MOD NOTE: Taking a cue from the Northwest and Mountain West boards, I've created and stickied this thread as a place for random observations or questions relating to Hawaii–the Pacific Southwest board is dominated by California and Nevada topics, so hopefully this will prompt more discussion about Hawaii. As with the other state threads, if a topic in this thread starts delving into detailed/extended conversation, I'll likely split that discussion off to a more dedicated thread. –Roadfro
Quote from: bing101 on March 04, 2019, 11:01:01 PM
https://www.youtube.com/?reload=7&rdm=3w92d0251#/watch?v=CDLkPJPdIG0
Here is an interesting drive from AM Drive Hike in Hawaii. It is Pilani Highway
Bad link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDLkPJPdIG0
Here is a better link.
Anyone know why Interstates in Hawaii have I-H[number], instead of just I-[number] or Interstate [number]
Interstates in Hawaii are part of a separate Interstate network from the mainland's. The I- prefix is reserved for the lower 48. Hawaii's network uses H-. The unsigned Interstate networks of Alaska and Puerto Rico are respectively A-__ and PRI-__.
Hawaii's Interstates are sometimes referred to as "Interstate H-__" (not "I-H-__"), but more often just by route number with "H" included as part of the route number. Sometimes route markers have hyphens after the H, but usually not.
Quote from: oscar on April 07, 2019, 09:11:19 PM
Interstates in Hawaii are part of a separate Interstate network from the mainland's. The I- prefix is reserved for the lower 48. Hawaii's network uses H-. The unsigned Interstate networks of Alaska and Puerto Rico are respectively A-__ and PRI-__.
Hawaii's Interstates are sometimes referred to as "Interstate H-__" (not "I-H-__"), but more often just by route number with "H" included as part of the route number. Sometimes route markers have hyphens after the H, but usually not.
Thanks! :)
I was in Oahu a week ago, some quick observations:
-HI 61 Pali Hwy crossing between Honolulu and Kaneohe had storm damage back in February, and is only open 5am-9am in the Kaneohe to Honolulu direction and in the opposite direction 3pm-7pm. It is expected to fully reopen in August.
-Saw quite a few abandoned and stripped cars on the side of some roads, similar to what I saw in Maui a decade ago when their junkyards closed, but not as bad.
-H1 west of HI76 is at 60mph, as is H3 on the Honolulu side of the tunnels.
-This stretch of Kalakaua Ave coming into Waikiki is interesting, one lane goes on the "wrong" side of the divider:
https://www.google.com/maps/@21.288565,-157.8346471,3a,75y,132.39h,95.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scXsa567CCuGRTu3gHYDQ7A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/01/14/breaking-news/dot-crews-receive-tons-of-asphalt-patching-to-plug-weather-related-potholes/ (https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/01/14/breaking-news/dot-crews-receive-tons-of-asphalt-patching-to-plug-weather-related-potholes/)
Hawaii to Patch Potholes on Oahu these affected roads are
Kamehameha Highway at Ke Iki Road in Haleiwa; Kamehameha Highway near Foodland in Pupukea; and Likelike Highway in the Kalihi-bound direction before Valley View Drive,
I've become very familiar with H-1, H-2, H-3, H-201 over the past week and I'm noticing a lot of new guide signs in Series D, especially near the western end of H-1. They look good!
https://www.khon2.com/top-stories/emergency-work-along-likelike-highway-in-kalihi-to-impact-honolulu-bound-traffic-march-6/ (https://www.khon2.com/top-stories/emergency-work-along-likelike-highway-in-kalihi-to-impact-honolulu-bound-traffic-march-6/)
Likelike Hwy in Oahu will get repairs on March 6th
A high school friend of mine just posted this short Facebook Live video of his drive through what I assume is Honolulu. Thoughts / observations?
https://www.facebook.com/tnsolomon/videos/10216590726469631/?notif_id=1593290579806042¬if_t=live_video
Quote from: Road Hog on June 28, 2020, 11:20:53 PM
A high school friend of mine just posted this short Facebook Live video of his drive through what I assume is Honolulu. Thoughts / observations?
https://www.facebook.com/tnsolomon/videos/10216590726469631/?notif_id=1593290579806042¬if_t=live_video
Not from me, since I don't do Facebook and therefore can't view the video.
Road to Hana is open again in Maui.
https://www.khon2.com/wake-up-2day/social-scene-best-and-worst-roads/ (https://www.khon2.com/wake-up-2day/social-scene-best-and-worst-roads/)
Here is a Study on Hawaii's roads and the study says Hawaii has the 4th worst roads in the USA.
Hawaii plans to close a section of I-H3 this week to create a large surge testing site for COVID.
Full news article: https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/state-will-shut-down-h-3-for-two-days-freeway-will-serve-as-covid-testing-site/
https://www.postguam.com/business/local/business-partners-to-distribute-roadway-sensors-on-guam/article_a0063410-e6a6-11ea-a344-83fd0fd80709.html (https://www.postguam.com/business/local/business-partners-to-distribute-roadway-sensors-on-guam/article_a0063410-e6a6-11ea-a344-83fd0fd80709.html)
Iteris Inc. has a deal with Phoenix Pacific inc to put Roadway sensors in Guam and Hawaii.
https://www.kitv.com/story/42917312/likelike-highway-resurfacing-project-continues-through-the-november
Like Like Highway continues the repavement process continues into November 2020.
https://www.kitv.com/story/42923652/full-closure-of-two-westbound-offramps-on-the-h1-freeway-on-tuesday
Repairs will take place on the I-H1 ramps in Hawaii.
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Might be military. One perk of service is the Feds cover relocation expenses for servicemembers ordered to move to a new duty station. That includes barging their personal vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland, something too expensive for most of the rest of us (standard advice for people moving to Hawaii is to sell their cars on the mainland, and buy replacements once in Hawaii). When that happens, many if not all states will let the servicemembers keep their Hawaii plates, at least as long as they remain on active duty.
Quote from: oscar on November 26, 2020, 11:05:48 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Might be military. One perk of service is the Feds cover relocation expenses for servicemembers ordered to move to a new duty station. That includes barging their personal vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland, something too expensive for most of the rest of us (standard advice for people moving to Hawaii is to sell their cars on the mainland, and buy replacements once in Hawaii). When that happens, many if not all states will let the servicemembers keep their Hawaii plates, at least as long as they remain on active duty.
We have Fort Leavenworth right near here, and Whiteman AFB and Fort Riley aren't too far off - so yeah, that's probably the reason.
Quote from: oscar on November 26, 2020, 11:05:48 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Might be military. One perk of service is the Feds cover relocation expenses for servicemembers ordered to move to a new duty station. That includes barging their personal vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland, something too expensive for most of the rest of us (standard advice for people moving to Hawaii is to sell their cars on the mainland, and buy replacements once in Hawaii). When that happens, many if not all states will let the servicemembers keep their Hawaii plates, at least as long as they remain on active duty.
