Plan may ease
traffic during race

Drivers to get more room to
navigate Kalanianaole Highway

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Eastbound motorists on Kalanianaole Highway may have an easier time tomorrow than during previous Honolulu Marathons, said race officials and Honolulu police.

Police will make room for drivers to get around eastbound motorists waiting to make left-hand turns at major intersections. During previous marathons this pushed back traffic.

As before, the race course will occupy all of the eastbound, makai lanes of the highway from Ainakoa Avenue to Hawaii Kai Drive. Two lanes on the mauka side of the highway will be open to motorists heading west. The lane closest to the median is reserved for contraflow traffic heading east.

With just one lane for traffic heading toward Hawaii Kai, cars back up every time a motorist stops to make a left turn.

This year, traffic cones will be arranged at six intersections between Kahala and Hawaii Kai to allow eastbound motorists to get around a driver waiting to make a left turn.

"We've set up at some intersections where cars can pull out a little bit and wait for police officers to stop traffic," said Honolulu Marathon assistant race director Ken MacDowell.

"Cones will be configured to force left-turners more into the medial so as not to block traffic," said police Maj. Carl Godsey.

The intersections are at Ainakoa Avenue, Laukahi Street, West Hind Drive, Puu Ikena Drive, Halemaumau Street and Kuliouou Road. These are also the only locations where cars will be permitted to cross the race course.

Two police officers and a race marshal will be at each of the intersections to direct traffic when there are large enough gaps between runners for cars to cross the course. They may even stop participants to create openings for vehicles, but only when those still on the course are walkers, MacDowell said.

"I hope it goes very smoothly. It should go pretty well; each year, it gets better," Godsey said.

People who live along the race route welcome the change but feel more can be done.

"Its an improvement, that's for sure. The problem is, some people are still not able to get out of their homes" because their driveways are on Kalanianaole on the makai side of the highway, said Charlie Rodgers, Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board chairman.

Those residents will be able to cross the race course in their vehicles, but Godsey said they will have to leave their driveways "very carefully" to get to the intersections designated for crossing.

Marathon officials have talked about allowing cars to cross the race course in the past, but such instances have been limited, said Quincy Kaneshiro, a former Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board member.

"That's a judgment call. If left to police, they will err on the side of safety," he said.

Kaneshiro recommends that people who live makai of Kalanianaole park their cars on streets across the highway tonight if they need to leave their homes tomorrow.

Marathon officials have also made provisions to allow traffic into the Kahala Towers, Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Waialae Country Club through Aukai Avenue and Pueo Street under the same conditions cars will be allowed to cross Kalanianaole Highway.