North Shore
light poles will go

Lights on Kamehameha Highway
sparked objections from residents

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Light poles recently put up along Kamehameha Highway heading toward the North Shore will soon be removed.

Pledges by state officials to take down the poles were lauded by most of the 500 residents attending last night's community meeting at Haleiwa Elementary School.

The standing-room-only crowd applauded each time they heard anti-pole sentiments at the meeting, which was called by state Rep. Alexander Santiago.

"We will be looking at the different alternatives that were suggested here this evening," assured Charles Toguchi, Gov. Ben Cayetano's chief of staff, summing up general agreement that the poles must go to preserve the view.

Use of reflectors or some type of lighting without poles seemed to be preferred, Toguchi said. "We're going to look at those various alternatives."

Toguchi, state Transportation Director Kazu Hayashida, and state Highways Administrator Hugh Ono said the wooden poles will soon be history in light of the outcry.

Santiago said it was thought for years that better lighting between Poamoho Bridge and Weed Circle would improve Kamehameha Highway safety. The project finally got funded and work started.

But Santiago admitted that he, like many residents, found the poles' presence offensive. State officials now will likely meet with the contractor, redirect the $525,000 contract, and have the poles removed in a reasonable time.

The administration will keep the community informed, and work with Santiago and other elected officials, the North Shore Neighborhood Board and the Outdoor Circle, Toguchi said.

"We will be in the community to talk about the various alternatives," he stressed. "We will go back and regroup."

Cayetano last week asked the state Department of Transportation to suspend installation of the new highway lighting on Kamehameha Highway until the department and the community had more time to review the project.

The governor's office pointed out the department had received a community request for the lighting after six people were killed on the road during evening hours. The contractor began installing the poles three weeks ago, and about a third of the poles, spaced about 100 feet apart, were installed.

Thirty speakers had their say last night. Although most opposed the poles, several favored highway lighting in some form -- ideas not always popular with the audience. On the stage of the cafetorium were three signs: "No Poles," "Reflectors Work" and "Let's Find Alternative Lighting."

Firefighter James Sutherland was one of several who said poles are often involved in serious accidents. "The road is not unsafe," he said. "It's the people who drive on it, speeders, who are unsafe."

He said he had a petition against the poles signed by firefighters, ambulance personnel and people who work in the Wahiawa Hospital emergency room and Haleiwa Clinic.

"I would rather go into a burning building than have to cut people out of cars," he said.

Mary Steiner of the Outdoor Circle said support to take the poles down comes from all Oahu, not just the North Shore.

Safe turnout areas and emergency telephones were suggested as alternatives. Scott Brewer recommended flashing blue lights above the telephones.