Honolulu Dept. of Transportation Services

02/19/2025

Today, Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 52 (24), CD1 into law, which is an important step to making our roads safer for everyone, as e-bikes rise in popularity as form of transportation around Oʻahu.

E-bikes are a vital part of our multimodal transit network, providing affordable and sustainable transportation, especially for last mile commutes. However, is it important to implement regulations to help prevent serious injuries or death for our e-bike riders.

Bill 52 will bring:

- Helmet requirements for riders under the age of 18
- Limits to power: e-bikes exceeding 750 watts are prohibited on public roads, highways, alleys, paths or trails
- Reckless riding restrictions: riders must keep both wheels on the ground, must be properly seated, and avoid dangerous maneuvers
- Prohibition of exhibition riding, such as wheelies or standing on handlebars, unless part of an authorized event

There was an average of 24 e-bike related emergency calls every month in 2024 across Hawai’i, many of them involving keiki and young adults. The City aims to reduce this with enforcement, education, and awareness to ensure riders of all ages are safe on our roadways.

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine's Day transit fam!

We love you!

02/13/2025

Taking can be intimidating if you don't know the routes, so we want to share some of our favorites throughout the year! Here's our pick for this month: 2 - Kalihi Transit Center to Hunakai/Waialae

Route 2 lets you explore the south side of O'ahu, from Kalihi to Kahala Mall. Hop on to go shopping at Ala Moana, cruising in Waikiki, or grabbing a bite to eat in Kapahulu!

And if you're a plant lover, the 2 stops at School St + Kapalama St -- within a 5 minute walk of , where you can adopt a native plant at their monthly Kaiwi'ula Night Market 🌿💕Reserve your plant online at the below, then pick it up on Wed., Feb. 19, at the Grow Aloha booth from 5-8 pm. It's that simple! 🌱💖

Swipe to see the 2 route to , or download the .app for directions on how to get there from anywhere 🚌

https://www.bishopmuseum.org/growaloha/

02/12/2025

We are once again extending morning operating hours for , to accommodate the 41st Great Aloha Run (GAR), on Monday, February 17.

Skyline will begin operations at 3:30 a.m. with special express trips servicing only four stations, allowing west side GAR participants a chance to get to the starting line without having to worry about driving and finding parking. Skyline riders will be taken to the Hālawa Aloha Stadium Skyline station, where they can catch a shuttle to take them to the starting line of the GAR at Aloha Tower. Once they complete the run to Aloha Stadium, participants can take Skyline back west from Hālawa.

The following stations will be open for riders and participants at 3:25 a.m. on Monday, February 17:

- Keoneʻae UH West Oʻahu Skyline Station
- Honouliuli Hoʻopili Skyline Station
- Hōʻaeʻae West Loch Skyline Station
- Hālawa Aloha Stadium Skyline Station (riders will get off here)

Train departure times at these stations can be found via 2nd photo.

Participants will be able to park and leave their cars at the following stations starting at 3:25 a.m.:

- Keoneʻae UH West Oʻahu Skyline Station (304 stalls)
- Honouliuli Hoʻopili Skyline Station (344 stalls)
- Hōʻaeʻae West Loch Skyline Station (21 stalls)

All other Skyline stations will open at 5 a.m., and will resume regular 10-minute frequencies with service to all stations.

Loaded HOLO cards and fares will apply to board and ride both Skyline and TheBus; cards are available for purchase at ticket vending machines at all Skyline stations.

TheBus will detour affected routes to accommodate the race. Please visit: www.thebus.org to view affected routes and detour information.

Good luck to all the participants out there!

02/11/2025

Some shots from last week where Honolulu Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts announced the start of Wahi Pana: Storied Places!

Wahi Pana, a groundbreaking, public art initiative by the City and County of Honolulu celebrates the moʻolelo of Oʻahu’s wahi pana through site/specific installations by local artists.

