Hawaii Route 58 is 2.1 miles in length and is comprised of the entirety of Nawiliwili Road between Hawaii Route 51 and Hawaii Route 50. Shortly after the creation of the Hawaii Route System in 1955 the Nawiliwili Road corridor was designated as Hawaii Route 501. Nawiliwili Road became the second designation of Hawaii Route 58 by the end of the 1960s when the State Highway and County Route systems split.
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Part 1; the history of Hawaii Route 58
Modern Hawaii Route 58 is aligned completely over Nawiliwili Road which serves the Nawiliwili Bay area of Lihue. Lihue historically was a small village which has been continuously occupied since pre-European contact. The town was formally named in 1837 by Royal Governor Kaikio'ewa when he relocated the Kauai governing seat from Waimea. The town has remained a commercial hub on Kauai and was selected as the Kauai County upon it being created in 1905.
Nawiliwili Bay was once a fertile fishing ground which extensively used during pre-European contract Kauai. The bay is thought to have been named after the wiliwili trees which were once abundant along the shore. During the sugar industry boom of Hawaii Territory this bay became desirable as a major harbor. In 1930 Nawiliwili Bay was dredged to accommodate large ships, and large seawall was installed. Much of the funding for these improvements were provided by George Wilcox.
Nawiliwili Bay can be seen served by Nawiliwili Road on the 1954 United States Geological Survey map of Kauai. Nawiliwili Road branches east of Kaumauli Highway (now Hawaii Route 50) near Puhi.
In 1955 the Hawaii Route System was expanded to Kauai. At some point between 1955 and 1962 Nawiliwili Road was added to the highway network as Hawaii Route 501. Hawaii Route 501 can be seen for the first time on the 1963 United States Geological Survey map of Lihue. Hawaii Route 501 originally connected to Hawaii Route 50 at both terminus points along Nawiliwili Road.
By the end of the 1960s Nawiliwili Road would be redesignated as the second iteration of Hawaii Route 58. This likely occurred in 1968 when the State Highway and County Route networks were split. This designation first appears on the 1970 United States Geological Survey map of Kauai.
Part 2; a drive on Hawaii Route 58
Westbound Hawaii Route 58 begins at the end of Hawaii Route 51 at Nawiliwili Bay.
Hawaii Route 58 follows the 2.1-mile long Nawiliwili Road and terminates at Hawaii Route 50.
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