Hawaii's oldest and most congested freeway, H-1 is the primary freeway along the south shore of Oahu. Beginning at the former Barbers Point NAS and Ewa plantation, it proceeds east around Pearl Harbor, dives south to serve Honolulu International Airport, then east through densely populated Honolulu and north of Waikiki Beach, to end short of Koko Head.
Portions of H-1 predate statehood, as an upgrade of Lunalilo Street, the freeway's namesake. The oldest section, from Punahou street east to King Street (Exits 23-25), was open before 1959. Originally signed as Hawaii 72, this section shows its age today, as it resembles freeways in downtown Los Angeles more than a present-day freeway.
H-1 is notoriously congested at all hours of the day, with little to no room for expansion. Hawaii DOT has some unique features on the western segment, including an HOV lane during morning rush hour where two westbound lanes are converted into an eastbound HOV lane. Some sections have been widened as time permits, but with the rapid growth of the Ewa area as a bedroom community for Honolulu, traffic will probably continue to worsen as time goes on.
History
The following timeline shows the general construction of Hawaii 72, later renumbered as H-1.
1953. First section of the Mauka Arterial opened. The Mauka arterial was approximately a mile section around University Avenue, present-day Mile 24.
1959. At statehood, the first section of what is now called the Lunalilo Freeway open between Punahou Street (Mile 23) and King Street (Mile 25). Maps show a proposed route from Punahou Street west to Middle Street (present H-1/H-201 interchange).
1960. Freeway extended west to Ke'eaumoku Street (approximately 1/2 mile west of Punahou Street). A section of present-day H-201 opened thru Fort Shafter, signed as Hawaii 72. Sections from Fort Shafter east to Houghtailing Street (Exit 20B) and the Pali Highway interchange (exit 21A/B) under construction.
1961. Open sections are Pu'uloa Road (present-day H-201) to Houghtailing Street (Exit 20B), the Pali Highway interchange, and Ke'eaumoku Street to King Street.
1964. The section from Kapahulu Street (Mile 25) east to Koko Head Ave (Exit 26A) under construction.
1965. Kapahulu Street to Koko Head Ave open. There is a gap in existing freeway sections between King Street and Kapahulu Street; this short 1/2 mile section is under construction.
1967. H-1 first appears on maps, cosigned with Hawaii 72. The freeway is continuous from Pu'uloa Road east to Pele Street (just east of Pali Highway, Hawaii 61), as well as the existing sections from Ke'eaumoku Street to King Street and Kapahulu Street to Koko Head Ave. The western section between Kunia Road and Kamehameha Highways (Exits 5 through Exit 8A) is open, with the section between Miles 0 and 5 under construction.
1968. The gap between King Street and Kapahulu Street is opened. H-1 is extended east to its present terminus east of Kilauea Ave. There is still a gap between Pele Street and Ke'eaumoku Street.
1972. H-1 is open from Kamehameha Highway (Western terminus) to Kaimakani Street, immediately west of the Halawa interchange. The Hawala interchange and sections of H-1 to Middle Street are proposed. From Middle Street east to Kilauea Ave is completed freeway. Hawaii 72 is trunced at the eastern end of H-1; the orphaned section between Pu'uloa Road and Middle Street is re-signed as Hawaii 78.
1986. H-1 is completed between Nimitz Highway and Middle Street (Miles 18-19), completing H-1. The through lanes of H-1 east use the Middle Street tunnel, completed in 1961 for the Middle Street off-ramp.
Many thanks to Joel Windmiller for his help in creating this timeline.
Highway Guide
Interstate H1 west
Advance signage for the Kapiolani Interchange, exit 25.
At the Kapiolani Interchange. Exit 25B takes an overpass over H-1. Use King Street for access to Waikiki. Notice the reduced speed limit through the interchange, reflecting entry on the oldest (pre-1959) section of the Lunalilo Freeway.
Advance signage for the Manoa interchange.
