Pair Of Faded Crosswalks Near Diamond Head Present A Pair Of Safety Hazards
Transportation Department says rains, water main work have delayed re-striping of the Honolulu crossings.
The two women in the crosswalk at Monsarrat Avenue and Diamond Head Circle pulled up short halfway across the street as a truck sped in front of them across the badly faded crosswalk striping.
To make matters worse, another crosswalk about 100 feet makai of the first, at Kainana Avenue, is even harder to see, more obscured by weather and traffic.
Each Honolulu crosswalk is preceded by a school crossing sign showing two people walking and the Diamond Head Circle crossing features a brightly colored warning bolted to the center of the road.
However, a few minutes of observation reveals a pattern: motorists may slow or stop for the first crosswalk they come across, but they frequently overlook the second, regardless of which direction they are traveling on Monsarrat Avenue and whether anyone is waiting to cross.
“Every day, pedestrians are obviously standing there and you can see the drivers approaching, so they should be able to see you,” said Norman Acupan, who lives in the area. “And they don’t stop. They don’t stop.”
The short stretch of Monsarrat Avenue where the crosswalks are located is the business corridor of a residential neighborhood near Diamond Head State Monument and Kapiʻolani Park. It’s also popular with visitors who hop off tour trolleys. Waikīkī Elementary School is nearby, too, so children and parents routinely use the crosswalks.
The safety hazard would be at least partially remedied by new striping on both crosswalks to boost their visibility, Acupan said. Another sign in the middle of the street announcing the second crosswalk would also help, he said.
Honolulu Department of Transportation Services spokesperson Travis Ota said that re-striping has been ordered but work has been delayed by the recent rains. Water main installations being done on Monsarrat Avenue also pushed back the job, he said.
“While these factors have caused temporary delays, the crosswalk repainting remains a top priority for the Department of Facilities Maintenance and is scheduled to be completed in the new year,” Ota said in an email, adding that additional upgrades to the crosswalk including signage are in the design stage.
Who Is Responsible?
Roger Morton, director of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, 808-768-8303.
Residents can also submit reports online at honoluluhi.citysourced.com; by email at complaints@honolulu.gov; by phone at 808-768-4381; or through the free Honolulu 311 app.
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