Pearl City making
street easier on drivers,
pedestrians, residents

A "traffic calming" plan
seeks safety and charm
along Kuahaka Street

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Pearl City residents have spoken: They want traffic to be calmer on Kuahaka Street.

Of some 45 residents who attended a community meeting Friday night, most agreed they want to slow traffic on the street, which is in the 8th District (Halawa-Pearl City) represented by Councilman Mufi Hannemann.

Reaction to "traffic calming" in the eight blocks of Kuahaka Street had been mixed. But at the meeting at Pearl City Highlands Elementary School, only three hands came up in opposition to the plan.

The City Council already has approved $4.5 million to calm traffic on one roadway in each of the nine Council districts. With consensus in Pearl City, the only district not yet in agreement is the 9th (Waipahu-Makaha).

"The traffic calming program for Honolulu is absolutely the best in the nation," said Dan Burden of Florida-based Walkable Communities, the city's consultant on traffic calming.

Burden added that he visits 200 cities a year. "I'm very impressed by what you have building here," he said.

Designing changes to Kuahaka now will begin -- a phase that might take six months -- followed by construction.

At the meeting, Burden asked participants to list the qualities they want for their neighborhood. Generally, 19 wanted safety, 13 wanted beautification, 12 wanted security, 11 wanted quiet and nine wanted a friendly, neighborly atmosphere.

Kuahaka Street begins at right angles to Waimano Home Road and curves past Manana Elementary School. Experience strongly suggests more trees and greenery along the street would have a calming effect on motorists who naturally go slow in such surroundings, according to Burden.

Circular roundabouts foreseen for Kuahaka -- one on each side of Manana Elementary, one at Kalauipo Street, and one at Kaweloka Street -- work better than stop signs, which cause motorists to speed to make up for lost time, the consultant said.

A roundabout might have a center island, an apron surrounding it that gently goes up 2 inches and which emergency vehicles can cut across, and short crosswalks.

"The most distance a person crosses is 14 feet, a lot better than 40," Burden said.

Roundabouts permit continuous movement and promote speeds that do not wildly fluctuate, he said. "Roundabouts are about 90 percent safer than unsignalized (intersections), stop signs or whatever."

Landscaping medials also is popular, Burden said, and "it brings back more value, more beauty, more charm to a neighborhood."

"It creates more of a park in front of people's houses," he said. "In some neighborhoods, people will adopt the medial because they want it to look beautiful. They want it to be more attractive."

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Roadwork

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach

Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street.

Maili

Waapuhi Street.

NORTH OAHU

Haleiwa

Haleiwa Bypass Road; and Kamehameha Highway from Helemano-Waialua Junction to Haleiwa Beach Park.

CENTRAL OAHU

Kunia

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; and Lanikuhana Avenue.

Waipahu

H-1 in the vicinity of Waipahu Street to Waiawa Road; 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; Moanalua Road from Punanani Channel to Pali Momi Street.

Waimalu

H-1, Waimalu Viaduct to Halawa Interchange; and Moanalua Road from Kaahumanu Street to Moanalua Loop.

Waipio

Farrington Highway, Leoole to Awanui streets; and Paiwa to Leoku streets.

HONOLULU

Moanalua

Ala Kapuna to Ala Napunani; and Moanalua Freeway South Frontage and North Frontage roads, Ala Kapuna and Ala Napunani.

Kalihi

Makuahine and Kalihi streets; Dillingham Boulevard between Waiakamilo Road and North King Street; Kamanaiki Street from Violet to Laulani streets; Likelike Highway at the bridge; and Moani, Laulani, Puolani, Noe, North School and Pahulu streets.

Liliha

Liliha Street from North King Street to Vineyard Boulevard.

Nuuanu

Kimo Drive Bridge; Kaohinani Drive from Kimo to Pelekane drives; Kahawalu Drive between Kaohinani and Niolopua drives; Pali Highway from Country Club Road to tunnel entrance, including both roads to the lookout; Dowsett Avenue to Hinalo Place; 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.

Kapiolani

South King Street from Church Lane to Kapiolani Boulevard intersection.

Makiki

Round Top and Tantalus drives.

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.

Wilhelmina Rise

Maunahilu, Pakolu and Pili places; and Paula Drive between Maunahilu Place and Iwi Way.

WINDWARD OAHU

Kaaawa

Kamehameha Highway from Mahe Point to Lau Place.

Hauula

Keala, Kawaipapa and Puuowaa roads; and Waikulama Street.

Kailua

Ililani Street from Mokapu Boulevard to Iliwahi Loop; Iliwahi Loop from Ilimano to Ilimano streets; Iliaina Street from Ililani Street to Iliwahi Loop and from Ilihau Street to end; Ilikaa Place; Kalaheo Avenue; Alahaki and Akupa streets; Akupa and Nanaloko places; 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; Likelike Highway from Valley View Drive to Kam IV Road; and Kula Kulea Street to Valley View Drive.

EAST OAHU

Kalani Valley

Kalaniiki Street and Kalanikai Place.

Hawaii Kai

Kalanianaole Highway from Nawiliwili Street to Sandy Beach park entrance and from Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach.

SPECIAL

Kanikapila Hoolaulea

6-10 p.m. Wednesday. Bethel Street will be closed from Hotel to Pauahi streets.

Waikiki Hoolaulea

5:30 p.m.-midnight Friday. Kalakaua Avenue will be closed from Lewers Street to Kapahulu Avenue.