Latest news with #ShellyKunishige
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Some claim a new safety measure is ruining quality of life
HONOLULU (KHON2) — It's a sound all too familiar to residents who live on Pali Highway and Wood Street. 'Thump, thump, thump.' Gondola development project proposed for North Shore A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said it's like someone's driving over train tracks. For Mark, who lives on the corner, the constant tire thumping is driving him up the wall. 'It sounds like something is hitting something,' Mark said. 'I can't really get rid or get away from noise in my house. So I think the worst part for me is that it sounds like people are knocking on my door 24 hours a day now.' The culprit is the white striping put in less than two weeks ago leading up to the new raised crosswalk on the Pali to the Shelly Kunishige, the Department of Transportation spokesperson, the white advanced warning bars are made of a raised thermoplastic. 'Our inspector said it was a typical installation,' Kunishige explained. 'But I will basically have our guys out there to take noise measurements and stuff to see if there's anything unusual. But from what the construction inspector said, it's no different than any other raised crosswalk.' But this isn't the first time that DOT has dealt with noise complaints relating to raised crosswalks. The raised crosswalk at Kailua Road and the Ululoa Street in Kailua has had a number of complaints since it was put in several years ago according to Kunishge. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news A resident said they've dealt with a number of issues, noise is just one of them. According to Kunishige, that raised crosswalk is going to be replaced with a traffic signal. She confirmed there were also complaints with the raised crosswalk at Pali Highway and Ahipuu Street, which she said was relocated to Pali Highway and lower Dowsett. The city Department of Transportation Services has also been installing speed humps in residential areas. Hawaiian Airlines: No one will lose their miles 'DTS received less than half a dozen complaints once speed humps have been installed. Some of these issues were related to noise and damage to lowered vehicles,' the department said in a statement. 'This small percentage of speed hump installation complaints, when compared to requests to create safer and slower streets, shows our island residents are very much proponents of slower travel through our neighborhoods.' DOT has installed over 258 raised crosswalks and speed humps statewide since 2019 and hope to add another 40 this year. Downtown armed robbery prompts HPD investigation Mark knows the raised crosswalk by his house is for pedestrians safety. He isn't saying it needs to go. He just wants the constant thumping to stop. 'I'm hoping they'll just remove these strips and replace them with regular road paint, because those don't make any sound at all and they'll serve the exact same purpose,' Mark explained. 'I wouldn't say I get a good sleep with this.' DOT said they do plan to contact Mark to schedule a time to test the noise level. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Be ready for night and weekend lane closures as road work ramps up
HONOLULU (KHON2) — State transportation officials are warning Oahu drivers to expect delays due to an uptick in road construction, especially along major corridors including the H-1 Freeway, Moanalua Freeway, and areas near the airport. Honolulu city council looks to use hotel tax to help lower projected sewer fee increase The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) reported 25 separate projects with lane closures along the H-1 Freeway alone during the week of May 10 to May 16. Additional work is also underway on the H-2 and Moanalua freeways. 'Probably one of our most impactful projects right now would be the H-1 Pearl City and Waimalu viaduct improvements,' said HDOT Communications Manager Shelly Kunishige. 'That closes up to four lanes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. and is likely to continue through March 2027.' Other ongoing projects include: Airport Viaduct Improvements — Closing westbound lanes Tuesday through Monday, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., expected to finish by August 2025. Salt Lake Rehabilitation Project — Affects eastbound H-1 traffic on weekends and evenings, with completion anticipated in June. Moanalua Freeway Repaving — Between the H-3 and Fort Shafter overpass, targeted for completion by year's the frustrations for drivers, HDOT said there is a reason so many projects are happening simultaneously. 'All of this work has federal monies attached, so we do need to expend them while we have that funding authorization,' Kunishige said. 'We don't like to cause traffic, but we're trying to improve the roads and create long-lasting pavement so we don't have to do this for another 10 or 15 years.' Some drivers are feeling the strain. 'Kind of humbug,' said a Honolulu resident who asked to remain anonymous. 'They got to get 'em together, you know. Space 'em out. Maybe take a break sometime, do one project at a time.' An ʻAiea resident said she tries to plan ahead. 'I'm prepared, knowing that there's going to be road closures. I just time my appointments accordingly,' she said. DOT posts its weekly roadwork schedule every Friday. Officials recommend that drivers check for updates and plan routes before heading out. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Click here to see this weeks scheduled road work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: When will state remove metal plates on H-3 near tunnel?
