officials say the improvements are expected to ease congestion along the route. Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Transportation

Bissen said he was grateful for Kahului residents who sacrificed some of their parking and access space to allow the road-widening project.

He also expressed gratitude to Green for helping secure approval for a federal disaster declaration following the kona low storms in March.

Funds for the project included $2.4 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $5.1 million from the state.

State and county officials also expressed appreciation for the work done by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company and Bowers + Kubota Consulting.