I'm guessing this can happen in reverse as well. Last year I saw a truck with Florida plates on I-H201. I've also seen one car with a Hawaii plate in Indiana as well as one in Lexington, Kentucky.
Quote from: oscar on November 26, 2020, 11:05:48 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Might be military. One perk of service is the Feds cover relocation expenses for servicemembers ordered to move to a new duty station. That includes barging their personal vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland, something too expensive for most of the rest of us (standard advice for people moving to Hawaii is to sell their cars on the mainland, and buy replacements once in Hawaii). When that happens, many if not all states will let the servicemembers keep their Hawaii plates, at least as long as they remain on active duty.
Maybe less likely, but could also be a college student. I've seen some Hawaii plates here in Reno over the years, and knew a couple students at UNR that did bring a car over for their years in undergrad here.
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
I see almost weekly in LA. In Oklahoma my neighbor is from Hawaii and was rocking Hawaii plates for awhile.
What I'm curious about is I've seen cars that fit the rental car look to a tee and have Hawaii plates which I wonder about.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 26, 2020, 02:08:39 PM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
I see almost weekly in LA. In Oklahoma my neighbor is from Hawaii and was rocking Hawaii plates for awhile.
What I'm curious about is I've seen cars that fit the rental car look to a tee and have Hawaii plates which I wonder about.
If those are in fact rental cars, perhaps it is that there is a larger market for people to rent cars in Hawaii (given its a vacation destination) than there is a market for selling rental cars on the used car market. If the price differential is great enough, that may cover the costs of shipping the car. The rental car co. would ship the car to the mainland for resale and then put it up for auction. While it is owned by the rental car co., there is no need to change the plates.
Quote from: mrsman on November 30, 2020, 11:28:07 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 26, 2020, 02:08:39 PM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
I see almost weekly in LA. In Oklahoma my neighbor is from Hawaii and was rocking Hawaii plates for awhile.
What I'm curious about is I've seen cars that fit the rental car look to a tee and have Hawaii plates which I wonder about.
If those are in fact rental cars, perhaps it is that there is a larger market for people to rent cars in Hawaii (given its a vacation destination) than there is a market for selling rental cars on the used car market. If the price differential is great enough, that may cover the costs of shipping the car. The rental car co. would ship the car to the mainland for resale and then put it up for auction. While it is owned by the rental car co., there is no need to change the plates.
Bought a used car recently from a dealer. Ran the Carfax and found oout the previous owner was a rental company in Hawaii. You must be right about the markup.
Quote from: oscar on November 26, 2020, 11:05:48 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Might be military. One perk of service is the Feds cover relocation expenses for servicemembers ordered to move to a new duty station. That includes barging their personal vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland, something too expensive for most of the rest of us (standard advice for people moving to Hawaii is to sell their cars on the mainland, and buy replacements once in Hawaii). When that happens, many if not all states will let the servicemembers keep their Hawaii plates, at least as long as they remain on active duty.
Today on HI 19 I saw the reverse; I was behind a car with California plates. I didn't see any DOD identification. It had a large sticker which appeared to be a temporary permit from the Hawaii DMV. It was a Tesla; I was thinking, probably somebody with enough money that they shipped one of their own cars over ahead of them for the winter stay at their villa, rather than settling for a rental from Dollar like the rest of us.
Quote from: gonealookin on December 13, 2020, 12:11:32 AM
Quote from: oscar on November 26, 2020, 11:05:48 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Might be military. One perk of service is the Feds cover relocation expenses for servicemembers ordered to move to a new duty station. That includes barging their personal vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland, something too expensive for most of the rest of us (standard advice for people moving to Hawaii is to sell their cars on the mainland, and buy replacements once in Hawaii). When that happens, many if not all states will let the servicemembers keep their Hawaii plates, at least as long as they remain on active duty.
Today on HI 19 I saw the reverse; I was behind a car with California plates. I didn't see any DOD identification. It had a large sticker which appeared to be a temporary permit from the Hawaii DMV. It was a Tesla; I was thinking, probably somebody with enough money that they shipped one of their own cars over ahead of them for the winter stay at their villa, rather than settling for a rental from Dollar like the rest of us.
Strictly speaking for the DON I'm not aware of any CONUS Navy Base that still requires base registration stickers. Most bases got rid of those around 2013-2014.
In the 2+ months I was bouncing around the islands for work, I could count on one hand the number of non-Hawaii license plates I saw in Hawaii.
(All CA or NV, if memory serves.)
That doesn't include the vehicle I was driving, which had Wisconsin tags.
Quote from: oscar on November 26, 2020, 11:05:48 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on November 26, 2020, 10:40:10 AM
About a week or so ago, I saw a car with a Hawaii plate here in KC. How is it possible to find such cars on the mainland?
Might be military. One perk of service is the Feds cover relocation expenses for servicemembers ordered to move to a new duty station. That includes barging their personal vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland, something too expensive for most of the rest of us (standard advice for people moving to Hawaii is to sell their cars on the mainland, and buy replacements once in Hawaii). When that happens, many if not all states will let the servicemembers keep their Hawaii plates, at least as long as they remain on active duty.
I remember here in California, Hawaii License plates would have been common for out of state license plates along with Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Texas at one point.
The logical westward extension of HI 200, the Daniel K. Inouye Highway or "Saddle Road" across the Big Island, from its current western end up on the hill at HI 190 down to the Queen Kaahumanu Highway (HI 19) near the coast, is a long-term project but at least it's still in an active planning stage. Here's this week's update in the local paper (https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2021/03/03/hawaii-news/daniel-k-inouye-highway-extension-project-progressing-despite-lack-of-funding/).
QuoteThe $90 million project's final environmental impact statement (EIS) is progressing toward completion, nearly four years after the draft version was released in 2017 for public review, according to the state Department of Transportation. The state expects to begin moving into the rights of way acquisition phase later this year, but beyond that, the timeline is foggy.
"We cannot provide a schedule for project construction as we have not identified a funding source for the project," said Shelly Kunishige, DOT spokeswoman.
The project will extend the cross-island route, known colloquially as Saddle Road, from its current terminus at Mamalahoa Highway near the South Kohala-North Kona boundary to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. The approximately 10.5-mile extension is expected to take about two years to construct once work is underway.
Quote from: gonealookin on March 04, 2021, 12:44:18 PM
The logical westward extension of HI 200, the Daniel K. Inouye Highway or "Saddle Road" across the Big Island, from its current western end up on the hill at HI 190 down to the Queen Kaahumanu Highway (HI 19) near the coast, is a long-term project but at least it's still in an active planning stage. Here's this week's update in the local paper (https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2021/03/03/hawaii-news/daniel-k-inouye-highway-extension-project-progressing-despite-lack-of-funding/).
