HR 162: URGING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU’S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO IMPLEMENT ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC FLOW IMPROVEMENTS IN HAWAII KAI.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU’S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO IMPLEMENT ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC FLOW IMPROVEMENTS IN HAWAII KAI.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Kai is a suburban community home to many local families; and

WHEREAS, speeding is a recurring concern for Hawaii Kai's pedestrians; and

WHEREAS, in a recent study by the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Transportation Services it was found that seventy-one per cent of drivers failed to yield for pedestrians at a busy intersection in Hawaii Kai, which was the highest rate of the ten intersections included in the island-wide study; and

WHEREAS, there are numerous highly trafficked areas in Hawaii Kai and Kalama Valley which lack crosswalks, making movement on foot a dangerous proposition; and

WHEREAS, for example, streets surrounding Kalama Valley Community Park are often traversed by young athletes, though the absence of crosswalks makes crossing thoroughfares difficult and dangerous; and

WHEREAS, the intersection of Hawaii Kai Drive and Kealahou Street is another location of concern in Kalama Valley, with frequent speeding and no crosswalks making this an unfriendly pedestrian environment; and

WHEREAS, there are numerous streets in Hawaii Kai which are prone to speeding, though the implementation of traffic calming measures are rare, despite numerous long-standing requests from elected officials and community members alike; and

WHEREAS, as the main ingress and egress of East Honolulu, Kalanianaʻole Highway is a highly utilized thoroughfare with many drivers frequently sitting in traffic; and

WHEREAS, drivers turning left off Kalanianaʻole Highway at times must wait over five minutes for the signal to change, even at night when there are very few vehicles on the road; and

WHEREAS, at other locations in Honolulu, traffic turn signals flash yellow during low traffic volume hours, which give drivers the opportunity to make a left turn if they determine it is safe; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Transportation Services is urged to install crosswalks in Kalama Valley, prioritizing areas around the Kalama Valley Community Park and at the intersection of Hawaii Kai Drive and Kealahou Street; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Department of Transportation and the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services are urged to study traffic calming measures throughout Hawaii Kai to reduce speeding and urgently implement the most optimal solutions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Department of Transportation and the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services are urged to make light timing changes and adjust parameters to maximize traffic flow, including exploring the installation of turn signals on Kalanianaʻole Highway to flashing yellow lights during low traffic volume hours to give drivers the discretion to decide if it is safe to turn; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Director of the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Transportation Services, and the Honolulu City Council's District Four Councilmember.

Report Title: 

Pedestrian Safety; Transportation; Hawaii Kai