Traffic deaths
decline on
perilous stretch

Koolauloa area residents organized
to push 'sober, alert and wise' driving

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

There were 48 traffic fatalities between April 1988 and February 1997 along a treacherous 20-mile section of Kamehameha Highway running through the Koolauloa district of northeast Oahu.

The fatality count, however, has dropped dramatically since the formation in June 1997 of the Koolauloa Traffic Safety Coalition, representing residents and organizations from communities between Kualoa Regional Park and Kawela Bay.

The death of a motorcyclist near Kahana Bay on Sept. 9 ended a string of 18 consecutive months without a fatality in the area.

In addition to producing an educational brochure for visitors with safety tips for driving through Koolauloa's scenic beachfront roadways, the coalition has developed videos and visual displays to heighten awareness.

"Every time you hear a siren here, you cringe," Laie resident Rich Carey said. "The road is treacherous and needs to be redesigned.

"The coalition has helped to make it better, but there's still a lot to do."

Councilman Steve Holmes and his aide MaryAnne Long, along with Principal Lea Albert and Vice Principal Lisa DeLong of Kahuku High and Intermediate School, were among the prime movers in forming the coalition, which lists more than 100 members.

"I remember Lea coming to a Malama Ohana meeting and saying she doesn't want to attend any more funerals of Kahuku kids," said Richard Paglinawan, a special assistant with Ho'opono Ko'olauloa of the Queen Emma Foundation.

"It's made a big difference. They mobilized the community, set up task groups and went after funding for projects to spread the message of driving sober, alert and wise."

The coalition supported legislation to allow the use of photo-radar cameras to reduce speeding along Kamehameha Highway, and is requesting other roadway improvements.

Citing state Highways Division statistics, Albert said there were 679 accidents resulting in 17 deaths and 382 injuries along the Koolauloa stretch from 1994-96.

"Most of them were caused by inattentiveness," Albert said. "This roadway was built in the 1920s and was designed for 35 mph."

She said the road is full of curves with no shoulders and little or no room for passing. The state Transportation Department made some improvements, but not much can be done about the roads, Albert said.

Creighton Mattoon, president of the Punaluu Community Association, said funds were raised to put up roadway "welcome to" signs for Koolauloa communities such as Punaluu, Kaaawa, Hauula, Laie and Kahuku.

"There'll be room underneath for messages such as 'Drive safely,' " Mattoon said. "I think the accidents have decreased in the last year because people are more aware."

Pat Jones, an Emergency Medical Services technician assigned to the Kahuku area and a member of the coalition, has been helping to promote traffic safety awareness in the schools.

"We go in and talk to them about what we see when there's an accident, and about drinking and driving, emphasizing to them not to drive when tired," Jones said. "I think the coalition has made a great deal of difference."

Holmes recently announced that the Transportation Department has awarded $12,946 to Kahuku High School for production of a 1999 traffic calendar, and $14,000 to the Fire Department to purchase an extrication tool for the Kahuku station.

The calendar will focus on children promoting safety and will be given out free to area residents, Albert said.

"Every time they look at the kids, we hope they'll think about safety," he said, noting that 41 of the 48 traffic deaths since 1988 were people connected to Kahuku High School either as parents, students or volunteers.

The coalition will be holding its first annual meeting 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Kahuku High School cafetorium. For further information, call Holmes' office at 527-5814.