Scheduled closures set for Kukui and Niu streets in Kapaʻa

The Department of Public Works for Kaua‘i announced on Jan. 14 that portions of Kukui Street and Niu Street in Kapaʻa will be subject to rescheduled road and single-lane closures from Jan. 28 through Jan. 30, 2026. Work will take place daily between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., weather permitting, with Hirata and Associates Inc. listed as the contractor performing the operations.

Motorists should expect traffic modifications in the affected areas during the scheduled hours. Single-lane restrictions and short full closures of segments of both streets will reduce capacity and create bottlenecks during midmorning and early afternoon hours. Drivers traveling through Kapaʻa during the work window are advised to allow additional travel time and to follow posted detours and directions from traffic control personnel.

The rescheduled dates indicate the county and its contractor adjusted earlier plans, and the announcement emphasizes the work will proceed only if weather conditions allow. That caveat is familiar to island drivers, where rain or tropical conditions can force last-minute changes. Residents who rely on these corridors for school runs, commuting, deliveries, or access to local businesses should factor the closures into their routines for the three days of work.

Beyond immediate delays, single-lane and intermittent full closures can affect local services such as mail delivery, ride shares, and commercial traffic. Local businesses along Kukui and Niu streets may see shifts in customer patterns during the closure hours; vendors and service providers should plan around the midmorning to midafternoon window. Pedestrians and cyclists should also be alert for altered sidewalks or shared lanes and obey any temporary signage.

Hirata and Associates Inc. will carry out the field operations under county oversight. The Department of Public Works framed the work as coordinated maintenance requiring temporary changes to traffic flow. As always on Kaua‘i, work schedules remain subject to weather conditions and operational adjustments.

Our two cents? Give yourself extra time, respect flaggers and signage, and consider shifting nonessential trips outside the 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. window on Jan. 28–30. Planning a small timing change can save frustration and help keep crews safe while work proceeds.