Use Exit 24B, the Manoa interchange for access to the University of Hawaii.
Approaching the Punahou underpass, signs appear on both directions to indicate a possible road closure. This is due to the underpass at Punahou which is subject to flooding. This picture was shot at 2:30 on a weekday; notice the stop and go traffic already happening on the oldest stretch of the congested Lunalilo Freeway.
A nonstandard H-1 shield placed at the Wilder Avenue
on-ramp. This is not actually the ramp at this point
- drivers must make 2 more turns to actually get on
H-1. There are 2 shields similiar to this along Westbound
H-1 - the other is at the beginning of the freeway.
H-1 at Exit 23, Lunalilo Street (the freeway's namesake).
Notice the congested and narrow nature, despite this section
opening in the late 1960s.
Due to the short on-ramp at the Puowiana Interchange
from Lunalilo Street, the onramp is blocked during the
morning rush hour to force traffic onto Vineyard Blvd
from Lunalilo, without entering H-1.
H-1 at Exit 22, the Puowiana Interchange (which also
marks the beginning of State 98, which loops from this
exit to Exit 20).
Looking under the Vineyard Blvd ramps (which are above
us).
H-1 at the Pali interchange. The Pali Highway is one
of three Trans-Koolau highways (the others being the Likelike
Highway - HI-63, and H-3).
A collector/distributor setup is in place at the Pali
Highway exit.
Advance signage for the next three exits (20C-A, in
order). Exits on the Lunalilo section of H-1 are very
closely spaced, reflecting the density of the older sections
of Honolulu and Waikiki.
Rush hour ahoy! Here, before Houghtailing Street, State
98 rejoins H-1 - the terminal shield can be seen on the
right.
A very short offramp marks Houghtailing Street.
Approaching the H-1 and H-201/78 split is this mileage
sign.
Rounding the curve to the Kalihi interchange, exit
20A, serving the Likelike highway (state 63).
The Kahauiki Interchange was designed when Hawaii 72
was the thru route. When H-1 was routed to serve the airport
and Pearl Harbor, the non-standard junction was created
where H-1 traffic has to exit the mainline, and H-201
(formerly Hawaii 78) continues in the main lanes.
As we enter the Queen Lilioukanai Freeway, on the final
curve before the Nimitz Highway viaduct (and the end of
the 1986 section of H-1), the Keehi interchange serves
Nimitz Highway.
On the Nimitz Viaduct (the longest bridge in Hawaii).
H-1 was built on top of the Nimitz and Kamehameha highways,
and offers direct service to Honolulu International
Airport. Notice the change in character of the freeway,
from a dense Los Angeles style to a much more open freeway.
Use H-1 for easy airport access.
The right lane becomes the airport entrance. Ahead is
Hawaii 92 and Pearl Harbor.
Leaving the Nimitz viaduct, approaching the Pearl Harbor
interchange. Use Hawaii 99 for the USS Arizona (see
next picture).
In a classic sign goof that has never been corrected,
the road to the USS Arizona Memorial is marked with the
old route (90), when it is actually part of Hawaii 99
(the Kamehameha Highway).
Now correctly signed as Hawaii 99. H-201 is still marked
as Hawaii 78 on these overheads, passing the East Loch
of Pearl Harbor and approaching the Halawa Interchange.
The five lane configuration of H-1 west, with a carpool
lane (during peak hours). The Carpool lane and adjacent
lane are turned into a single eastbound lane for HOV traffic
during rush hour, with the movable barrier shown on the
far left.
After Pearl Harbor, we enter the Halawa Interchange.
Exit 13B marks the start of H-3 and H-201 (here marked
Hawaii 78) east. Use H-1 to continue west toward Pearl
City, Wheeler AAF (via H-2) and Waianae.
Relatively dimunitive in this shot, the Halawa Interchange
is notable for being spread out rather than a vertical
stack.
