Kahala is a well-to-do neighborhood with pricy properties in an excellent location. Probably lots of political clout here, you would think. So why are many streets in such poor condition?
These two photos were taken this week in two places along our block of Kealaolu Avenue. There’s a lot of traffic on this street, as it connects Kahala Avenue to Kalanianaole, and services the hotel, Kahala Beach apartments, Waialae Country Club, and the beach park.
You can see that there’s some subsidence, sinking that causes cracks and other problems, and layer after layer of somewhat temporary patches.
The road was in particularly bad condition at the end of the year. Just days before the Honolulu Marathon, a crew came by to patch the deepest potholes that would have been a danger to thousands of runners. It didn’t look nice, and it was still an embarrassment for the city, but at least the risk of injuries was reduced.
The road’s condition makes for a bumpy ride, and that creates a safety hazard as many drivers move to the right so that their right-side tires are in the bike and walking path on the side of the road, where the paving is in much better condition. But if you’re walking there, as we often are, better watch out!
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Every place is horrible, Ian. The Pali is terrible and we all look like drunk drivers trying to avoid the worst. I drive my husband around a lot, to keep him “occupied” and street after street is falling apart…….but billions is going for the stupid train. Makes no sense.
Hey! They want their homes but no tax increases to pay for infrastructure…guess they’re getting what they asked for. And who said government doesn’t deliver!
Shirley, not every place is horrible. I live in Makiki and I must say the roads have improved here, as for that “stupid train” I am looking forward to it. As a life long mass transit rider I appreciate any improvement in that area. This is the 21st Century.
In San Diego, and other parts of the world, the DOTs have started using recycled tires mixed with whatever binds it together, to fill in potholes and fix streets. Might be something Oahu could look into.
The problem is that the pavement used is woefully inadequate for both withstanding the temperate nature of our weather and the fact that it buckles over time when huge tour busses and other heavy trucks run over it.
The streets in Foster Village have all been recently paved, and the sewer line was also replaced. So, for some reason, we middle class residents are doing better than you upper class residents for some reason, Ian.
The roads in your photos look a lot better than many other roads, e.g., Kamehameha Highway in Aiea and Pearl City.
With Caldwell increasingly desperate for funds for, as Ann calls it, the “stupid train,” I think we can look forward to roads like that for years to come.
zzzzzz, Shirley called it the stupid train I merely added quotation marks and I’m still looking forward to it.
So, do y’all remember when certain politicians were saying that Bus Rapid Transit is the better option because it can be done with paint? Hah! I guess those politicians thought voters were too stupid to understand that BRT (and also street-level rail) requires a solidly built structure for the heavy vehicles to travel on. So let’s not entertain any more nonsense about these “better” and cheaper-to-build options since they are neither.
Why would these wealthy up standing Hawaiian humans want to put people on the street and out of
There homes some the only ones they have ever known! I know a family whose father left and the entire
Condo community helped until the mother could stand on her two feet because he did not pay support!
This is a real community that is like no other! Don’t take
It away for the little money you don’t need! Have compassion! I know you all have families and feelings
Money is not all you care about!