One of our 200 series Gillig buses, wrapped with a design by Cory Kamehanaokalā Holt Taum, marks the first time a Honolulu City bus has ever been wrapped with art! Taum’s artwork depicts Hi’iakakapoliopele’s journey through flowing pa’u patterns, envisioning pathways through O’ahu and mirroring TheBus circuits. Hi’iaka chants the many kau (poetic and sacred chants) honoring the persons and landscapes she encounters.

If you see this bus on the road, be sure to take a photo and share with us!

No worry, there will be two more wrapped buses!

02/11/2025

No longer a secret! We're so excited to unveil the first-ever art installation on as part of the Wahi Pana: Storied Places public art initiative!

Designed by local artist Cory Kamehanaokalā Holt Taum, the bus wrap is inspired by the epic of Hiʻiakakapoliopele. It visually connects residents and visitors to the history and spirit of the island. This marks the first time a City bus has been wrapped with art, offering a unique and accessible cultural experience to all who ride and see it.

The bus selected for this installation is a 200-series, 40-foot Gillig bus, the primary model used on most routes across Oʻahu. The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) chose this versatile model because it can traverse the island’s main roadways, making it widely accessible. This bus will travel across multiple neighborhoods, ensuring that as many people can see and experience the artwork.

TheBus is more than just transportation; it is a shared space where people from all walks of life come together. By wrapping our 200-series bus with Wahi Pana art, we are turning our transit system into a moving gallery, bringing cultural storytelling to the streets and neighborhoods across Oʻahu.

Three total buses will be wrapped with Taum’s designs, and they will remain in service for the remainder of the program’s three-year duration.

The Wahi Pana bus installation is part of a broader effort to activate significant cultural sites across Oʻahu. This project is led by the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts and funded by a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, which will feature 11 art and storytelling installations inspired by Oʻahu’s storied places and cultural heritage.

If you see our Wahi Pana bus, please take some photos and share with us!

02/10/2025

Have you heard of restricted parking zones? 🧐 Also known as RPZs, these zones are designed to make it easier for residents to find on-street parking close to home. If you’ve ever had to drive in circles around your neighborhood looking for an open spot, you know what a big deal this is!

Here's the general idea:
- Residents would apply to purchase annual permits to park their personal vehicles on-street in the RPZ.
- RPZ decals distinguish resident vehicles from others in their area, ensuring they have top priority for on-street parking.
- Residents could purchase visitor passes for their guests to use on-street parking in their RPZ.
- If someone without a permit parks in an RPZ, their vehicle would be subject to tickets and hourly fines.

Last year, .dts and District 6 Councilmember implemented an RPZ pilot program in Kalihi Valley, which increased on-street parking for residents by 70 percent!

Stay tuned for more program updates 🚘

02/10/2025

No car, no license, hate traffic, or just don’t feel like driving? That shouldn’t stop you from having a nice Valentine’s Day. Here are some fun, easy Valentine’s or Pal-entine’s plans that don’t require a car 🚫🚙

Skip the keys and enjoy the day with ease 🔑 Happy Valentine’s Day from HNL Connect! 💖

02/07/2025

No ka hoʻomaka ʻana o ka Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ma Honolulu nei, ua hui ka Hope Poʻo o DTS ʻo Jon Nouchi me kekahi mau haumāna ʻeleu mai ke kula kamaliʻi ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi ʻo Kūlaniākea. Ua kamaʻilio lākou e pili ana i na ʻano like ʻole o ke alakau ma kēia mokupuni nei ʻo Oʻahu: ʻO Skyline, TheBus, Handi-Van, a me nā ʻano holo ʻē aʻe, ka holo wāwae a me ka holo paikikala nō hoʻi. Akamai hoʻi kēia keiki mai ka ʻaina Koʻolaupoko ma Kāneʻohe! E hoʻi mai, e kipa hou, e holo me mākou!