QuoteThe $90 million project's final environmental impact statement (EIS) is progressing toward completion, nearly four years after the draft version was released in 2017 for public review, according to the state Department of Transportation. The state expects to begin moving into the rights of way acquisition phase later this year, but beyond that, the timeline is foggy.
"We cannot provide a schedule for project construction as we have not identified a funding source for the project," said Shelly Kunishige, DOT spokeswoman.
The project will extend the cross-island route, known colloquially as Saddle Road, from its current terminus at Mamalahoa Highway near the South Kohala-North Kona boundary to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. The approximately 10.5-mile extension is expected to take about two years to construct once work is underway.
Google shows one road as Saddle/200 and the other as Inouye. Obviously Inouye is (and is signed as) 200. But what is that western part of Saddle Rd. internally? Is it 2000 or decommissioned?
Quote from: Alps on March 04, 2021, 08:22:15 PM
Google shows one road as Saddle/200 and the other as Inouye. Obviously Inouye is (and is signed as) 200. But what is that western part of Saddle Rd. internally? Is it 2000 or decommissioned?
There's a 2000 in Hilo, which AFAIK is the only 2000.
The western part of old Saddle Road through Waiki'i, after the new 200 alignment was built to the south, was turned over to Hawaii County. Fairly recent GMSV shows no route number signage on the old road, and all HI 200 signage on HI 190 points to the new road. IIRC the original plan was to make the old road county 201, but I don't know if the county made that an internal designation.
Quote from: oscar on March 04, 2021, 09:06:57 PM
Quote from: Alps on March 04, 2021, 08:22:15 PM
Google shows one road as Saddle/200 and the other as Inouye. Obviously Inouye is (and is signed as) 200. But what is that western part of Saddle Rd. internally? Is it 2000 or decommissioned?
IIRC the original plan was to make the old road county 201, but I don't know if the county made that an internal designation.
I have a resource from work that calls the old saddle road "SR 40810".
That resource is a shapefile of selected Hawaii County Roads for a specific project and that is the only road in that shapefile with a "SR" designation. Everything else is "CR", so whatever that is worth. The number is consistent with other routes in the island's north so it seems reliable.
Good to see there's momentum to finish the highway to the west coast. SR 190 sucks. They should be at a place now where it is 'shovel ready' in the event the latest round of infrastructure investment by the feds isn't just talk this time.
Here is a cool ride in Honolulu.
Just finished up this project on the history of H-2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_H-2
Looking at doing the rest of Oahu's Interstates, but the available material is lacking (in H-201's case) or overwhelming (especially for H-3). If anyone knows where to find a proper milepost log and/or historic maps, let me know!
Just out of curiosity are there any major road projects going on in Hawaii? Seems like Hawaii without a doubt is the most anti-freeway state. It's no coincidence they have some of the worst traffic.
Quote from: Bruce on November 19, 2021, 06:38:32 PM
Just finished up this project on the history of H-2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_H-2
Looking at doing the rest of Oahu's Interstates, but the available material is lacking (in H-201's case) or overwhelming (especially for H-3). If anyone knows where to find a proper milepost log and/or historic maps, let me know!
All the H-201 stuff you need is the AASHTO database. It even references things like H-1A and H-101. I didn't find much in there for H-1, H-2 or H-3.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 19, 2021, 06:50:59 PM
Quote from: Bruce on November 19, 2021, 06:38:32 PM
Just finished up this project on the history of H-2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_H-2
Looking at doing the rest of Oahu's Interstates, but the available material is lacking (in H-201's case) or overwhelming (especially for H-3). If anyone knows where to find a proper milepost log and/or historic maps, let me know!
All the H-201 stuff you need is the AASHTO database. It even references things like H-1A and H-101. I didn't find much in there for H-1, H-2 or H-3.
Unfortunately it wouldn't have much on the pre-interstate history of the highway, which was built with a 50% federal match in the 1960s/1970s. I'm slowly piecing together a timeline from newspaper sources, but they aren't complete.
Quote from: Bruce on November 21, 2021, 02:16:33 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 19, 2021, 06:50:59 PM
Quote from: Bruce on November 19, 2021, 06:38:32 PM
Just finished up this project on the history of H-2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_H-2
Looking at doing the rest of Oahu's Interstates, but the available material is lacking (in H-201's case) or overwhelming (especially for H-3). If anyone knows where to find a proper milepost log and/or historic maps, let me know!
All the H-201 stuff you need is the AASHTO database. It even references things like H-1A and H-101. I didn't find much in there for H-1, H-2 or H-3.
Unfortunately it wouldn't have much on the pre-interstate history of the highway, which was built with a 50% federal match in the 1960s/1970s. I'm slowly piecing together a timeline from newspaper sources, but they aren't complete.
While that is true it does have some:
- It was part of Federal Aid Primary 78.
- The ADT when HI 78 application to be added as an Interstate was filed (70,000-150,000 vehicles).
- The date HI 78 was available for traffic (1/23/1975).
- The date H-201 was approved by the AASHTO Executive Committee (12/8/1990).
For a Wikipedia highway stub that's generally far more information they typically get. They even have some of the maps which might fit what you are looking for.
For this upcoming weekend's Webinar presentation, we'll be taking a look at the freeway & highway system of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, including the city of Honolulu and its island suburbs. During the Winter of 2021-22, the team at Gribblenation.org constructed a complete blog series on Oahu's state highway system and documented the island's network of major roadways in a comprehensive manner. This Webinar is intended to serve as a "capstone" for the efforts of the Gribblenation staff in recent weeks/months as we recap everything the island has to offer from a roads perspective (and just a little bit more!).
Coverage will begin on Saturday (4/30) at 6 PM ET and will feature live contributions from members of this forum, including members of the Gribblenation.org team; we hope to see you there!
Quote from: Alps on March 04, 2021, 08:22:15 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on March 04, 2021, 12:44:18 PM
The logical westward extension of HI 200, the Daniel K. Inouye Highway or "Saddle Road" across the Big Island, from its current western end up on the hill at HI 190 down to the Queen Kaahumanu Highway (HI 19) near the coast, is a long-term project but at least it's still in an active planning stage. Here's this week's update in the local paper (https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2021/03/03/hawaii-news/daniel-k-inouye-highway-extension-project-progressing-despite-lack-of-funding/).
QuoteThe $90 million project's final environmental impact statement (EIS) is progressing toward completion, nearly four years after the draft version was released in 2017 for public review, according to the state Department of Transportation. The state expects to begin moving into the rights of way acquisition phase later this year, but beyond that, the timeline is foggy.
