Question: It took many years to finally get a crossing light installed on Kamehameha Highway at the entrance to Hawaii Pacific University on the Windward side. Some time ago, the light control at the bottom of the path down from the bus stop on Pali Highway was apparently taken out by a vehicle and not replaced. Will it take another death to replace the control so that pedestrians can activate the light for safe crossing of Kamehameha Highway?
Answer: The control system for the crossing signal — known as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons — was damaged in February when a motor vehicle hit it, said Caroline Sluyter, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.
Replacement parts costing about $13,100 for the specialized system had to be ordered from a mainland company and won’t arrive until mid- to late July, she said. Repairs will be scheduled after that.
"Motorists are held financially responsible for damage to highway equipment, including such common features as streetlights, signals, signs and guardrails, among others," Sluyter said.
If the department is able to determine who the responsible party is, "then we would bill them," she said. At times, such as when there is a hit-and-run incident and the department isn’t able to assign blame, the state "ends up picking up the tab," she said.
Police said the driver in the damaged-signal incident turned himself in and was released without charges pending investigation. The case is being reviewed by the prosecutor’s office.
The crosswalk signals fronting the university were activated on Oct. 21, 2011, and functioning when HPU student Mariah Danforth-Moore was killed by a hit-and-run driver while she crossed Kamehameha Highway.
Sluyter explained that the crossing signal is pedestrian-activated, using bright amber blinking LED lights to alert motorists that someone is in the crosswalk ahead.
The blinking lights flash in an irregular strobe pattern similar to those used by emergency vehicles, she said. They are mounted on poles on both sides of the highway and in the median for increased visibility.
Crossing Law
Chapter 291C-72 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes mandates that drivers stop for a pedestrian who is crossing a roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is either on the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling, or approaching the vehicle so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger, "and shall not proceed until the pedestrian has passed the vehicle and the driver can safely proceed."
It also states that whenever any vehicle is stopped at either a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross, "the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle."
Although pedestrians might have the legal right of way while crossing, and crossing and traditional signals provide warnings to drivers, Sluyter said pedestrians are reminded to look both ways and to be aware of oncoming vehicles before crossing any roadway.
Mahalo
To Ken in Moanalua Valley for graciously allowing my family to park in his driveway while we attended the Moanalua High School graduation ceremony last month. We arrived after the ceremony had started and were circling the packed neighborhood streets for a parking spot. Thankfully, Ken saw us driving by and waved us down! He allowed my family’s two cars to park in his driveway and wouldn’t accept any money in doing so. My young children and the rest of the family were able to enjoy a leisurely stroll to and from the graduation versus stressing out about where to park. Ken, your kindness was sincerely appreciated and was a great example of aloha for my kids to witness. We will certainly pay it forward every chance we get! — Paul Goto
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