To kick off Hawaiian Language Month in Honolulu, DTS Deputy Director Jon Nouchi met with some energetic students from Kūlaniākea Hawaiian Language preschool. They chatted about all the different modes of transportation on this island of Oʻahu, including Skyline, TheBus, and Handi-Van, as well as other ways of moving about including walking and bicycling as well. These keiki from Kāneʻohe, Koʻolaupoko were so smart! Please come back to visit us again, and !

02/06/2025

Yesterday, DTS Deputy Director Nouchi took a handful of students from the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu's ART 311D Class Design for Public Spaces (Academy of Creative Media), on a tour of the Keoneʻae Skyline Station, to preview potential locations for art installations that can be displayed.

They also got to check out Hālaulani LCC Station, for more art installation options for other students in the UH system.

Deputy Director Nouchi explained the importance of art and culture behind the designs of each Skyline station. Art can bring a station to life, give it character, and offer quality that riders and visitors can enjoy.

Mahalo to these ART 311D students and Instructor Will Temple! Hoping to bring some of their creative and expressive output to our stations!

02/04/2025

We're excited to announce that Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has signed a proclamation designating today, Tuesday, February 4, 2025, as Transit Equity Day!

Transit Equity Day occurs every February 4 nationwide to honor the birthday of Rosa Parks, a civil rights activist known for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Parks has been recognized by the United States Congress as “the first lady of civil rights,” and “the mother of the freedom movement.”

Skyline, TheBus and TheHandi-Van are accessible and inclusive modes of public transportation in Honolulu, offering sustainable mobility options for Oʻahu' s residents of all races and socioeconomic groups, from keiki to kūpuna, to reach jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services.

Expanded public transportation options create safer streets by reducing the number of cars and fossil fuel dependencies, which contribute to climate change, minimizing transportation's environmental impact. Investments in transportation are also proven to encourage economic growth by bringing business opportunities to equitable transit-oriented communities.

Seamless and connected transit mobility uplifts everyone in our island community. Vibrant, resilient cities depend on transit as a basic need. Skyline’s planned second opening, anticipated by the end of this year, marks a significant milestone in our transit evolution. Partnered with increased TheBus routes and quality TheHandi-Van services, equitable multimodal transportation supports a bright future for Oʻahu’s residents and visitors alike.

Come

02/02/2025

EDIT: Road is reopened and service is back to normal :)

Routes 23 and 69 will be affected.

There will be no through interlined service between Route 23 and 69 during the detour. This means Route 23 will operate only between Kahala Mall and Kalama Valley, while Route 69 will operate only between Kāneʻohe and Waimānalo. There will no service between Kealahou Street & Hawaiʻi Kai Drive (Kalama Valley) and Kalanianaʻole Highway & Nalu Street (Waimānalo).

*Update 2/2/25 9:40 AM* Kalaniana‘ole Hwy near Sea Life Park will reopen at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2. Repairs were completed ahead of schedule.

Closures on Kalaniana‘ole Highway near Sea Life Park to repair sinkhole

Single Lane Closure from 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1; Full Closure from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies highway users of a full closure of Kalaniana‘ole Highway (Route 72) between Kealahou Street and the vicinity of the Makai Research Pier from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2. The full closure of both lanes is needed to repair a sinkhole discovered after the low-pressure system that impacted O‘ahu Thursday and Friday.

Crews closed the Waimānalo-bound lane near Baby Makapu‘u Saturday evening and are alternating traffic through the remaining lane. At 5 a.m. Sunday, HDOT will completely close the highway to haul in coral boulders and back fill the undermined portion of the road. Both lanes will be closed to set up the heavy machinery needed to place the boulders.

There is no available detour through this section of Kalaniana‘ole Highway. Electronic signs will be placed to notify highway users of the full closure. Buses and emergency vehicles will not be allowed through the closure due to the stationing of the heavy machinery.

HDOT will provide an update via email and its social media accounts. To sign-up for HDOT email notices, visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/hidot/subscriber/new

HDOT’s social media accounts are:

https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation

https://x.com/DOTHawaii

https://www.instagram.com/hawaiidot/

02/01/2025

Good news everyone!