"We cannot provide a schedule for project construction as we have not identified a funding source for the project," said Shelly Kunishige, DOT spokeswoman.
The project will extend the cross-island route, known colloquially as Saddle Road, from its current terminus at Mamalahoa Highway near the South Kohala-North Kona boundary to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. The approximately 10.5-mile extension is expected to take about two years to construct once work is underway.
Google shows one road as Saddle/200 and the other as Inouye. Obviously Inouye is (and is signed as) 200. But what is that western part of Saddle Rd. internally? Is it 2000 or decommissioned?
Visually - decommissioned. 200 was rerouted onto the new road. 2000 turns right "off itself" onto Pauinako St to End at at Kaumana Dr (former 200) and 200 takes over. The whole routing of 2000 really is so stupid as they took it to a point where they intended to make it a 4-lane at Kohomana St in Hilo but then ended the split road there and turned 2000 onto the cross street with poor lane management and turned it onto Puainako St through residential and school zones with out any fanfare. I was dumbfounded by it when I visited last month that the route was not completed, but I guess it's so much of a usual HDOT action taken. All those container trucks from Kona seem forced onto old Saddle Road and Kaumana Drive to get back to the port to refill. (they end up taking many narrow highways (190, Waikola Road, Old Saddle, etc) and put many residential Hilo neighborhoods in danger (IMO) because 11 and 19 are not safe routes for semi trucks (for a lack of a better term given it's on islands and they only transport containers between Kona and Hilo.
Quote from: SSOWorld on May 07, 2022, 08:45:55 PM
2000 turns right "off itself" onto Pauinako St to End at at Kaumana Dr (former 200) and 200 takes over. The whole routing of 2000 really is so stupid as they took it to a point where they intended to make it a 4-lane at Kohomana St in Hilo but then ended the split road there and turned 2000 onto the cross street with poor lane management and turned it onto Puainako St through residential and school zones with out any fanfare. I was dumbfounded by it when I visited last month that the route was not completed, but I guess it's so much of a usual HDOT action taken. All those container trucks from Kona seem forced onto old Saddle Road and Kaumana Drive to get back to the port to refill. (they end up taking many narrow highways (190, Waikola Road, Old Saddle, etc) and put many residential Hilo neighborhoods in danger (IMO) because 11 and 19 are not safe routes for semi trucks (for a lack of a better term given it's on islands and they only transport containers between Kona and Hilo.
Definitely a messy situation. Hawaii DOT had plans to straighten HI 2000. But this fell by the wayside, after the Governor ordered the DOT to make only minor improvements to maintain the existing network, with a few exceptions for major projects such as extending HI 200 from HI 190 to HI 19.
The need for truckers to haul containers cross-island, from Hilo to Kailua-Kona via the FUBAR'd Hilo highway network, is in part that Kailua-Kona doesn't have a deep-draft harbor, just a small boat harbor. Kawaihae, north of Kailua-Kona via HI 19 and HI 270, has a deep-draft harbor, the only one on the Big Island other than Hilo's. I don't know why the container ship operators don't make greater use of the Kawaihae harbor, maybe the operators prefer to centralize their operations in Hilo, and think the Big Island is not populous enough (about 200K population) to support two container ports.
More of a general news topic, so I'll post it here rather than in the post linking to the blog entries about the Maui highways.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 16, 2022, 10:20:42 PM
...
Hawaii Route 30 and Hawaii Route 3000
https://www.gribblenation.org/2022/11/hawaii-route-30-and-hawaii-route-3000.html
The state is starting to consider moving a 6-mile segment of Hawaii 30 southeast of Lahaina further inland, partly due to expected rising sea level.
https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2022/11/state-plans-to-launch-study-on-highway-realignment/ (https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2022/11/state-plans-to-launch-study-on-highway-realignment/)
QuoteGiven the seasonal high surf, king tides, stormwater runoff and the predicted 3.2-foot sea level rise that is undermining the roadway, the proposed project aims to address the section from Mile Post 11 in the vicinity of Ukumehame Beach and Mile Post 17 at the southern terminus of the existing Lahaina Bypass in the vicinity of Launiupoko, south of Lahaina town.
The project site would be 3/4-mile wide inland from the current highway alignment, covering the coastal plain in this area, the report said.
...
Shorelines in these areas have been eroding an average of between 1.4 feet per year and 1.9 feet per year, according to University of Hawaii's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology Coastal Geology Group.
...
All alternatives would move at least a portion of the highway inland, away from the existing coastline and projected sea level rise flooding areas. On the Launiupoko end, all alternatives would connect the improved Honoapiilani Highway with the Lahaina Bypass.
https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2022/12/molten-lava-on-hawaiis-big-island-could-block-main-highway/
Lava flows from the recently erupted Mauna Loa may cross Saddle Rd/HI 200 in upcoming days. Which will make a wreck of cross-Big Island travel and make the bad situation Oscar mentioned upthread of trucks and goods crossing the island just that much worse.
Solar Catcher does a tour on Big Island.
Is anyone aware of the once-proposed Interstate H-4? It was proposed in the 1960s as a bypass of existing Interstate H-1 in Honolulu. It would have started at H-1's Exit 18 and concluded at Exit 25. Although it was never built, there are still freeway-to-freeway ramps at both terminuses, and it likely would have relieved congestion on H-1 (the intention for its construction). Unsurprisingly, intense local opposition prevented its construction. More info here: http://www.hawaiihighways.com/proposed-Interstate-H4-report.pdf.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 30, 2023, 12:20:13 PM
Is anyone aware of the once-proposed Interstate H-4? It was proposed in the 1960s as a bypass of existing Interstate H-1 in Honolulu. It would have started at H-1's Exit 18 and concluded at Exit 25. Although it was never built, there are still freeway-to-freeway ramps at both terminuses, and it likely would have relieved congestion on H-1 (the intention for its construction). Unsurprisingly, intense local opposition prevented its construction. More info here: http://www.hawaiihighways.com/proposed-Interstate-H4-report.pdf.
RoadwayWiz and I did our own take regarding H-4. Essentially much of Hawaii Route 92 was built atop what would have been the H-4 corridor:
https://www.gribblenation.org/2021/12/paper-highways-interstate-h-4-through.html?m=1
I believe kurumi once suggested that an Interstate H-4 should be constructed on Maui: http://kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix01.html#201hi.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 30, 2023, 12:33:37 PM
I believe kurumi once suggested that an Interstate H-4 should be constructed on Maui: http://kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix01.html#201hi.
Where though? Kihei is blowing up in terms of development but there isn't much there that would require a freeway per se along HI 31. Perhaps Lahaina to Kahului via HI 3000, HI 30, HI 380 and HI 3800?
