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Photos by George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Flashing lights, pedestrian signs and striping have
been placed at the Peterson Lane crosswalk,
but critics say it is still too dangerous.

Kalihi crosswalk
still dangerous
despite upgrade,
residents say

Some feel that only the
installation of a traffic light
will deter speeding drivers

---

By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

The city Department of Transportation Services has installed additional flashing lights and pedestrian signs in Kalihi following a fatal pedestrian-vehicle accident last November.

But according to Jeanette Montenegro, "It's not working."

Montenegro is the mentor program director of the nearby Kalihi-Palama Health Center's health education office.

"I could be next," she said.

Photos by George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
A makeshift memorial near the intersection of
North King Street and Peterson Lane stands in
memory of Taisi Fautanu, who died when he
was hit by a van.

During the last week of December, the city Department of Transportation Services put in four new flashing lights, fluorescent-lime pedestrian signs, and repainted the crosswalk at Peterson Lane with international striping.

On Nov. 24, Taisi Fautanu, 68, died when he was hit by a van near Peterson Lane. Fautanu was out of the crosswalk when he was hit.

In the last three years, the health center staff has tried without success to get a traffic light installed at Peterson Lane.

Since the fatality, city transportation officials have been observing traffic at Peterson, Auld and Austin lanes and will meet with community members no later than February, city Transportation Director Cheryl Soon said.

May Akamine, executive director of Kalihi-Palama Health Center, said, "The cars still continue to speed there.

"It's still dangerous to cross the street."

In 1997 a boy was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk on Peterson Lane, said Lois Arakaki, health educator of the Women, Infant and Children program. Last May, a woman was struck at a nearby crosswalk and went through the vehicle's windshield.

Carmen Lam, owner of Hall Saimin, fronting Peterson Lane, said a woman in her early 60s was almost hit yesterday morning while trying to cross the street to get to the health center.

"How many more people will be sacrificed here before they do something?" said Lam.

Senior citizens, pregnant women and young children often use the crosswalk to get to the health center.

Capt. Bryan Wauke of the Traffic Division said 80 to 90 percent of pedestrian fatalities are people age 60 and above. Visibility and lack of mobility are contributing factors for senior citizens who were struck in or out of the crosswalk, Wauke said.

Already this year, there have been two pedestrian fatalities on Oahu, both on Tuesday. Eusebia Rarallo, 88, died when she was struck by a city bus while in a crosswalk on Paiwa Street. Mauricio Cabe, 85, died after being hit by a van while attempting to cross the street outside of a crosswalk near Star Market on Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe.

Soon said the Transportation Department will be teaming up with community members and the Honolulu Police Department to educate residents about traffic safety.

Isle fatalities Here is the annual number of Oahu pedestrian fatalities since 1994. Police indicated that pedestrians not in the crosswalk could have been hit by a vehicle while on a sidewalk or in a driveway. 2001: 2 deaths, 1 in crosswalk 2000: 24 deaths, 10 in crosswalk 1999: 14 deaths, 7 in crosswalk 1998: 11 deaths, 3 in crosswalk 1997: 18 deaths, 10 in crosswalk 1996: 26 deaths, 11 in crosswalk 1995: 24 deaths, 5 in crosswalk 1994: 23 deaths, 12 in crosswalk Source: Honolulu Police Department