How can I determine if Southern Road to Hana (via Keokea) is closed on any given day?

Question

This Reddit comment warns:

Your options of getting to Hana from Wailea are:

1. Drive through Kihei to Paia to Hana (this is the typical route with the best road)
2. Drive through Kihei then go up Haleakala Highway passing Makawao/Pukalani/Kula and just keep going til Hana. This road eventually gets a bit rough and sometimes closes. [I bolded.] Some car rental companies may ban you from going on this unimproved road.

3. Which road is being referred? Routes 37, 31, and/or 360?

4. Is there a website that indicates whether Southern Road to Hana (via keokea) is closed on any given day? How can I know this before leaving my hotel, without trial and error?

Answer 1

First, the "route numbers" don't seem that useful. Google Maps shows me that 31 is in two disconnected parts, one connected to 37 and 360 and one running north from Wailea. Here are the two routes as described:

Via Paia

Via Pukalani

The Maui Road Closure Notifications web site would show if the southern route is closed.

If for any reason it is closed (construction, landslide, erosion, etc) then it will also probably be well marked before you get too far in. If you find it's closed unexpectedly, turn around and go the other way. You can also ask at your hotel, they might know whether it's closed or know who to call to find out.

When I last visited Maui, I drove clockwise from Paia to Hana and back along the southern route. The northern route was far more interesting.