The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced on April 11 that one lane of Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay will be reopened to traffic by approximately 2 p.m. Saturday, following a closure due to fallen boulders the previous day.
The update is important for highway users and residents who rely on this major route for travel along Oahu’s North Shore. The closure affected access in both directions, with vehicles being turned around at Three Tables on the Kahuku side and ‘Iliohu Way on the Haleʻiwa side until repairs are completed.
HDOT reported that loose material has been cleared from the area and barriers with rock fencing are being installed beneath where the boulders fell. A cultural blessing of the pohaku is planned before its removal from the road to Waimea Valley. Once fencing installation is complete, a single lane will open with flaggers directing traffic in both directions. Drivers are asked to follow instructions from onsite personnel and remain within the designated lane.
After reopening one lane, HDOT plans to keep the mauka (mountain-side) lane closed until saturated slopes have dried sufficiently. Updates will continue as conditions change at Waimea Bay.
According to the official website, the Hawaii Department of Transportation manages statewide facilities including airports, commercial harbors, and highways across all six major Hawaiian islands. The department operates under Hawaii’s executive branch government structure and collaborates with federal agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, and Federal Highway Administration as well as county planning departments.
The department oversees more than 2,450 lane miles of highways and aims to provide a safe, efficient transportation system that supports mobility for people and goods while fostering economic growth and quality of life according to its official website.