Question : There have been two metal plates that stretch across both lanes of the H-3 Windward-bound after exiting the Harano Tunnel. The two plates have been there for over six months, maybe longer ! When does DOT expect to fix the problem and remove the metal plates ? It is damaging our cars to drive over it repeatedly day in and day out ! Please save our cars and tires from this prolonged issue. Answer : Work to replace the steel plates with expansion joints will begin Friday evening and is scheduled to be completed by the next morning, Shelly Kunishige, a spokesperson for Hawaii's Department of Transportation, said Wednesday. The steel plates cover gaps between the concrete slabs of the H-3 deck that need expansion joints to properly fill ; they've been in place temporarily while the state waited for the expansion joints to arrive, she said. Friday's roadwork was scheduled as soon as the materials arrived, according to a DOT news release issued Tuesday. It said crews will be conducting expansion joint repairs in the right lane of the H-3 Kaneohe-bound from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. 'The work zone will be from a half-mile before the Harano Tunnel to the Hospital Rock interchange. Crews will shift traffic to the left shoulder, maintaining two lanes on the H-3 heading to the Windward side throughout the work.' Variations in temperature and moisture can cause concrete to expand and contract, which is why slabs of concrete roadway are not laid flush. Expansion joints are used in these intentional gaps, allowing for the natural fluctuation and preventing or reducing cracking and damage in the concrete. When needed expansion joints are not available, the DOT may temporarily cover gaps between the slabs with steel plates. 'HDOT thanks Windward motorists for their patience as the department procured the expansion joints and contractor services. Please drive with caution around the work zone so that all workers can return home safely, ' the news release said. Q : I keep hearing about a deadline to get a REAL ID ? Is that correct ? A : Not if you are asking about obtaining the credential for the first time, or renewing an existing one. May 7 is the date enforcement begins for domestic airline passengers, not the last date to apply for a federally-compliant (REAL ID ) driver's license or state identification card at the DMV. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. For information about obtaining the credential, go to and click on 'Driver's License, State ID & Real ID.' Applications for REAL IDs are ongoing. Eligible first-time applicants must present acceptable documents verifying their identity (legal name and birth date ), lawful presence in the United States and Hawaii principal residency. As for enforcement, which will apply to people entering certain federal facilities, including Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at U.S. airports, Hawaii's Department of Transportation issued a news release Wednesday saying : 'HDOT reminds domestic travelers that on May 7, 2025, you must have a REAL ID or acceptable alternative to avoid delays at the security checkpoints at the airport. 'State-issued REAL ID-compliant credentials must be marked with one of the following : 'A star in a circle 'A flag 'Or the text 'Enhanced' 'Alternatives to a state-issued REAL ID credential include : 'U.S. passport 'U.S. passport card 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards 'U.S. Department of Defense ID 'Permanent resident card ' A full list of acceptable forms of identification is posted on the TSA website, Federally compliant credentials issued by the state of Hawaii have the star mark, while those issued by other states have that mark or the listed alternatives. 'Approximately 96 % of all driver's licenses and state IDs issued in Hawai 'i are REAL ID Gold Star-compliant. Those without a star in a circle on their driver's license or state ID are encouraged to make an appointment through their county to obtain one, ' the news release said.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: Why are lights out in Pali tunnels?
