Question: As a Kailua resident, I would like to request that you seek some clarification about the widely quoted statement from our highway folks that the Pali is open from 5 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday Honolulu- bound. From Kailua the issue is that the right lanes are coned before 9 a.m. (not sure exactly what time) and all traffic is diverted onto Kamehameha Highway. The coning leads to a massive traffic backup. On Wednesday I entered the backup at Kapaa Quarry Road shortly after 8:30 a.m. Once finally at the head of the backup, I encountered a “road closed” sign at 8:50 a.m. This surprised me as I thought I still had 10 minutes to spare! But alas, no, I could not continue on the Pali, but was forced to turn right onto Kamehameha Highway. I ended up using the H-3 into town but could have saved myself grief by heading there directly earlier. At what time do I need to get to the intersection with Kamehameha Highway so I can get on the Pali? It appears that only travelers approaching the Pali from Kaneohe and turning right on the Pali have access until 9 a.m. I’ve also encountered the Pali not available at 3 p.m. for the return trip a few times. I understand that it’s a difficult situation for everyone, but posting times should require delivering on that promise. It makes it hard to plan trips with so much leeway in the actual availability of the very limited access.
Answer: We’ve heard from other readers with similar complaints, and they weren’t all from Kailua. We followed up with state Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Sakahara, who said, “We’ve spoken with the contractor regarding the access hours and they have responded that they keep the access open a couple of minutes past the advertised closing time. Our staff or our construction management will be verifying the times from now on.”
That said, contra-flow lanes do need to close promptly so crews can get to work on the emergency slope stabilization and repaving. In general, Sakahara said, any motorist heading out within a half-hour of the contra-flow’s closing time should consider a different route.
“There are many different variables, and we want to discourage folks from trying to get to either the AM Honolulu-bound contraflow or the PM Kailua/Kaneohe- bound access just as the access closes, as the coning process can slow the flow of traffic,” he said. “People are encouraged to check traffic monitoring websites or apps prior to starting their trip to determine if it is worth attempting to use the Pali Highway or if it is better to use an alternate route like the H-3 Freeway, Likelike Highway or Kalanianaole Highway.”
Workers begin shifting the lanes (coning) 20 minutes before the closure time. Expect weekday congestion leading to Castle Junction (5 to 9 a.m. Honolulu-bound contra-flow) and Waokanaka Street (3 to 7 p.m. Windward- bound contra-flow). Pali Highway is closed completely on weekends and holidays.
Auwe
Auwe to people who hold up their phones (cameras) the whole time during special events such as graduation. It’s distracting to the people sitting next to you and blocks the view of those sitting behind you. Take one or two pictures or a short video and put it down. I say something when it happens to me but want to get the message out for those too timid to speak up. — Respectful grandpa
Mahalo
Heartfelt thanks to two strong men, John and Steve, who pushed my stalled white Camry out of the busy intersection of King Street and Dillingham Boulevard. To all those who blasted their horns at me, I hope you are never in my unfortunate situation. — Grateful senior
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