It was always a "Fictional Highways" proposal. There is no way it would ever have been constructed. Another fictional proposal by kurumi was a westbound-only Interstate 338: http://kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix38.html#338ca. Since these fictitious proposals were made before the creation of the forum (which was launched in 2009), I do find them interesting.
Amusingly the Lahaina Bypass (HI 3000) has limited access elements and is going to be extended southward. While unlikely it isn't totally unfeasible to envision the corridor eventually tied off closer to actual freeway standards.
Likewise, HI 3800 does have a partial interchange with Kala Road and only one major at grade intersection with HI 36 east of Dairy Road/HI 380. I could foresee a situation someday where it would be desirable to grade separate HI 3800 and HI 36.
Interesting to note, HI 3800 is multiplexed along HI 380 to the junction of HI 3500/HI 311. I assume that signage was placed given it gave traffic a single route to follow back to Kahului Airport. My thought when I saw it was to truncate HI 380 just to Dairy Road and extend HI 3800 to HI 30.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 30, 2023, 12:33:37 PM
I believe kurumi once suggested that an Interstate H-4 should be constructed on Maui: http://kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix01.html#201hi.
His proposal, "if my conscience ever evaporates", was to essentially freeway-ize the Hana Highway, "to enhance economic development in the Hana metro area" (c'mon, Hana is just a small town with pricey lodgings for rich tourists).
Perhaps out of an abundance of caution, a historic bridges district was established to protect the dozens of one-lane bridges on the highway. When an earthquake on the Big Island closed one of those bridges, it was replaced with a similarly narrow one-lane bridge (deck 13.2 feet wide, including a single 12-foot travel lane and two narrow shoulders).
Here is a SolarCatcher video of the I-H1.
https://www.khon2.com/aloha-authentic/the-oahu-highway-named-in-honor-of-a-hawaiian-princess/
Here is a profile of LikeLike Highway in Oahu.
H3 gets so much attention but you have stuff nearby like Likelike Highway (HI 63) and Pali Highway (HI 61) that gets slept on. Pali Highway is the most scenic of the three IMO.
https://beatofhawaii.com/hana-highway-first-hawaii-visitor-toll-road-what-to-know/
Tolls in Hawaii?
If passed, HDOT will make a section of the famous Hana Highway (from MP 31 to MP 40) into a
TOLL ROAD!
Obviously Hawaii will do something stupid.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on January 23, 2025, 06:22:53 PMObviously Hawaii will do something stupid.
Yup, and they have the authority to put tolls on the interstates in Oahu (if passed)...
Tolls on I-H1 would be interesting.
Always Piilani Highway if you need an alternate to Hana. At least if there aren't any slides and you have the fortitude to deal with kinda questionable dirt road.
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on January 23, 2025, 06:29:51 PMQuote from: Plutonic Panda on January 23, 2025, 06:22:53 PMObviously Hawaii will do something stupid.
Yup, and they have the authority to put tolls on the interstates in Oahu (if passed)...
hopefully that's does not happen
Quote from: Rothman on January 23, 2025, 06:35:13 PMTolls on I-H1 would be interesting.
Amusingly HI 92 is faster through downtown Honolulu during most weekdays.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 23, 2025, 08:04:01 PMQuote from: Rothman on January 23, 2025, 06:35:13 PMTolls on I-H1 would be interesting.
Amusingly HI 92 is fasted through downtown Honolulu during most weekdays.
Feed it.
It was malnourished and could have grown into H-4.
As folks know, I scan for headlines on California highways. While doing so this week, I ran across this:
https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2025/01/state-proposes-new-route-for-west-maui-highway/
QuoteThe state Department of Transportation has selected a preferred six-mile route in its pursuit of an alternative to the two-lane coastal Honoapiʻilani Highway in West Maui.
The proposed rerouting of a portion of the highway from Ukumehame to Launiupoko goes farther away from an ocean that has required the installation of concrete walls in certain places to fend off waves.
Flooding caused by high waves are regular occurrences on this low-lying highway, the state said.
Adraft environmental impact statement describing the alternate route as well as other proposed corridors is available for review at bit.ly/40nN8rN. Comments may be submitted through Feb. 24.
Under a state proposal, the jurisdiction of the existing coastal highway would be turned over to the county and eventually become a county road with opportunities to have public parks, beaches and open space consistent with the Pali to Puamana Parkway Master Plan. Each proposed alternate route assumes the existing highway would become a local access road.
[...]
As always, all together now, "Ready, set, discuss".
Will this rerouting become a southern extension of HI 3000?
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on January 25, 2025, 06:33:22 PMWill this rerouting become a southern extension of HI 3000?
I doubt it. The bypassed old HI 30 alignment is proposed to become a county road. That suggests HI 30 would be moved to the new road.
There would be some point to extending HI 3000 if the old alignment would remain part of the state highway system. ISTM the whole point of the project is to remove the flood-prone old alignment from the state system, and make it a local beach/shoreline access road.
New overpass signs/street labels are finally getting installed on the first 10 miles of the H1. Two weeks ago I already saw new labels being installed on the Aiea section between Red Hill and the Kaonohi overpass in the WB direction. Another one is going up as I post this in the Waiawa Overpass:
"Single lane closure on the H-1 Freeway, in the westbound direction, in the vicinity of the Waiawa Road Overpass, on the evening of Friday, March 28, through the morning of Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. for overpass sign work. " - https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/oahu/ (https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/oahu/)
I couldn't get a picture yet, but they're pretty interesting. Not only are they going back to the mixed-case FHWA E series font, but they now use the diacritical markings (kahakō and ʻokina) as promised three years ago.
Speaking of which, when are they going to put up that westbound directional sign near the airport that they removed over a year ago?
Found some new overpass signs near the Makakilo-Kalaeloa area:
(https://i.ibb.co/SwKmgnHN/image.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/C3MQL6MD/image.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/pBnFKP2j/image.png)
I don't know about the rest of you, but the text on those signs looks a little ghastly to me.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 30, 2025, 09:38:54 PMI don't know about the rest of you, but the text on those signs looks a little ghastly to me.
it could be my camera, since I took the picture from a tinted car window
Finally, at last, Google is starting to roll out the 2024-25 street view maps on certain roads. I found this assembly that I alluded to in another thread, that used the same panel style (E/EM, centered "H1", state highway numbers closer to the bottom). Ironically, I prefer the Clearview assembly from 2011 or so, considering the spacing looks atrocious on the outer two signs, almost as if there were no spaces at all.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5BikHkQdSPdvrWwm7
Quote from: Short n Swift on April 04, 2025, 01:44:55 AMFinally, at last, Google is starting to roll out the 2024-25 street view maps on certain roads. I found this assembly that I alluded to in another thread, that used the same panel style (E/EM, centered "H1", state highway numbers closer to the bottom). Ironically, I prefer the Clearview assembly from 2011 or so, considering the spacing looks atrocious on the outer two signs, almost as if there were no spaces at all.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5BikHkQdSPdvrWwm7
One extra space will still allow all the text to fit comfortably (pretty close to the edge on the Middle St sign, but still fits decently). Those signs were designed very poorly.
