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Maluʻohai residents urge DHHL to implement traffic‑calming after series of crashes
Summary
Residents of the Maluʻohai homestead told the Hawaiian Homes Commission that a draft traffic‑calming plan presented in Sept. 2023 has not been provided to the community and described at least 11 recent crashes on Coyao Avenue; they urged DHHL to deliver and implement measures to protect homes adjacent to the roadway.
Homilani Shadel, a beneficiary and longtime president of the Maluʻohai Residents Association, urged the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands commission on Nov. 18 to deliver and implement a traffic‑calming plan for Coyao Avenue after what she said has been a multi‑year pattern of crashes close to residents' homes.
Shadel told commissioners she and others met with consultants from Austin Tsutsumi and Associates in September 2023, but “today, we have not received the updated traffic plan,” and warned that a future crash could drive a vehicle “through that fence into your home.” Caroline Kao, a Maluʻohai resident, described a Oct. 18, 2025, incident in which a moped struck and damaged her backyard fence about 10:35 p.m.; the rider fled and the household paid a roughly $1,000 insurance deductible, she said. Kao said the site has recorded “11 significant accidents on Coyao Avenue in the last couple of years.”
Commissioner Arnelas and Commissioner Ornelas pressed staff and community members for details about road ownership and prior studies. Commissioners were told the road remains under DHHL jurisdiction and is not slated to transfer to the City & County of Honolulu for maintenance until about 2030. Ornelas asked whether community members had submitted specific suggestions and whether traffic counts or automated counters had been installed; Shadel said Austin Tsutsumi and Associates completed an initial process, provided recommendations to the board and held a community meeting where residents gave feedback.
Shadel said the association purchased signs and other low‑cost measures from community benefit funds after waiting for DHHL action: “Those two signs cost over $7,000. That was paid from our portion of the HCB A funds.” She called on the commission and department to provide the promised updated plan and to implement measures that would prevent a vehicle from entering homes that sit a few feet from the roadway.
Next steps: Commissioners pledged to follow up. Chair pro tem Walt Kaneakua said he would personally follow up on the testimony and staff indicated they would coordinate with the board and consultants to provide the updated plan to residents and the commission.
