By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: The average commute in Maui County is 23.0 minutes, per the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Most trips run through a handful of highways that meet in Central Maui, so a single closure can reroute traffic. As of October 2026, Maui Bus fares are $2 per boarding or $45 a month.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui. When people moving here narrow down where to live, commuting on Maui is one of the factors that changes the decision most, because Maui has few alternate routes. Here’s how the road network works, what’s being built and what to test before you buy.

How Long Is the Average Commute on Maui?

About 23 minutes. The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey puts the mean travel time to work for Maui County at 23.0 minutes for 2020-2024, and the one-year figures have stayed close to that (22.7 minutes in 2022, 22.8 in 2023 and 23.0 in 2024, per the St. Louis Fed’s FRED database of Census data). Averages hide a lot, though: a Kahului-to-Wailuku commute and a West Maui-to-Kahului commute are very different drives.

Which Highways Do Maui Commuters Use?

Most commutes run on a few state highways that converge on Central Maui:

Route	Name	Connects
30	Honoapiʻilani Highway	Wailuku to Māʻalaea, Lahaina and Honokōhau (West Maui)
3000	Lahaina Bypass	Inland route through Lahaina
311	Mokulele Highway	Kahului area to North Kīhei Road / Piʻilani Highway
31	Piʻilani Highway	Kīhei to Wailea
380	Kuihelani Highway	Central Maui link toward Kahului and the airport
36 / 360	Hāna Highway	Kahului to Pāʻia, Haʻikū and Hāna
37	Haleakalā Highway / Kula Highway	Kahului to Pukalani and Kula

Source: Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation route list.

For one benchmark, the State’s Kahului Airport directions list the drive from Lahaina to the airport at about 23.5 miles, mostly on Honoapiʻilani Highway. West Maui depends on Route 30 along the coast, so closures there matter. During Hurricane Lowell, Honoapiʻilani Highway at Ukumehame reopened around 9 a.m. on September 9, 2026, and on September 26 the highway was closed near Olowalu with drivers turned around at Māʻalaea until both lanes reopened at 11 p.m., according to Maui Now and the County.

What Road Projects Are Coming to Maui?

Several larger projects are in planning or design, and most are years away:

• Honoapiʻilani Highway realignment (Olowalu and Ukumehame): HDOT selected a final route in September 2025 for about 6 miles between mileposts 11 and 17, moving the highway inland from the eroding shoreline. Maui Now reported an estimated $298 million cost and construction expected in 2028.
• Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C: About 3 miles from Keawe Street to Kakaʻalaneo Drive, estimated at $220 million to $250 million, including $100 million in County wildfire disaster funds. HDOT began preliminary environmental studies in June 2026, with construction planned for mid-to-late 2028 and completion by December 2030.
• Waiʻale Road extension (County): A 1.6-mile, roughly $73 million connection from East Waiko Road to Honoapiʻilani Highway near Waikapū. The County issued a finding of no significant impact in August 2025. I couldn’t confirm a construction start date.
• Piʻilani Highway in Kīhei: A new intersection opposite East Waipuʻilani Road was under construction in 2026 for housing at the Maui Research & Technology Park.
• Kahului Airport: Runway 2-20 reconstruction was in planning, with a public meeting held June 25, 2026.

Timelines like these can shift, so treat them as plans rather than dates to count on.

Is the Maui Bus a Realistic Commute Option?

For some routes, yes. The County Department of Transportation runs Maui Bus, operated by Roberts Hawaiʻi. Standard fares are $2 per boarding and $45 for a monthly pass. Since July 1, 2026, students with ID and County employees ride free, joining several groups the County already exempted, and new stops were added in Kahului, Haliʻimāile, Nāpili and Kīhei. Routes and schedules change, so check the current maps at mauicounty.gov before you count on a bus commute.

My Take: What I’m Telling Buyers and Renters About Commuting

When someone is looking at a property, especially in a more remote area, I suggest they look closely at the surrounding area and their own willingness to live there, the commute time, the location and neighboring parcels of land, permits, and weather. Commute time belongs on that list for any part of Maui, not just Hāna.

My practical advice: drive the commute at the actual time you’d make it, on a weekday, before you write an offer. Then drive it again with a backup route in mind. From Kīhei, Mokulele Highway is the main link to Kahului; from West Maui, Honoapiʻilani Highway along the coast is the main route, so a closure can mean long delays. If you’ll work from home most days, the commute may matter less than internet speed and weather.

For area-by-area detail, see my guides to living in Wailuku and Kahului, Kīhei real estate and the Maui job market.

FAQ

What is the average commute time on Maui?
The Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 ACS estimate for Maui County is 23.0 minutes.

How much does the Maui Bus cost in 2026?
$2 per boarding or $45 for a monthly pass, with some riders eligible to ride free. Check the County’s Maui Bus page for current eligibility.

When will the new Honoapiʻilani Highway be built?
HDOT selected a final route in September 2025, and construction was expected to begin in 2028, per Maui Now.

How far is Lahaina from Kahului Airport?
About 23.5 miles, according to the State of Hawaiʻi’s airport driving directions.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re deciding where to live on Maui and want to compare areas by commute, I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and I’m happy to talk through the drive times and roads for the places you’re considering. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (QuickFacts; American Community Survey); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED); Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (route list; Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C; Honoapiʻilani Highway project); State of Hawaiʻi Airports Division (Kahului Airport driving directions); County of Maui (Maui Bus; civic alerts); Maui Now (Aug. 26, 2025; Sept. 26, 2025; Jan. 9, 2026; June 3, 2026; June 15, 2026; Sept. 9, 2026); Hawaii News Now (June 23, 2026).