Triathlon will affect traffic
from Waikiki to East Oahu
Motorists and residents in Waikiki, Diamond Head, and East Oahu will see road closures today because of the Honolulu Triathlon and Olympic triathlon trials.
Kalakaua Avenue, from Saratoga Road to Paki Avenue, will be closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. under standard parade closures. Residents of the Gold Coast will most be affected and unable to enter or exit their neighborhood from 5 to 8 a.m. and again from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. City bus routes also will be altered.
Most of a bicycling course for amateurs to Hawaii Kai will have similar road closures for the Honolulu Marathon, but traffic should be restored to normal shortly after 9 a.m., organizers said.
All roads leading in and out of Diamond Head's Gold Coast, including Kalakaua and Paki avenues, Poni Moi Street, Diamond Head Road near Poni Moi Street and Coconut Avenue at Diamond Head Road will be closed from 5 to 8 a.m.
Local traffic will be permitted between the time bikers clear the course at about 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Roads will be closed again from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Traffic coming into the Gold Coast area should take Leahi Avenue to Noela Street, turn right on Noela then left on Paki Avenue to get to the condos and hotels on Poni Moi Street. Coconut and Kiele avenues will be accessible.
Traffic leaving the Gold Coast will be directed right on Kalakaua Avenue to Coconut Avenue, then right on Diamond Head Road. Only one lane will be open in the Kahala direction. No lanes will be open toward Waikiki.
In addition, there will be partial road closures along the bicycle part of the course for non-Olympic athletes, to include Kahala and Kealaolu avenues, Kalanianaole Highway, Lunalilo Home Road, Hawaii Kai Drive, Wailua and Keahole streets, Kilauea Avenue and Elepaio Street.
Olympic-prospect athletes will bike around Diamond Head Road, including repeated use of 18th, Kilauea, Makapuu, Monsarrat and Kalakaua avenues, and run up and down Kalakaua.
Honolulu police will be at all affected intersections to direct pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
For more information, maps are posted under "race info" at www.honolulutriathlon.com.