Ask the Mayor: Can You Install a Green Arrow at Keawe Street?

Keawe St intersection 3/1/18. PC: file Maui Now

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his staff.

Aloha Mayor,

Q:    As an employee of the Hyatt night shift for 30+ years, it seems to me that if you could put a constant, green, blinking, right-turn arrow at the Keawe Street intersection, where almost everyone nearly comes to a stop before turning right onto Honoapiʻilani Highway, people would continue into their right turn a bit quicker.  When that third stoplight facing us on the far right turns red, people just naturally slow or even stop.  Make it green all the time, with a right-turn arrow.  It wouldn’t be a “silver bullet,” but it would definitely help.

A: Interesting thought. I’ve had our Department of Public Works pass along your idea to the State Department of Transportation which controls that intersection, not the county. So far though I have heard less and less complaints about the new bypass and even a few compliments about how it is helping reduce the drive time to and from West Maui. Personally I believe the state should continue extending the bypass by constructing more phases, especially to Kāʻanapali where you and many others commute to and from work on a daily basis.

Want to ask the Mayor? Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, (808) 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.