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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Signs for low speed limit being removed
Question: A section of Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe from Castle Junction to Hawaiian Memorial Park has road construction speed limit signs of 25 mph with a $250 fine. The roadwork was completed more than three months ago, and the road is clear and complete, but the signs are still up and the speed limit has not been returned to 35 and 45 mph in that section. Recently, the Honolulu Police Department has used this section as a speed trap and ticketed many drivers. It is almost impossible to travel that road at 25 mph, and to do so would put you in danger as all other drivers are traveling at 35 or 45 mph. Who is responsible for returning the speed limit to normal?
Answer: The issue of the lower speed limit along that stretch of Kamehameha Highway apparently vexes many motorists, who just can't see why the old speed limits have not been restored.
But, Happy Thanksgiving: The 25-mph signs were being removed yesterday.
We last reported ("Kokua Line," Nov. 2) that the state Department of Transportation hoped to wrap up the project at the end of November, weather permitting.
The latest update: "We are now looking at completion during the first week of December," but again, "weather permitting," DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.
The contractor was taking down the signs yesterday, he said. Most of the work should be done by the first week of December, with the exception of some destination signs and "other minor work."
To ensure the safety of workers, the contractor will continue to post orange "notice to motorists" construction signs until the project is officially finished, he said.
Ishikawa observed that people tend to drive faster than they think they are when traveling on a newly repaved road.
"It seems to be common driver behavior on the other stretches of state highways we've repaved during the last two years," he said, noting Moanalua Freeway, Nimitz Highway, Likelike Highway and Farrington Highway in Waipahu.
"Some of the speeding is to the extreme, such as racing, but most don't realize they may be going a little faster on the smooth surface," he said.
Mahalo
To several people who taught my daughter a powerful lesson and act of aloha. On July 25, in the parking lot of the Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios in Kaneohe, my 7-year-old daughter's ukulele was stolen. We searched everywhere to no avail. My daughter was devastated as the 36th Annual Ukulele Festival Hawaii, where she was to perform for the first time, was scheduled in a few days. Kathy Sakuma comforted my daughter with an ukulele to borrow for the festival. After her group recital, my daughter unexpectedly was presented with a beautiful ukulele from KoAloha Ukulele. Mahalo to Kathy Sakuma, Melynn MacWilliams, Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, emcee Danny Kaleikini and KoAloha Ukulele for their thoughtfulness and kindness. -- Melodie Aduja, Kaneohe
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