KAILUA – The City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) will implement additional parking restrictions starting this Monday, January 27th, in an effort to reduce the amount of congestion coming in and out of the Lanikai neighborhood during the ongoing construction of Phase 8 of the Kalapawai Roundabout project.
The City’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will ban parking in the Kailua Beach Park parking lot makai of Kalapawai Store. This is the parking lot between Lihiwai Road and Kailua Road, currently used as the detour to leave Lanikai. This parking ban, expected to last the duration of Phase 8 construction, will reduce conflicts and congestion for vehicles leaving Lanikai. Digital and hard signage will be posted at the Lihiwai Road entrance to the parking lot. DPR reminds park visitors that parking is still available near the Canoe Hale and the boat ramp.
Additionally, DTS will ban parking on the makai-side unimproved shoulder of Kawailoa Road between Popoiʻa Road and ʻAlalā Road, fronting the Kailua Beach Park Canoe Hale parking lot. Parking will be restricted daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., similar to the rest of the Lanikai area. This will also reduce traffic conflicts for vehicles leaving Lanikai.
Special duty police officers may be deployed as needed.
“DTS will implement these additional parking restrictions with input from the Lanikai community and Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina, DPR, and the Honolulu Police Department (HPD)”, said DTS Deputy Director Jon Nouchi. “We are committed to implement refinements to our traffic plans to reduce congestion and delay, bringing relief to Lanikai residents and visitors. Again, due to the current congestion in Lanikai, we ask visitors to consider other beaches on Oʻahu or take TheBus Route 671 from Kailua town.”
Visitors may consider other beaches along Oʻahu’s east shore or choose to ride TheBus Route 671 from Kailua Town for convenient alternative access to Lanikai.
DTS will leave in place temporary “sawhorse” type signs on affected streets in Lanikai to warn drivers of the parking restrictions.
Residents traversing through this area should allow for extra time to get through Kalapawai and expect congestion during construction times.
Additional information on the project, construction schedules, detour patterns and remaining phases can be found here: https://www.kalapawaiproject.com/.
This federally-funded project will include various improvements, including an upgraded roundabout with higher-quality materials, new sidewalks, raised pedestrian crossings in the immediate vicinity of the roundabout, and new drainage infrastructure to address frequent storm water ponding. Drainage infrastructure will include permeable pavements, trench drains, pre-treatment tanks and rain gardens.
—PAU—