Kauai County Route 543

Kauai County Route 543 is the shortest County Route on the island of Kauai at 0.8 miles. This highway corridor was designated in 1962 as Hawaii Route 543. Hawaii Route 543 followed Lele Road from Hawaii Route 50 to Port Allen Airport. The Hawaii Department of Transportation did not retain this highway after 1968 when the County Route System was split from State Highway System.

This page is part of the Gribblenation Hawaii Roads series. A compellation of all Hawaii-related media from both Gribblenation and RoadwayWiz can be found by clicking here.

Part 1; the history of Kauai County Route 543

Kauai County Route 543 is fully aligned over Lele Road which serves to connect Hawaii Route 50 (Kaumaualii Highway) to Port Allen Airport. Port Allen Airport became the first passenger air terminal on Kauai which began service on November 12, 1929. The facility would serve as the only airstrip for commercial flights until the opening of Lihue Airport during January 1950. Modern Port Allen Airport generally sees over 5,000 flight operations a year which are most comprised of general aviation and helicopter flights.

Lele Road was assigned as Hawaii Route 543 sometime around 1962. The highway can be seen on the 1963 United States Geological Survey map of Hanapepe.

Hawaii Route 543 was removed from the State Highway System in the late 1960s and transferred to Kauai County. This transferred likely occurred in 1968 when the State Highway System and County Route System were split. Kauai County has since maintained Lele Road as County Route 543.

Part 2; a drive on Hawaii Route 543

Southbound Kauai Coute 543 begins as Hawaii Route 50 approaches Lele Road west of the Hanapepe River. Port Allen Airport is signed as being 0.8 miles away.

Kauai County Route 543 follows Lele Road south to Port Allen Airport where it terminates.

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