Question : Both of the short tunnels on Pali Highway are in the dark, and the sign announcing the outage has also gone missing. I'll refrain from smart-aleck remarks, but this seems a serious situation that needs attention. Do the responsible folks know and have a plan to fix it ? Answer : Yes. You are one of multiple readers who have expressed this safety concern in recent weeks, with some saying the lights have been out for quite a while. We raised your questions with the state Department of Transportation on Feb. 27, and after following up on Wednesday heard back later that day. Here's the response from Shelly Kunishige, a spokesperson for the department : 'HDOT has posted electronic signs alerting motorists to the lights in the Pali tunnels on Oahu being out. For safety we recommend that drivers use their headlights when traveling through the tunnels even in daylight. 'HDOT is working with Hawaiian Electric to investigate concerns with the power supply and lights in the short tunnels on the Pali Highway. This will involve installation of power monitoring equipment in mid-March and a surge suppression system in June. In the interim, we will be turning on an emergency circuit that can partially power the short tunnel lighting (10 lights in the Kailua-bound tunnel and six lights in the Honolulu-bound tunnel ). 'The long tunnel lights have been restored following a timing schedule programming error that turned them off during the night. HDOT staff will be manually commanding the long tun -nel lights as we work to resolve the timing schedule programming.' Q : Regarding the state trying to expedite the hiring of laid-off federal workers, isn't the city doing the same thing ? Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. A : Yes, Honolulu's municipal government announced it's streamlining the hiring of laid-off federal employees to fill vacant city positions. Learn more at. For convenience, here's the link to the state's effort, which we mentioned in a previous column : . Q : The federal government gives a preference in hiring to military veterans, attracting them to apply, and now they are getting laid off in droves. Auwe ! A : U.S. military veterans comprise about 30 % of the federal workforce, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and they are not immune from the mass layoffs imposed by the Trump administration, as you pointed out. As for the hiring preference, you can read more about that at. Q : Please print the Hawaii phone numbers for our congressional delegation. Not all of us are online. A : Here are local contact numbers as listed on the senators' and representatives' websites, where additional contact information is available, including phone numbers to their Washington, D.C., offices and options to send email or letters.—Sen. Mazie Hirono, 808-522-8970 or 844-478-3478 (toll free ),—Sen. Brian Schatz, 808-523-2061,—Rep. Jill Tokuda, 808-746-6220,—Rep. Ed Case, 808-650-6688, Auwe These mass federal layoffs are going to drive everything to 'online service, ' which is fine for most people, but good luck if you have even the slightest complication in your case, form, request, etc.—the computer can't handle it ! And now the person who could have helped you is being laid off ! Auwe !—A reader Mahalo Many thanks to the young man who lifted my heavy purchases into the trunk of my car at Iwilei Costco. He was with his mother, who approached very gently, so as not to startle me, as I struggled to lift a case of canned goods from the cart. I appreciate their kindness.—A reader------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hawaii speed cams to begin sending warnings Saturday
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Oahu's red light cameras will not just catch red light runners — they will also flag speeders starting on March 1. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news A warning period begins before citations are issued and KHON2 found out what drivers need to know. Red light cameras have been issuing citations at 10 Oahu intersections since November 2022. The pilot program resulted in a 69% drop in crashes at those locations and the Hawaii Department of Transportation hopes that expanding the cameras to catch speeders will have a similar result. 'That was the whole reason why we implemented this program, is to see a reduction in crashes and hopefully we don't see any citations,' said HDOT Communications Manager Shelly Kunishige. 'We know that speeds affect the mortality of crashes and ideally everybody follows the speed limits.' Speed cameras hit bump in the road Signage is already posted around the 10 red light cameras to let drivers know that they are entering a surveilled area. The devices already track speed by radar but they previously only had authority to issue red light citations. 'It's just the click of a switch. This is not new technology. We future-proofed the red light cameras that can also do speed at the same time,' said House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Darius Kila. 'The cameras are measuring basically by radar, the miles per hour that people are traveling through the intersections,' Kunishige said. Honolulu police only have a couple of officers that man the red light cameras. Rep. Kila said he has a bill in the Legislature that would approve more funds to make that process joint effort with the Department of Law Enforcement. More red light safety cameras and speeding cameras coming to Hawaii roads 'To look at the citations, justify if it's warranted or not, but also streamline and exploit this process much quicker,' Rep. Kila said. 'Currently right now we have one or two people going over several thousand citations or infractions. But if we can streamline dispositions and even just add ten more bodies, be much more efficient.' The cams will send out written warnings to drivers who go more than five miles an hour over the speed limit until April 29 and citations will be sent out on April 30. Stolen jewels, boa constrictors killing owners, check out Honolulu police said they have vetted and issued almost 43,000 red light citations since the pilot began in 2022. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
