Paihi Bridge, Spanning Paihi Gulch at Hana Highway (County Route 31), Kipahulu, Maui County, HI

Significance: The Paihi Bridge is a contributing element of the Hana Highway Historic District which is comprised of fifty-nine bridges and numerous culverts constructed between 1908 and 1947. The bridge and roadway achieve state and local significance in the areas of engineering, transportation, commerce, and social history under criteria A and C. Paihi Bridge is a good example of early reinforced-concrete bridge construction in Hawai'i and is significant for its use of vernacular materials ("lava rock") for the construction of abutments, piers and wingwalls. The bridge is a product of the Territorial Loan Fund program (ca. 1911-1915), and represents the County's investment in permanent improvements requiring the mobilization of skilled labor and significant public funds. The construction of bridges and a road to Hana between 1900 and 1947 opened East Maui to settlement, agricultural enterprises, and tourism. The Hana Belt Road retains the highest concentration of unaltered and stylistically consistent historic bridges in Hawai'i.
Survey number: HAER HI-63
Building/structure dates: 1911 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 2001 Subsequent Work