Committee advances measure to set 25- and 35-mph limits on Konipuli Highway

The Hawaii County Policy Committee on Infrastructure and Assets voted to forward Bill 204 to the full council with a favorable recommendation after Public Works described safety-driven speed reductions on Konipuli Highway. The clerk introduced the bill as an amendment to Hawaii County Code, establishing 25- or 35-mile-per-hour speed limits on portions of the highway between Highway 250 and Pululu Valley Lookout.

Council Member Evans said staff held a town meeting and urged action to reduce speeds near a nearby middle school. Steve Houssey, Director of Public Works, said traffic staff recommended marking a school zone that would reduce speeds to 20 mph during school hours, add an elevated crosswalk and install flashing beacons. “There was some concern about the existing speed limits, and we had our traffic folks go out and take another look at it,” Houssey said.

Houssey told the committee the county accepted the road from the state as part of a road-swap and now needs to codify speed limits in county code. He said repaving is scheduled for parts of the route and that the school-related improvements are expected to follow that work.

Vice Chair Holaka Inaba asked staff to ensure the numbers on the bill’s map match the bill text so that the public can clearly see which sections correspond with 25- and 35-mph designations; Public Works agreed to review and report back. The clerk recorded nine ayes on the motion to forward the bill.

The committee action sends Bill 204 to the full Hawaii County Council for consideration; the measure’s next steps will be set by the council agenda.