The County of Kauai broke ground this week on a $70 million transformation of Poipu Road, but not everyone is celebrating. While officials tout the project as a decade-in-the-making safety breakthrough, three planned roundabouts have divided public opinion, and some residents worry the improvements will accelerate development on Kauai’s already-crowded iconic South Shore. For visitors, the project promises safer walking and biking but also means several years of construction disruptions in the island’s busiest resort corridor.
The blessing that marks a big beginning.
This week’s blessing in Koloa officially launched what is now officially the Poipu Road Safety and Mobility Project, years in the making and now fully funded with more than $70 million in local, state, and federal support. The ceremony was led by Mayor Derek Kawakami, who called it “an important step toward bringing to life a vision that began more than a decade ago.” He described the effort as one that will connect families, keiki, kupuna, and visitors in a safer, more walkable community.
Poipu Road has long been one of Kauai’s busiest and most congested stretches, especially between Koloa Town and the resorts up through Shipwreck Beach. Until now, many sections have had no or inconsistent sidewalks, poor lighting, and few safe crossings. That combination has been frustrating for visitors staying at major resorts who try to walk to dinner or to the beach, and dangerous for residents and workers who use the same busy route daily.
What’s actually being built.
The Poipu Road project will introduce continuous sidewalks along at least one side of the entire corridor, connecting from Koloa Elementary School through Poipu’s main resort and business areas. The county also plans to add three new roundabouts, plus continuous bicycle lanes, new crosswalks, sheltered bus stops, and turn-only lanes to improve traffic flow and pedestrian and vehicle safety.
That means for the first time, visitors staying at places like Kiahuna Plantation, Sheraton Kauai, or Koa Kea will have a connected sidewalk network reaching into Koloa Town, a significant change for anyone who has tried to navigate the shoulder of Poipu Road after sunset or at any time.
The bike lanes will run the full length of the project except in front of the Grand Hyatt, where space and landscaping constraints reportedly limit expansion. County engineers say design adjustments there are still being studied to maintain safety continuity, though details have not yet been made public.
The county has not released a detailed map reflecting exactly where the three roundabouts will be positioned, which has sparked questions on social media. Basic project information is available at kauai.gov, but specifics about locations and staging remain unclear for now.
Roundabouts divide opinion.
The three planned roundabouts have sparked debate among residents and visitors. Some welcome them as proven traffic calmers that improve pedestrian safety at intersections. Others question whether they will slow emergency vehicles or create confusion for first-time visitors unfamiliar with Kauai roundabout navigation. Roundabouts on Kauai are still relatively new, though both residents and visitors are becoming increasingly familiar with them.
One resident asked whether the county had budgeted for ongoing maintenance, noting that landscaped roundabouts can become overgrown eyesores without regular upkeep. Another suggested using rockscape instead, a practical nod to the island south shore’s dry conditions and limited maintenance resources.
For now, travelers and residents alike will have to wait for more details on exactly how these new roundabouts will affect traffic flow through Poipu’s resort corridor.
Why it matters to visitors.
For travelers, this project could transform how people experience South Shore Kauai. The Poipu resort area has been a walking and cycling challenge for decades, even though it is compact and theoretically ideal for short trips between beaches, shops, and restaurants. The new design promises to make those walks safer and more enjoyable, reducing car dependence and parking strain at beach parks and dining venues.
It also complements recent improvements to Koloa Bridge and Koloa Road, both completed earlier this year. All together, these upgrades are turning the South Shore into one of the most pedestrian-friendly areas outside of Kauai, something longtime visitors have wanted for years. It is a small but important step toward addressing the larger Hawaii sidewalk and safety problems that have led to tragic pedestrian fatalities statewide.
How long it will take.
Construction is set to continue through December 2027. That multi-year timeline may sound long, but given the project’s scale and complexity, it is considered realistic. And on Kauai, it could well go longer than expected. Work will be staged in sections to limit disruptions, but expect lane closures, detours, and occasional delays, especially during peak visitor seasons.
The staging approach means different sections of Poipu Road will be affected at different times, so visitors staying at properties along the way may experience different conditions than those at the opposite end of the road.
