Solutions sought after 2 pedestrian deaths

Community members and officials are rallying around efforts to step up pedestrian safety on Farrington Highway on the Waianae Coast after two residents were struck and killed within the past three months.

Representatives from the Hawaii Bicycling League, Honolulu Police Department and state Department of Transportation as well as residents, legislators and family members discussed suggestions and solutions at two meetings Thursday near the sites where Kaulana Werner and Robert Sadamaru were struck, which marked the 14th and 19th traffic fatalities, respectively, this year on Oahu. Community members also stood along the sidewalk holding up signs emblazoned with “Da Turtle Wins Da Race” and “Drive Nice, Save a Life.”

Several residents contended that installing better lighting and reflector lights, repainting signs and road lines, and educating drivers and pedestrians could help in decreasing the number of accidents across the Waianae Coast.

Others said eliminating some crosswalks not located by traffic signals, relocating some bus stops, providing flags for people to wave while crossing the highway, installing red-light cameras and stepping up police presence and enforcement would also help to make Farrington safer for pedestrians and motorists. State Rep. Jo Jordan (D, Waianae-Makaha-Makua) suggested taking advantage of the Safe Routes to School program, which provides federal funding to improve safety in school zones.

Chad Taniguchi, executive director of the Hawaii Bicycling League, said the organization has been organizing pedestrian and bicycle safety meetings across Oahu in an effort to gather solutions that can be further vetted with government agencies. He said the organization works with elected and public officials to see whether the solutions can be implemented and funded.

“The solutions that are coming out are very good,” Taniguchi said. “Everything has to be designed, funded, and you have to get buy-in from the community.”

Werner, a former Kamehameha Schools wide receiver, was killed in April when he was struck by a vehicle along Farrington Highway near Laumania Avenue in Nanakuli. Police said Werner, 19, who lived across the street from the crash site, was crossing the highway in the makai direction.

But Pua Werner, his older sister, said her brother was walking on the grassy area next to Farrington Highway, not crossing it. She described him as “just a really happy kid … a very loving kid.”

Sadamaru, 79, died in May after he was hit by a truck while in a crosswalk on Farrington Highway near Old Government Road. He had worked at Waianae Store for 63 years and was remembered by family and friends as a generous, friendly and outgoing man who loved to travel and fish.

Joe Haddaway said Sadamaru, his uncle, “really enjoyed socializing with his friends.” He said his uncle was semiretired and would travel at least three times a year — some of his favorite places were Alaska and Las Vegas.

Kyle Okimoto, whose family owns the Nanakuli Super and Waianae Store, said the family is considering an annual sign-waving event to promote pedestrian safety.

“It needs to be more awareness on the driver and the pedestrian. It takes both sides,” Okimoto said. “The more people talk about it, the more they think about it.”