Department of Transportation

HONOLULU – In the interest of ensuring the safety of everyone on the road, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is reminding motorists, protestors, and permittees of state law regarding the highway right-of-way.

HRS 264-6 prohibits the placement or storage of structures, vehicles, equipment, or other objects within the state highway right-of-way without HDOT’s permission. https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0264/HRS_0264-0006.htm

HRS 291C-111 permits the Director of Transportation to prohibit or restrict the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles where such activities interfere with the free movement of traffic. https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0291C/HRS_0291C-0111.htm

The traveling public is warned that there may be unpermitted parking and unexpected roadway departures and entries along Kamehameha Highway as protestors gather at the entrance to Kahuku Agricultural Park. Please drive with caution and slow down. The speed limit for Kamehameha Highway between Marconi Road and Kii Bridge is 45 mph.

HDOT has permitted closures of Kamehameha Highway for the Na Pua Makani transport on the schedule posted at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/blog/2019/10/11/nightly-closures-for-na-pua-makani-equipment-transport-begin-sunday-oct-13/. We will continue to review the transport operations to determine if timeline adjustments are necessary or if the permitted times need to be extended.

It is important to note that once the contractor vehicles begin to transport the Na Pua Makani Windfarm materials, they will not be able to turn around and will need to continue to the worksite. Road closure timeframes may be adjusted to accommodate unforeseen circumstances.

HDOT issued the transport permits as the applicants have fulfilled all process requirements, and all HDOT facilities, historic or otherwise, have been determined to have sufficient capacity to safely handle the loads anticipated.

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