Businesses and hotels along the corridor will remain open throughout construction, though access may be temporarily affected. The county promises regular updates as each phase moves forward, but visitors planning trips between now and December 2027 should factor in potential traffic delays when timing dinner reservations or airport departures.
For context, similar projects elsewhere in Hawaii have taken comparable timeframes due to limited staging space and unintended weather and other delays.
The over-development question.
Not everyone sees the project as purely positive. Some Kauai residents worry that improved infrastructure will accelerate South Shore development, turning Poipu into the kind of resort corridor that residents elsewhere in Hawaii say has lost its small-town character to overbuilding.
“Stop developing! Gonna ruin the south side,” one resident wrote on the county’s Facebook announcement of the groundbreaking. Another questioned why the county is investing more than $70 million in new infrastructure while allowing thousands of new condos, apartments, and hotels to be built without proportional road expansion.
It is a familiar tension across Hawaii. Infrastructure improvements meant to ease congestion can inadvertently enable more growth, which then creates more congestion. Whether Poipu follows that pattern or finds a better balance remains to be seen.
Who’s paying for it.
The total cost comes to more than $70 million. A $25 million federal RAISE Grant (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) forms the backbone of the funding, supplemented by $33 million more in federal infrastructure funds, $13 million in county funds, and $2 million from utility partners. Officials credit the successful grant applications to early community involvement and clear alignment with the South Kauai Community Plan, adopted in 2015 after a local visioning process that began in 2013.
County Engineer Troy Tanigawa said the project shows what happens “when federal, state, and county partners come together with the community.” That collaboration represents a shift toward more proactive infrastructure work, something Kauai residents have asked for repeatedly after years of reactive patch jobs and deferred maintenance.
What about the potholes.
The $70 million price tag has prompted questions about priorities. Several residents asked why the county is funding major new infrastructure in Poipu while major potholes and unfinished road repairs persist across the entire island.
County officials would likely point out that the Poipu project is funded primarily through federal grants specifically designated for new transportation projects under programs like RAISE and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, not routine maintenance budgets. But that distinction may not ease frustration for residents and visitors navigating deteriorating roads elsewhere on Kauai while watching a single corridor receive a transformative investment.
What it says about Kauai’s direction.
The Poipu Road Safety and Mobility Project signals a new chapter in how Kauai approaches travel infrastructure. It blends resident priorities with visitor needs in a way few projects have managed before. By making it easier to walk, bike, or take the bus, the county is quietly addressing some of the same complaints that have surfaced across Hawaii, about congestion, parking, and unsafe walking conditions.
It is also a clear counterpoint to years of inaction highlighted in Beat of Hawaii’s earlier coverage, including Hawaii’s Sidewalk Crisis: Fatalities, Lawsuits, and Hidden Travel Risks, which drew comments from both locals and frequent visitors frustrated by how unsafe basic walking routes had become. This new project shows at least one county putting such feedback into motion.
What comes next.
As work ramps up, travelers can expect occasional delays but long-term improvements that will reshape how South Kauai feels and functions. Once complete, the area should offer a better experience, where walking to coffee or dinner does not mean dodging cars and where kids can bike safely to school or the beach.
For both visitors and residents, that could change not only how people move around Poipu but how they feel about it. Safer, more connected streets make for stronger communities and better vacations overall. Kauai seems ready to try to prove that point, even if the journey includes a few challenges and roundabouts along the way.
For updates, the county’s Public Works Engineering Division can be reached at 808-241-4883 or by email at [email protected].
We welcome your thoughts!
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Oh, we need an expert to tell us whether a small traffic circle or a large traffic circle is more effective at reducing speed. I’ve done some research online and it looks like the small ones are better at that and better for pedestrians and bicyclists.
We were successful at stopping them them from cutting down the unique Yellow Trumpet Trees by sendings emails to request a meeting. We can have the sidewalk and walk under the glorious trees! Now we are trying to save the huge trees at the Poipu and Kiahuna Road intersection. The proposed round about will require removing 2 of the largest trees. Please email and request a meeting to re-design the round about to save the trees. mrapozo @ kauai.gov and councilmembers @ kauai.gov
The community met years ago to state their wishes for the planned development. over all #1 Bike Paths, #2 Don’t cut down big trees unless diseased. The unique Yellow Trumpet trees will be mostly spared but not the 2 largest trees at the Kiahuina / Keoki’s intersection. Hopefully council will meet agin to discuss this intersection.