Curving under the mainline lanes of H-201, the exit
for Hawaii 78 west (which will remain HI 78) is a loop
exit from the right lane.
Looking west at the five lane configuration of H-1 west
after the Halawa Interchange. The Zipper lane is still
in use here, and will be all the way to H-2.
Exit 10 serves Pearl City and Waimalu, even though the
road is actually Moanalua Road.
Advance signage for H-2.
Interestingly, both H-1 and H-2 are signed on this stretch
of road, as H-1 to H-2. This sign assembly is very old,
possibly dating back to original construction.
Interestingly, advance signage for Exit 8A (H-2) appears
before advance signage for Exit 8B, reflecting the importance
of H-2.
Exit 8B serves Waipahu, via the Farrington Highway (HI-93).
This sign, like all others through this stretch of H-1,
are some of the oldest on the freeway, still featuring
aging button copy.
Note the missing shield on this sign for Exit 8B. In
the background are the first signs for the H-1 and H-2
split.
These very old signs probably date back to original
freeway construction in 1967.
At the H-2 split, the right two lanes exit, leaving
H-1 with 4 lanes to Ewa.
The Ewa side of Oahu is developing rapidly, after the
closure of Barbers Point NAS and growth pressures push
more and more houses onto the old plantations west of
Honolulu.
Advance signage for both Paiwa street and HI-750 and
HI-75, to Ewa beach.
Exit 7, to Paiwa street and the Paiwa diamond interchange.
Advance distance sign to Waianae, the end of the road.
H-1 actually ends approximately 6 miles from this point,
just west of Makakilo, but the control city is Waianae,
further up the western shore of Oahu on the Farrington
Highway (HI-93).
Advance signage for the Kunia interchange.
Use HI-750 (formerly HI-75 before being downgraded)
to reach Kunia.
HI-76 serves Ewa beach, travelling south from H-1.
The Queen Liliuokanai freeway traverses open ranges
and hills on it's way to Makakilo.
Advance signage for exit 2, the Makakilo interchange.
This is an interesting sign as it's the style usually
reserved for freeway to freeway interchanges, rather than
a city street.
Exit 2, Makakilo Drive.
A close-up of the exit diagram for the Makakilo exit.
Approaching the final exit on H-1 west, the Palalai
interchange.
Just after the interchange, H-1 ends. This is the first
warning sign that the freeway will be ending soon.
As you round the curve, the Palalai interchange exits
and the freeway ends.
The end of the road. Immediately after this is a sign
for Hawaii 93, where H-1 reverts to the Farrington Highway.
Interstate H1 east
Advance signage for the first exit, Exit 1A serving
Barbers Point. This sign is actually located on Hawaii
93 at this point; H-1 does not begin until underneath
the actual interchange.
Exit 1A, the Palailai interchange.
As you round the corner, the introduction sign for the
Queen Lilioukanai Freeway welcomes us to H-1. Under the
bridge is exit 1B, the Farrington Highway (Hawaii 93).
Passing under the Makakilo overpass. Notice the street
name on the overpass - this is a common feature of Hawaii
interstates.
Distance sign to Honolulu.
Use the next three exits (5-8) for Waipahu.
Advance signage for Exit 5, Hawaii 76/750 to Ewa and
Waipahu.
The right lane exits at the Kunia Interchange, Exit 5.
In peak morning hours, a zipper lane is created out
of 2 westbound lanes to serve eastbound traffic. This
is the first advance signage of the crossover.
The first crossover to the Zipper lane. The Zipper lane
is for HOV traffic only, creating 2 HOV lanes for H-1
eastbound during the morning rush. The Zipper lane has
no exits until Honolulu International Airport.
Advance signage for Exit 7, the Paiwa interchange.
A very old mileage sign to Waimalu and Honolulu.
Approaching Exit 8A, signed Wahiawa and Pearl City but
actually the Kamehameha Highway (Hawaii 99) south.