Found two more overpass signs, both of these were from the first wave of updates in March 2025 when they updated the H1 from Ka'onohi St to Ala Kapuna St. One thing I noticed was that they actually corrected the "Ala Kapuna St" sign to add the missing "St" suffix as it's listed on most maps/sites. I didn't pass by the Aiea Heights Dr. sign when I took these photos yesterday, but I believe they also fixed the mistake where it said "Rd" instead of "Dr".
(https://i.ibb.co/kgP55mDm/IMG-6931.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/KxFsQqnw/IMG-6930.jpg)
Quote from: RZF on April 05, 2025, 11:01:53 PMQuote from: Short n Swift on April 04, 2025, 01:44:55 AMFinally, at last, Google is starting to roll out the 2024-25 street view maps on certain roads. I found this assembly that I alluded to in another thread, that used the same panel style (E/EM, centered "H1", state highway numbers closer to the bottom). Ironically, I prefer the Clearview assembly from 2011 or so, considering the spacing looks atrocious on the outer two signs, almost as if there were no spaces at all.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5BikHkQdSPdvrWwm7
One extra space will still allow all the text to fit comfortably (pretty close to the edge on the Middle St sign, but still fits decently). Those signs were designed very poorly.
I also find it confusing how bad that sign was designed because it has a "twin" sign in Pearl Harbor that actually looks like one of the best signs I've seen from them in recent years. Then again, spaces are the main factor and this sign did not need any.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rqUDJcDE1jgbQQgH8
Corrected version of the "'Aiea Heights Dr" overpass label that went up last month. Originally it said "Aiea Heights Rd." by mistake, which isn't surprising since there is an "Aiea Access Rd." and a "Halawa Heights Rd" nearby. So many drivers and businesses such as UPS also make this mistake regularly.
(https://i.ibb.co/rGGGvdvw/IMG-7023.jpg)
Quote from: Short n Swift on April 12, 2025, 03:01:22 PMFound two more overpass signs, both of these were from the first wave of updates in March 2025 when they updated the H1 from Ka'onohi St to Ala Kapuna St. One thing I noticed was that they actually corrected the "Ala Kapuna St" sign to add the missing "St" suffix as it's listed on most maps/sites. I didn't pass by the Aiea Heights Dr. sign when I took these photos yesterday, but I believe they also fixed the mistake where it said "Rd" instead of "Dr".
(https://i.ibb.co/kgP55mDm/IMG-6931.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/KxFsQqnw/IMG-6930.jpg)
Are there instances of the H201 sign being wider? That font looks way too narrow.
I was recently able to track down H1's history based on the as built docs I came across. Phases 11-15 are messy since they span so many pages that I found difficult to read, but the rest seems straightforward as when they were designed. I can roughly divide the history up into something like this:
As Mauka Arterial:
- Mauka Arterial Phase 1 (opened 1953)
- Phase 1A: Isenberg St - Old Waialae Rd; mp 23.835-24.427 (1952)
- Phase 1B: Alexander St - Isenberg St; mp 23.353-23.835 (1953)
- Mauka Arterial Phase 2 (1954, opened 1955): Keeaumoku St - Alexander St; mp 22.855-23.889 (1954), McCully and Isenberg separations and University Ave onramp to H1E (1955)
As Lunalilo Freeway Route 72:
- "Unit 3":
- Lunalilo Frwy Phase 3A: Pinkham St east of Kalihi Stream to Houghtailing; mp 19.266-19.854 (1958)
- Phase 3B: Nuuanu Stream to Pele St; mp 21.069-21.666 (1958)
- Phase 3C: Keaaumoku Separation (1959-1961)
- Unit 4:
- Phase 4A: Middle St tunnels and separation (1959)
- Phase 4B: Lunalilo Fwy Middle/Moanalua Rd to Pinkham St; mp18.866-19.266 (1959)
- Phase 5: Lunalilo Fwy from Houghtailing to Nuuanu Stream inc. Palama Separation; mp 19.759-21.069 (1963, done 1968)
As Lunalilo Freeway Route H1:
- Phase 6: 1st Ave to Koko Head Ave; mp 24.835-25.867 (1963, completed 1966)
- Phase 7 (Queen Liliuokalani Fwy, 1965):
- Phase 7A: Palalai Interchange to Makakilo Drive; mp 0.095-1.326 (I-H1-1(17) UNIT 1)
- Phase 7B: Makakilo Drive to Palehua Road/present Kualakai Pkwy; mp 1.326-2.983 (I-H1-1(17) UNIT 2)
- Phase 7C: Palehua Road/Kualakai Pkwy to Kunia Road; mp 2.983-5.379 (I-H1-1(18))
- Phase 8 (East Lunalilo Fwy, 1965-1966):
- Phase 8A: Kapiolani Separation, Old Wailae Road to 1st Ave; mp 24.278-24.953 (1965)
- Phase 8B: Koko Head Ave to 17th/Harding Ave (1965) and 17th to 21st Ave (1966); mp 25.805-26.217 and 24.379
- Phase 8C: Palailai Interchange completion (mp 0-0.095) and resurfacing of the original Phase 1 and Phases 7A-7C (1966)
- Phase 9 (QL Fwy near Kunia, 1966-1967): Kunia Interchange (mp 4.882-5.401), H-1 Fwy from Kunia Road to Waikele Stream (mp 5.397-6.352) and Waikele Stream Bridge (mp 6.344-6.51)
- Phase 10 (Completion of East Lunalilo Fwy, 1967):
- Phase 10A: Pele-Keeaumoku Part A, Vineyard Blvd Interchange, Pele St - Victoria St; mp 21.392-22.33
- Phase 10B: Pele-Keeaumoku Part B, Makiki Viaduct, Victoria St - Keeaumoku St; mp 22.33-22.949
- Phase 10C: Waialae Viaduct, 21st Ave to Kealaolu Ave, Kalanianaole Hwy becomes Waialae Ave; mp 26.47-27.136
- Phase 10D: Kapiolani Interchange completion, including planned connection to the cancelled Makai "Boulevard" (sic)
- Phase 11 (QL Fwy from Waikele to Pearl City, 1967-68):
- Phase 11A: Waikele Stream to Waiawa Interchange; mp 6.51-8.058 (1967)
- Phase 11B: Waiawa Interchange "H1-H2 Merge", built in multiple phases; mp 8.058-9.214 (1967-1970)
- Phase 11C: Pearl City Viaduct; Waiawa Stream to west of Waiau Interchange (1967-68, completed 1971)
- Phase 11D: Finalizing Kunia Rd-Waiawa Interchange (1968)
- Phase 12 (Pearl City and Waimalu, completed 1973):
- Phase 12A: Halawa Interchange Approach, Aiea Stream to Kaimakani St; mp 12.835-13.039 (1970)
- Phase 12B: Waiau Interchange to Aiea Stream; mp 10.174-12.835 (1970)
- Phase 12C: Temporary connection to Moanalua Road after the Kaimakani St separation (1970)
- Phase 13 (Halawa interchange, proposed 1971 and completed 1986): H1 through Halawa Interchange, resurfacing of Phase 12A; mp 12.835-13.386
- Phase 14 (Salt Lake Viaduct, 1972-74):
- Phase 14A: "North Leg" Viaduct; Halawa Interchange to Pearl Harbor Interchange (1972)
- Phase 14B: Pearl Harbor Interchange to East of Valkenburg St (1973-74)
- Phase 14C: Temporary connection to Moanalua Road after the Kaimakani St separation (1970)