The roundabouts in Kauai have done a fine job. It certainly has slowed down the drunk drivers as they crash in the center of the roundabout versus another car or pedestrian. And when they lose their car parts, they easily get caught. As for the emergency responders- The BLS or ACLS vehicles need to stay parked near the highest risk area, and if they get called at least once or twice a day at a specific location, then I would expect them to be in their vehicles ready for duty. That would be the least of my concerns. Have satilite parking areas. The path will be flooded with motorized and electric toys, including mopeds, electric bikes that do not require pedaling, motorized scooters, and double-wide and double-tall strollers—either way, it is well-needed. Hopefully, Troy holds his ground and does it right. We get one chance at it.
Good article. Am staying at Poipu right now and the paving has been going on the past several days on Pe’e Road.
The position of the roundabouts has been well-noted in the plans. They are not unknown, as this article implies: at the intersection of Koloa Road and Po’ipu Road (at the Texaco), at Po’ipu Road and Kiahuna Plantation Road (fronting Keoki’s) and at Po’ipu Road and Pe’e Road (the Ala Kinoiki bypass outlet). All are dangerous and crowded intersections where deaths and frequent accidents have occurred. Long time coming.
The sidewalks will probably be welcomed as long as bicycles are not on them. But there will be some, especially visitors, who will feel safer riding on the sidewalks rather than in the bike lanes. I suspect roundabouts will be at the intersections of Kiahuna Plantation Dr and Poipu Rd, and at Pe’e Rd and Poipu Rd. Those two places see a lot of turning traffic. I think those will impact the emergency responders from the Koloa Fire Station going to Poipu Beach or Shipwreck Beach, which happens more than once almost every day. Time will tell.
Sidewalk & road improvements are sorely needed in this area of Poipu. I’m a resident along Poipu Rd near the school & look forward to improved capacity to walk safely up to town, and makai to Shops at Kukuiula. Enduring construction for 2+ years – just when new homes being built by Unlimited Construction are nearly done – will be tough. Worthwhile ultimately
10 + years of bureaucracy, but hopefully now lives can be saved and we can enjoy bike riding and pleasant walks. I found some more info on this PDF:
kauai.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/office-of-the-mayor/documents/poipu-report_final_compressed.pdf
Here is the county’s presentation on the project. kauai.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/office-of-the-mayor/documents/poipu-report_final_compressed.pdf
I’ll say it – the roundabout in Kihei on Maui has been a disaster and hasn’t fixed a thing, ironically it’s slowed traffic down, not increased pedestrian anything and only created additional accidents.
Don’t do it, no matter what they tell you. It’s trash.
This is a terrific development for the long term, as someone who would have loved to walk rather than drive on previous stays, but wasn’t comfortable doing so given the absence of sidewalks and crosswalks. The roundabouts are going to be a welcome addition too – roundabouts are far superior to stop signs, lights etc for improved flow in congested areas. Construction will be a pain, but worth it for the long term. Now if we can just figure out a way to afford to come again!
Regarding sidewalks on Kauai, it would sure be nice if the county could build a sidewalk at least 2 blocks east of Kilauea school. Too dangerous for kids to walk now.
Traffic on Kolo Rd. right now probably does make it dangerous for kids to walk there, but once the roundabout on Kuhio Highway is completed the volume of traffic on Kolo Rd will probably go down as the detour will no longer be necessary.
70 Million for this? Are they insane?
The government there is either incredibly corrupt or incredibly inept?
Either way my take is it a lot of people will make a lot of money and the residents will get nothing.
Roundabouts are vastly superior to four-way intersections with traffic lights. They reduce speeds yet keep traffic flowing much better. Roundabouts work during power outages and wind storms because no wires or electricity. They are virtually maintenance free. No onging costs for line crews or traffic light replacement. And they just about eliminate the high-speed broadside crash where one driver blows a red due to being on phone, drunk, or otherwise not paying attention.