A local family has stepped up its efforts to slow down speeding motorists on Makakilo Drive.

After their son, Nathan Ackerman, 15, was struck and killed by a vehicle April 4 as he walked to a school bus stop, Christopher and Dena Ackerman began asking the city that a signal light and crosswalk be installed. They began waving signs urging drivers to slow down. And they met with police to ask for stepped up enforcement.

But in August, they decided to stop telling people about the speeding and to start showing them.

The Ackermans shelled out $144.95 for a radar gun and on Aug. 15, started standing at the spot where their son was killed, recording the speed of passing cars.

They're out there every Monday, from 6:15 to 7:45 a.m. Once a month, they report their findings to police at their Neighborhood Board meeting.

"We are committed to staying out there every week until they change it with a stoplight, a crosswalk — at this point I just want something done," Dena Ackerman said. "Most of the community really likes it because something does need to be done, and we're not saying that people are speeding — we're showing them that they are."

The family wants to see a crosswalk, with a signal, installed on the Honolulu side of Maka-kilo Drive leading to the back entrance of Mauka Lani Elementary School, Ackerman said. She wants children to be protected from what she calls a "speeding problem" on Makakilo Drive.

The Ackermans' mission began after their son was killed in a 25 mph zone while crossing the street to catch the bus. Witnesses told police the boy had darted into the path of two pickup trucks heading uphill when he was struck. Honolulu police officers said they have stepped up speed enforcement along Makakilo Drive since Nathan's death, which was ruled accidental. No charges were brought in the case, police said.

Officers assigned to the department's District 8 patrol division have issued 293 citations from May through Oct. 20, said Maj. Michael Tamashiro. Patrol officers, motorcycle officers and traffic division officers have been conducting speed enforcement on Makakilo Drive every Monday since Nathan's death.

"We're still trying to find a solution to the issue of speeding up there," Tamashiro said. "The challenge is trying to educate the community about speeding because the primary culprits are the residents up there."

The city has declined to install a crosswalk and signal because a traffic study commissioned after Nathan's death showed no need in that location, the city said. The study considered traffic counts and pedestrian counts taken at various times of the day.

Alfred Tanaka, acting director of the city Department of Transportation Services, said the city is looking at several measures to control speeding, including education programs to teach area children about the dangers of crossing Makakilo Drive.

"We're considering putting in additional signage and lights — flashing yellow lights just to warn people that there is a speed reduction (from 35 to 25 mph)."

Dena Ackerman says for the most part, her family's efforts have been warmly received. She also lauded the state Department of Education's efforts to move bus stops closer to intersections and child pickup points.

"We're really trying hard to make a difference," she said.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.