- Phase 15 (Airport Viaduct and Keehi Interchange, 1975-86) gets insanely messy and hard to organize:
- Phase 15A: Airport Viaduct and Interchange
- Phase 15B: Keehi Interchange
- Phase 15C: Keehi Interchange-Middle Street connection (designed1977)
Quote from: RZF on April 21, 2025, 01:32:12 AMQuote from: Short n Swift on April 12, 2025, 03:01:22 PMFound two more overpass signs, both of these were from the first wave of updates in March 2025 when they updated the H1 from Ka'onohi St to Ala Kapuna St. One thing I noticed was that they actually corrected the "Ala Kapuna St" sign to add the missing "St" suffix as it's listed on most maps/sites. I didn't pass by the Aiea Heights Dr. sign when I took these photos yesterday, but I believe they also fixed the mistake where it said "Rd" instead of "Dr".
Are there instances of the H201 sign being wider? That font looks way too narrow.
I believe there is one on the overpass sign near the EB Kaneohe exit but I'm not sure
I can't find the article, but I saw something that it seemed like Hawaii was proposing statewide 50 MPH maximum speed limits.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on May 10, 2025, 11:38:04 PMI can't find the article, but I saw something that it seemed like Hawaii was proposing statewide 50 MPH maximum speed limits.
AFAIK, there was an not-yet-passed bill in one house of the legislature for a statewide 50 mph limit, only for heavy trucks and with other exceptions. A committee in the other house removed the speed limit reduction. Oddly enough, none of the bill versions would take effect until July 1, 3000 (!). So this seems to be still in the rough draft stage, nothing to get excited about.
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=229&year=2025
Found something interesting when looking through that Halawa interchange complex: apparently there is a ramp from H3 south that goes to westbound Moanalua Freeway, but it's not in use today. You can see a remnant of the ramp (Ramp "F") below, which is closed off even before this section was widened several years ago. Any idea what happened here?
(https://i.imgur.com/6jmP6K0.jpeg)
I'm out in Kaanapali right now. Yesterday, driving out Route 30 from Kahului, I saw what looked like an older version of Route 30 just to the inward side of the existing route, slightly up the hill, with what looked like a manmade rock wall supporting it. Was this a former iteration of Route 30. Look at the hill in this image for an example:
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/kjydPVffEMWkNrYd6)
Images: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cGRsAQZ1vBuzFe2H9 or https://maps.app.goo.gl/kjydPVffEMWkNrYd6
The map reference is about here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@20.7811687,-156.5444969,17z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Quote from: cahwyguy on August 23, 2025, 05:48:46 PMI'm out in Kaanapali right now. Yesterday, driving out Route 30 from Kahului, I saw what looked like an older version of Route 30 just to the inward side of the existing route, slightly up the hill, with what looked like a manmade rock wall supporting it. Was this a former iteration of Route 30. Look at the hill in this image for an example:
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/kjydPVffEMWkNrYd6)
Images: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cGRsAQZ1vBuzFe2H9 or https://maps.app.goo.gl/kjydPVffEMWkNrYd6
The map reference is about here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@20.7811687,-156.5444969,17z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Yes, see image #6 here:
https://www.gribblenation.org/2022/11/hawaii-route-30-and-hawaii-route-3000.html?m=1
^ I passed by the older road on several visits to Maui, the last of which was in 2019. I never got around to hiking the old road, largely because I saw no safe pullouts east of the Olowalu Tunnel. There is a drivable segment west of the tunnel, which might be a good place to leave your car, and hike east on the part of the old road closed to vehicle traffic (I recall a closure sign, but not sure it prohibited pedestrian traffic). I don't know how tough a hike that would be, other that I'm no longer up to it.
The old road might cross over the tunnel portals, perhaps letting a hiker take photos of route 30 from above.
Speaking of Maui, Piilani Highway (Route 31) used to be nonstop from Kihei to Hana, but development nearby blocked the road and made a gap between Wailea and route 37. There is, however, an intersection stub that hints at a southern extension, possibly to south Kula near where MauiWine is.
(https://i.ibb.co/5gGp1hwk/image.png)
I feel this would be a good idea to consider since it would really improve access between Kula and Kihei, possibly form an evacuation route if there is no way out of this area. I haven't seen any plans to extend it past that intersection, even though it's been like this for decades now. Why was an extension never considered here?
The early alignment history of Piilani Highway in the Kihei area is murky at best. Some now-closed primitive roads were the functional connection. There never really has been a need for a modern highway until recently (arguably still isn't one).
As Short n Swift notes, there used to be a road linking the two Pi'illani Highway segments. It reportedly was a very rough unpaved private road, from Makena Alanui Road in Makena between Wailea and Makena golf courses, to the eastern Pi'ilani Hwy segment in Ulupalakua. The private landowners at least tolerated public use, until their road was closed in 1984 due to liability concerns.
My Hawaii Highways site (seriously out of date, mainly of historical value) notes two official proposals to re-connect the Pi'ilani Hwy segments. One would have extended the Piilani Hwy south from Wailea, then turning northeast and uphill to Ulupalakua. This was long a line on Hawaii DOT planning maps, but may have quietly disappeared from the latest maps without ever becoming a serious plan.
The other proposal would have built a new route 374 from route 31 in Kihei to route 37 near Pukalani. This more recent proposal went through environmental reviews and was awaiting funding availability, but those funds may've dried up as the state government deemphasized new roads (except the badly-needed route 200 project across the Big Island) in favor of just maintaining the existing highway network.