H-2 is a left exit from H-1 east, reflecting the secondary
nature of this connection. On the right side, Exit 8A
leaves H-1 in the Waiawa interchange.
Exit 8B departs H-1 for H-2 in this shot. On the right,
exit 8C, the Kamehameha Highway (Hawaii 99) east splits
from H-1.
After merging with H-2, H-1 traverses the north side
of Pearl Harbor. The high-rises are part of the Naval
Station, which lies south of H-1.
As we get closer to Honolulu, rain started during this
photo shoot. Exit 10 serves Moanalua Road (signed Waimalu
and Pearlridge) via the Waiau interchange.
The left shoulder has been turned into a lane in this
shot approaching the Halawa Interchange, Exit 13. The
left three lanes continue through the interchange, while
the right lane exits to H-3 and H-201 (still signed as
HI-78 in this shot).
In the Halawa interchange. Exit 13B serves Halawa Heights
and Aloha Stadium via the remaining short segment of Hawaii
78 west of H-1.
Looking at Zipper Lane signage just south (east) of
the Halawa interchange.
The missing shields are for Hawaii 92 in this shot of
Exit 15.
On the Nimitz Viaduct. The right three lanes exit, leaving
only 2 mainline freeway lanes. This is designed to shunt
the majority of downtown traffic off the Lunalilo Freeway
onto the Nimitz Highway.
Four of the six lanes exit as soon as the Nimitz Viaduct
ends.
After the right three lanes exit, the right lane exits
to Dillingham Blvd and Middle Street.
Entering the Middle Street curve and tunnel. This short stretch of freeway, completed in 1986, was the final link of Interstate H-1 to be opened. The tunnel was built in 1961 as part of the original Kahauiki Interchange, and due to its sharp approach curve, the freeway has a speed limit of 35 MPH around this curve. Rumble strips warn of the impending curve.
After we come out of the Middle Street tunnel, look what awaits us ... rush hour traffic! This photo was taken at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday for reference.
The right lane of what was H-1 exits to the Likelike
Highway, leading to an awkward merge situation for thru
traffic on H-1 merging into traffic from H-201.
The 1961-vintage Likelike Highway exit, with a low clearance
(substandard) bridge behind it.
A panoramic shot of H-1 east of the Likelike highway.
Moving closer to the high-rises of Waikiki, H-1 retains
its three lanes each direction, with no hope of ever being
widened.
Advance signage for the Punahou Street exit. This exit
was widened in 2003 to its present two lanes, which befits
this interchange as it is the major access from H-1 into
Waikiki.
The Punahou Street Exit. East of this interchange, H-1
enters a low dip that is prone to flooding, as the street
level freeway goes below grade to meet Punahou Street.
This is the second-oldest section of H-1.
Exit 24A, Bingham Street.
Exit 24B, University Ave. This is the oldest stretch
of H-1, reflected in the 45 MPH speed limit. This short
section of H-1 is extremely narrow and has substandard,
sharp curves.
Advance signage for King Street.
Now at the east end of Waikiki, advance signage for
6th Ave.
Exit 25B, 6th Avenue.
Advance signage for Koko Head Avenue, exit 26A.
At Koko Head Avenue, H-1 loses the third lane and reverts
to a two lane configuration eastbound. There is just over
a mile of freeway left at this point.
Exit 26A, Koko Head Avenue.
Advance signage for the Waialae interchange.
Exit 26B, Waialae Avenue. This is the last exit on H-1
east. Notice how the overhead sign is placed a good distance
ahead of the actual exit, due to the bridge above the
exit and curve under the bridge.
End freeway 1/2 mile. There is no END shield for Interstate H-1.
Scenes Pertaining to Interstate H1
Interstate H1 Hawaii trailblazer posted in Waikiki Beach near the Exit 25 interchange of the Lunalilo Freeway. Non-cutout trailblazers such as this often feature the state name for Interstate H1 on Oahu Island. Cutout shields are generally neutered otherwise. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (01/99).