We're excited to announce The League of American Bicyclists has recently designated the City as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” at the silver level.

Honolulu is one of 91 communities across the United States that received the Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Honolulu has moved up in the rankings since the last review cycle, which took place in 2018-2022 and during which we obtained a bronze ranking. Applications and review cycles occur every 4 years.

We join the ranks of other silver-rated cities, including San Jose, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Miami Beach, FL; New Orleans, LA; Boston, MA; Minneapolis, MN; Bend, OR; and Pittsburgh, PA.

The League of American Bicyclists leads the movement to create a bicycle friendly America for everyone. Since 2002, the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program has accepted over 2,100 applications for recognition and awarded Bicycle Friendly Communities status to 460 jurisdictions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Bicycle Friendly Community program asks each community to evaluate its state of bicycling and identify ways to keep improving quality of life, sustainability and transportation options for more people.

With Honolulu’s ever-expanding bicycle infrastructure, including new protected bike lanes throughout urban Honolulu, the South Shore Trail, and the City’s acquisition of bikeshare, DTS aims to promote bicycling as a healthy, affordable, and sustainable method of transportation.

For more information, visit: https://bikeleague.org/bfa/5-es/

02/01/2025

A quick 2024 report from our friends over at !

Last year, there were:

638,955 Biki rides
72.8% of those rides were by residents
1,142 Biki bikes in service
Across 133 Biki stations throughout Honolulu

Hope to see you on a ! And check out our protected bike lanes across the City!

01/29/2025

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

This year we celebrate the Year of the Snake!

We want to remind you all that if you want to head to Chinatown to pickup and last minute festive goods to celebrate tonight, to check out Kekaulike Mall on your way there!

Kekaulike Mall was redeveloped and modernized last July, to make it easier to connect people with our local businesses. Improvements include cast-in-place concrete pavement, new storm water management, surface area drainage, new trees, new lighting and poles and electrical upgrades.

Kekaulike Mall will eventually connect people from Chinatown to via Hōlau Chinatown Skyline Station.

01/24/2025

If you're heading down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, you might notice some new changes!

The all-way crosswalks have been upgraded to make it easier for pedestrians to recognize when it is safe to cross diagonally, and the bike lane has been widened and several busy intersections now have green conflict markings to help with biker visibility. These improvements will help make both our visitors and locals safer.

Stay tuned for more project updates as we continue working to make O'ahu's streets safer for everyone. Happy travels!

01/17/2025

REMINDER:

passenger operations will be closed this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, to prepare for the opening of Segment 2 of Skyline operations to Kalihi Transit Center at Middle Street. Skyline will close tomorrow, on January 18th to 19th.

All Skyline stations will be closed to the public during this weekend.

Skyline will reopen on Monday, January 20th, at 8:00 a.m. January 20th 2025 is on City Holiday schedule, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Swipe right for service that will still be operational.

Segment 2 of Skyline will add the following stations to the existing system:
- Makalapa Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam
- Lelepaua Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
- Ahua Lagoon Drive
- Kahauiki Middle Street Transit Center

We know our riders depend on the availability and reliability of our service, however, this is an important milestone for Skyline. This shutdown will allow us to connect our currently operating tracks and stations to our newest segment of five miles and four stations to Kalihi. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we deliver more and better Skyline operations later this year.

01/16/2025

Let TheBus or Skyline drive while you catch up on emails or catch some extra Zzzs! 😴 It's the best way to avoid the stress that comes from driving in rush hour traffic.

If public transit isn't your thing, try carpooling with a friend, family member, or coworker and trade off driving. Hot tip: Carpoolers get to use the HOV and zipper lanes, which can cut your commute time in half! 🚙

Check out HOLOcard.net for info on riding public transit, and look up HIRideShare if you need someone to carpool with. Give these tips a try and treat yourself with the money you save on gas and parking.