The action is being taken to help the thousands of drivers who come off H-1 Freeway and use Punchbowl Street as a main feeder street into downtown Honolulu and Kaka'ako, he said.

"We didn't want anything that adversely affects that," Hirata said. The only cost for the change will be for restriping, and will be minimal.

The move follows a decision to abandon a project to create two-way traffic on lower Punchbowl Street. The project, between Ala Moana Boulevard and King Street, has already cost the city $1.45 million.

Contractors this week began removing trees, concrete curbs and signs installed late last year as part of the project.

Former Mayor Jeremy Harris created the single mauka-bound lane on Punchbowl between King and Beretania in 1998, in part to help those driving to leave the downtown area for the freeway.

"We felt it's more important to keep traffic moving in one direction. That will eliminate a delayed left turn for two lanes of Punchbowl Street traffic, enabling more cars to flow through the intersection, especially in the busy morning rush-hour," Hirata said.

Pedestrians and drivers around the intersection yesterday generally liked the idea of converting the street into one-way again, but worried about losing a crosswalk in an area with lots of foot traffic.

"If they change the street back, I wouldn't care too much," said Joshua Chang of Mililani, who said he often uses the mauka-bound lane after dropping his wife, Lindsay, off for work in downtown Honolulu. "It's only a minute or two more to go around the long way."

Pedestrians, though, wondered about the wisdom of closing the crosswalk.

"We need more crosswalks, not less," said Kasey Watson, a restaurant server who does not own a car. "If it helps the traffic, OK, but I think they should keep the crosswalk at least for now."

If the crosswalk is eliminated pedestrians trying to get from Honolulu Hale to Kawaiaha'o Church would first have to cross Punchbowl Street, walk across King Street, then walk back across Punchbowl Street.

"If they're in a hurry, they probably won't do it," said Lisa Larson, a management consultant who lives in Waikiki. "This area has such a heavy pedestrian population, you'll probably end up with more people getting hurt if you eliminate the crosswalk."