For more info, see the multiple route 31 entries on http://www.hawaiihighways.com/maui.htm and the route 374 entry on http://www.hawaiihighways.com/maui-part2.htm
Quote from: oscar on August 25, 2025, 12:26:15 AMMy Hawaii Highways site (seriously out of date, mainly of historical value) notes two official proposals to re-connect the Pi'ilani Hwy segments.
As one of the few who still updates their highway site, I'll encourage you to one day pick back up the Hawaii site. I always turn to the roadgeek highway sites first when I have a highway question.
Quote from: oscar on August 25, 2025, 12:26:15 AMThe other proposal would have built a new route 374 from route 31 in Kihei to route 37 near Pukalani. This more recent proposal went through environmental reviews and was awaiting funding availability, but those funds may've dried up as the state government deemphasized new roads (except the badly-needed route 200 project across the Big Island) in favor of just maintaining the existing highway network.
Now that you mention Route 200, I've never understood why this project is still in limbo. Supposedly they made an eis several years ago, but they never finished it due to funding issues and I have no clue on what they plan to do now. What I'm more interested though is the Route 2000 Puianako Street extension, which still splits at Komohana St after three decades and counting. I've been trying to find out what's happening there but instead I see news about a resurfacing project along the existing road that was delayed multiple times. So either they're transitioning that road west of Waiakea IS/ES into a surface road or they abandoned the project altogether.
Lots of confusing unfinished projects on the big island but the one that grabs my attention the most is the Ali'i Hwy extension north of Keauhou. The bypass road was finished south to Kealakekua not long ago, so I'd imagine that the northern segment would be next. However, it's been at least
FIFTY YEARS since this was planned and nothing has changed, other than the fact that there was a boneheaded decision to make Ali'i Drive one-way in Kona that failed miserably as expected.
Still waiting on the status of the Ane Keohokalole and if it will be finished. And don't get me started on Ocean View/HOVE and whatever that monstrosity of a street grid is.
You forgot about HI 197. That actually seems like it would be much more direct in getting traffic up to HI 190 and headed east to Hilo versus what is planned for extending HI 200.
Route 197... that's Kealakehe Parkway, right? I wonder if that was never finished because of Hina Lani Street and Manawalea St (though residential, completed recently) serving the east-west connection. It seems like they're holding off on that until the Kealakehe subdivision grows enough to warrant a direct connection.
Yes, it would make more sense to me to prioritize a state highway corridor which is actually fairly close to Kailua-Kona and functionally replaces the worst parts of HI 190. The planned extension of HI 200 is routed way the hell north to practical for anyone living in the area.
I could name a ton of roads here that look like they should be extended, Kailua-Kona has loads of them. Here's some on Oahu:
- Kaakepa Street (old Cane Haul Road) from Kuahaka St to Waihona St
- Makakilo Drive to Kualakai Parkway (supposedly to be transferred to HDOT but died quickly)
- Paiwa St to Ka Uka Blvd (blocked by CORP since 2001, was this ever planned?)
- Hawaii Kai Drive from Paila St to Kamilo St East
- The above road also seemed to have a corridor preserved past Kealahou Street to the golf course and HI-72, but it got blocked by development now. Was this considered at some point?
- Akiohala Street, with its unusually wide road, to Ulumanu Drive behind Kailua High School
- Apapane Street to Halekou Road (officially dead due to development nearby, can't find any master plans that suggest a connection here)
- The short gap of Hinamoe Loop near the Likelike/Kahekili interchange, no idea if this was cut by the interchange or never built
- Anoi Road near the Kapunahala Stream
- Mohihi Street East to connect with Lualualei Naval and Auyong Homestead Roads. Not long ago there was a crash at Auyong that shut down Farrington there, I can't imagine the traffic if those short gaps were filled in though.
- Many other residential dead ends that are blocked or likely to open into future development.
The Makakilo Drive extension is baffling and I still don't know why they aren't pushing for it, since that area will become ground zero if something awful happens at the bottom of the hill. I have a feeling that one is permanently dead.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 25, 2025, 02:17:56 PMThe planned extension of HI 200 is routed way the hell north to practical for anyone living in the area.
My impression is that the routing is largely for resort-bound traffic, both tourists and resort workers.
Are there any plans out there to extend the Ane K. Highway past Hina Lani and to the northern segment connecting with UH HCC? The last update I could find was from 2017.
Same question for Kamanu Street, though it runs through a quarry so I don't expect that one going up.
UPDATE: Finally, the Harbor Access Road (route 94 or 9400? not sure) is starting to take shape. I was watching a rideshare video of someone driving down the H1 in the area and the eastbound exit is now constructed with highway lighting and guardrails. You can see it here:
(https://i.ibb.co/zWCPPrdh/IMG-3030.jpg)
I'm pretty sure that when this is open, it'll only be accessible from the eastbound exits and entrances for now, and the Kalaeloa Blvd exit will be gone when the EB entrance goes up. One thing I've been confused about is why this particular junction with future SR94 and Kapolei Parkway was constructed the way it was several years ago. The concrete road is built with full LED lighting, lane markings, bike lanes and an unfinished median, but it's only under 800 feet long. The second and more interesting one is the asphalt Kapolei Pkwy extension that's about 1000 feet long, with older HPS lighting and a median that's pretty much done. This one seems to be foreshadowing the extension to Ko Olina in the west, but it leads to nowhere and has been closed since the two roads were built circa 2018. Why were these roads made to different standards, what took them so long to make any progress on this area, and what was the point of making under half a mile of roadway just to let it collect dust?
(https://i.imgur.com/IsoptTl.jpeg)
In the meantime, I recently found some new replaced guide signs, many of those were in 'Aiea/Hālawa region, along the Moanalua freeway (mainly exit gores), and there was also one in the H1 westbound. These were made no earlier than July 2025 and are in Clearview text, so my theory that HDOT finally ditched Clearview was wrong. More importantly though, none of the Clearview signs use the correct diacritical markings on 2022-present signs (ex. Lili'uokalani is missing an okina), as they said they would in March 2022, but most other signs were replaced in standard fonts and use the proper spellings. So not only are they wildly inconsistent and doing any kine stuff, they're also violating their own rules--obviously, no one other than avid roadgeeks or Hawaiian language experts would bother or care, but sometimes it's the small details and mistakes that make you wonder why HDOT is so hated and seen as "lazy" by drivers here.
(https://i.ibb.co/6RYGTgRN/IMG-8026.jpg%5B)
(https://i.ibb.co/KxJfwy60/IMG-3031.jpg)
Also, it might just be me, but do the a's in "Halawa" look crooked to you?
HIDOT doesn't have it yet on their current directory for state owned highways on Oahu:
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/home/oahu/oahu-state-roads-and-highways/