Kahalu'u board puts off decision on roundabout
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAHALU'U — A proposal to install a roundabout at the intersection at Kahekili and Kamehameha highways was tabled at the Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board meeting last night following a heated debate.
Although the board had unanimously supported the traffic management project in 2000, a new member and residents from outside Kahalu'u are questioning its merits now that the state is ready to build it.
The state expects to put the $350,000 project out for bid in May and wants the board to make a decision about the roundabout at its next meeting.
Some 30 people from La'ie to Kahalu'u attended the meeting at KEY Project and about 10 residents voiced their opinions. Some were in full support of the roundabout, but others said they didn't know anything about it until they were recently informed by board member Kurt Mench.
D. Ke'ala Nalua'i said she didn't think the intersection was big enough for the roundabout and thought it would mar the beauty of Kahalu'u. But the real issue, Nalua'i said, is that people don't know about it.
"Now that you bring it up again you should get the community's support," she said.
Others who objected doubted it would solve the problem of slowing traffic and thought the money used for the roundabout should be spent to make other areas safer.
"We have fatalities every year between Johnson Road and Kualoa we're not dealing with," said Daniel Bishop. "Would the roundabout be the best use of the money?"
Proponents said cars wouldn't have to stop at the roundabout as they would at a traffic light and that only one car would be in the circle at a time, which would reduce collisions. In addition, pedestrians wouldn't have to walk in front of a car about to enter the circle.
"Roundabouts are pedestrian friendly, traffic lights are pedestrian unfriendly," said Ken LeVasseur, a neighborhood board member.
The project was nearly canceled when the new administration took over, but board members convinced Rod Haraga, the state Department of Transportation director, to reconsider. Haraga decided to build a temporary roundabout to test its effectiveness rather than spend $1.6 million for a permanent structure.
Resident Rick Towill said the temporary project was the best solution.
Under this plan the state will improve the highway at the intersection. If the roundabout doesn't work, other options include turning lanes or a traffic light. One resident wanted the state to try the turning-lane option first.
DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said Haraga wanted to honor the commitment from the previous administration and will abide by the board's vote.
"We'll come back to the next meeting and we'll go with what the board decides," Ishikawa said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
