Isles avert shortage
of license plate prefixes

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Big Island license plates bear an "H" as the first letter in a three-letter combination on current plates.

Likewise, three-letter combinations on rainbow plates issued on Maui begin with "M" and begin on Kauai plates with "K."

So with the Big Island now issuing plates with the first two letters "HZ," that means the Big Island will soon run out of three-letter prefixes on plates, right?

Wrong!

"Once we are done with the Z's,we'll go back to HA," said Frank Manalili, Hawaii County treasurer.

The Big Island rainbow series began in plate year 1991 with "HNA," he said. There are enough letter combinations to last a number of years, Manalili said. "We're going to be just like Maui," he added.

How's that?

Becky Boteilho, Maui motor vehicle registration clerk supervisor, sees no difficulty in the near future. "At this point we're not yet running out of letters. We started with 'MTA.'" Eventually, Maui went to MAA. "We're now at 'MFF,' about to go on to 'MFG,'" Boteilho said.

"We're only on 'KSK,'" said Verna Yamase, Kauai motor vehicle registration officer. Kauai started with 'KHA' when 1991 rainbow plates appeared. Once Kauai runs through 'KZZ,' it will just start with 'KAA,' she said.

Dennis Kamimura, Honolulu licensing administrator, also is unruffled. Since rainbow plates came in starting with "A" on Oahu, it has taken nine years to get to "G," he said.

There is no shortage of ways to combine three-letter prefixes and three-digit license plate numbers, Kamimura noted.

"I believe there are over 8 million combinations," he said.

The numbers There were 884,267 vehicles licensed in the state in 1997, down from 897,193 in 1991. New motor vehicle registrations annually for the years 1992-1997 averaged about 76,448. The state has no figures on motor vehicles junked or taken out of service each year.

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Roadwork

Planned this week throughout Oahu:

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach
Farrington Highway, Piliokoe Bridge to vicinity of Aliinui Drive; Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street.
Maili
Ehu, Hakeakea and Waapuhi streets.
Waianae
Kulaaupuni Street from Ohiohi Place to Kaukamana Street; and Kaukamana Street.

NORTH OAHU

Haleiwa
Haleiwa Bypass Road; and Helemano-Waialua Junction to Haleiwa Beach Park.
Waialua
Kaukonahua Road.

CENTRAL OAHU

Kunia
Kunia and Fort Weaver roads near the Kunia Interchange; Kupuna Loop to Farrington Highway; H-1 freeway ramps 5, 5-A and 5-B and other Kunia Interchange on-ramps; and H-1, vicinity of Kunia Interchange.
Wahiawa
Kilani Avenue from Holoku Place to Ilima Street; Whitmore Avenue from Kamehameha Highway to Military Gate; and Mala and Ilima streets.
Mililani
Mililani Interchange.
Waipahu
Kahuamoku Place; Kipou Street from Hulahe to Honowai streets; Honowai Street from Kipou to Hoaeae streets; Hoaeae Street from Honowai Street to near the Hoaeae Pumping Station.
Aiea
Heleconia Place.
Waiawa
Waipahu Street to Waiawa Road.
Waimalu
H-1, Waimalu Viaduct to Halawa Interchange.
Waipio
Farrington Highway, Leoole to Awanui streets; Paiwa to Leoku streets; Awanui Street to Waipio Point Access Road; and Pupupuhi Street to Waikele Road.

HONOLULU

Moanalua
Moanalua Freeway ramps; vicinity of Ala Kapuna to Ala Napunani; and South and North Frontage roads.
Kalihi
Makuahine and Kalihi streets; Dillingham Boulevard between Waiakamilo Road and North King Street; Kamanaiki Street from Violet to Laulani streets; and Moani, Laulani, Puolani, Noe and Pahulu streets.
Liliha
Liliha Street from North King Street to Vineyard Boulevard.
Nuuanu
Niolopua Drive; Kaohinani Drive from Kimo to Pelekane drives; Kahawalu Drive between Kaohinani and Niolopua drives; Dowsett Avenue to Hinalo Place; Pali Highway from Country Club Road to the tunnel entrance, including both roads to Lookout; Kimo Drive bridge; and Old Pali Road.
Kakaako
Keawe Street on Ala Moana, South and Queen streets, and Nimitz Highway and River Street to end at Hotel Street; and Coral Street from Ala Moana to Auahi Street.
Pauoa
Star Road from Kanealii Avenue to end.
Makiki
Round Top and Tantalus drives; and Lewalani Drive from Clio Street to Wilder Avenue.
Moiliili
Kuulei Street from Kahoaloha Lane to University Avenue; and Kahoaloha Lane from Kuilei Lane to South King Street.
Palolo
Keanu Street between 8th Avenue and Sierra Drive; and 9th and 10th avenues between Keanu Street and Waialae Avenue.
Punahou
Spreckels Street.
Waialae
Aha Nui Place; and Kealaolu Avenue from Leahala to Waialae avenues.

WINDWARD OAHU

Hauula
Keala, Kawaipapa and Puuowaa roads; and Waikulama Street.
Kailua
Ililani Street from Mokapu Boulevard to Iliwahi Loop; Iliwahi Loop to Ilimano Street; Iliaina Street from Ililani Street to Iliwahi Loop and from Ilihau Street to end; Ilikaa Place; Kalaheo Avenue; and Kainui Drive.
Waimanalo
Flamingo and Ahiki streets; Kaaiai Street from Huli to Nakini streets; and Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets.
Kaneohe
Keaahala Road from Anoi Road to Keaahala Place; and Kahekili Highway at Likelike Highway.

EAST OAHU

Kalani Valley
Kalaniiki Street and Kalanikai Place.
Hawaii Kai
Kalanianaole Highway from Nawiliwili Street to Sandy Beach Park Entrance; and Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach.