January 6, 2025

The Mayor of Hawai‘i County, C. Kimo Alameda, has issued the fifteenth amendment to the Waipi‘o Valley Traffic Emergency Zone Declaration, citing ongoing safety concerns with Waipi‘o Valley Road. The amended declaration, effective from January 6, 2025, extends through March 6, 2025, and continues to impose strict access restrictions on the road.

Waipi‘o Valley Road, a critical route on the northern Hāmākua Coast, presents significant safety hazards due to its narrow, winding nature, lack of adequate stormwater infrastructure, and susceptibility to rockfalls and landslides. The road is the sole vehicular access to Waipi‘o Valley, serving residents, farmers, and visitors.

The emergency declaration, first enacted in 2022, restricts vehicle access to Hawai‘i County residents, permitted licensed and insured tour operators, and Native Hawaiians exercising traditional and customary rights. All vehicles must be four-wheel drive, and pedestrian access is strictly prohibited. These measures aim to mitigate the risks posed by the current road conditions until necessary remediation work can be completed.

Tour operators wishing to access the road must obtain a permit from the Mayor’s Office by calling 808-961-8211. The ongoing mitigation efforts, which began in June 2023, are part of a phased approach to improve road safety, with completion expected over the next two years.

The Mayor’s office emphasized the continued importance of these restrictions to ensure public safety while remediation work progresses. The emergency rules and traffic restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.