Traffic emergency zone hearing: Daniel K. Inouye Highway
News Release from Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, Jun 5, 2026
HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) provides notice of its intent to declare a traffic emergency zone on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Route 200) between mile posts 5.5 and 28.
A traffic emergency zone declaration pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §264-1.5 allows HDOT to accelerate procurement and permitting for additional engineering mitigations.
HDOT crews have conducted sight-distance studies, closed multiple passing zones between mile posts 8.3 to 27.25, posted electronic signs with safety messaging and recently installed thermoplastic curbs and delineators between mile posts 16.7-19. Additional work planned includes:
- In-lane thermoplastic rumble strips and additional curve ahead chevron signs before curves and downhill areas to provide drivers feedback of road changes
- Open Graded High Friction surface course in areas between mile posts 6 and 19 where surface water runs on the roadway
- Wet weather road striping
- Installation of speed safety cameras to issue warnings to those traveling more than 11 miles over the posted speed limit set by Hawaii Revised Statutes §291C-106
- Engineering study on long-term improvements which could include full divided highway conversion, installation of medians within the existing right of way, and/or alternate passing lanes
In addition to the engineering mitigations, the Hawaiʻi Police Department and the state Department of Law Enforcement will increase enforcement presence along the route to reinforce good driving behaviors.
A hearing within 24 hours of the designation is required under HRS §264-1.5. HDOT will be hosting this hearing virtually through Microsoft Teams on Friday, June 5 at 1 p.m. The Teams meeting may be accessed here or by dialing into 808-829-4853 with the conference ID 950 650 20#.
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HTH June 5, 2026: UPDATE: State to declare a ‘traffic emergency zone’ on Saddle Road - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
….Following a deadly crash Thursday on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, the Hawaii Police Department announced it is “significantly increasing selective enforcement operations” on the highway.
Officers will maintain a heightened enforcement presence focused on identifying and addressing hazardous violations — including speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and seat belt violations, according to HPD.
From Jan. 1 through Thursday, there have been three fatal crashes on the highway — resulting in five deaths — compared to no fatal crashes on the highway during the same period last year.
One of those crashes occurred Thursday morning at about 8:34 a.m. near the 18-mile marker.
According to police, the driver of a westbound 2003 Toyota 4-Runner lost control while negotiating a curve. The Toyota hydroplaned into a lane of oncoming traffic and was subsequently broadsided by a 2024 Ford F450 dump truck….