Numerous roadways — including Ala Moana Boulevard, Nimitz Highway and portions of the H-1 and H-3 freeways — will be closed this morning for a triathlon, state officials said.
The Hawaii Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation is holding its third annual Race to the Base Triathlon, which will result in lane closures starting at 3:30 a.m. and fully in place by 6 a.m. All lanes are expected to be open by 11 a.m.
The scheduled lane closures are as follows:
>> Ala Moana Boulevard/Nimitz Highway: Two westbound left lanes will be closed from Kamakee Street to Puuhale Road. All lanes on westbound Nimitz Highway between Puuhale Road and Valkenburgh Street will be closed to traffic. Motorists will be detoured at Puuhale Road and Kamehameha Highway to access the onramp to the westbound H-1 freeway.
>> H-1 freeway: One westbound right lane will be closed from the Valkenburgh Street onramp to the Kaneohe/Honolulu offramp (Exit 13B).
>> H-3 freeway: All lanes will be closed in the Kaneohe-bound direction between the Halawa Interchange and the Kaneohe Bay Drive offramp (Exit 15). Kaneohe-bound traffic will be able to access the Marine Corps base via the Kaneohe Bay Drive onramp to the H-3 freeway.
Motorists are advised to allow for extra travel time, use alternate routes and to drive with caution. All weekend lane closures are posted on the state Department of Transportation website.
Dumped coals cause fire and destroy tree
City officials are blaming the improper dumping of charcoal for the destruction of a shower tree at Kokololio Beach Park in Windward Oahu last weekend.
Coals placed at the base of the tree caused it to burn Saturday, park officials said. Firefighters from the Hauula fire station responded to the incident just after 7:30 p.m. While the fire was extinguished quickly, the base of the tree was destroyed, park officials said.
An inspection by the Division of Urban Forestry determined that the tree was structurally unsound from the fire. The tree was removed by a parks crew Tuesday, city officials said.
