WAIKIKI (HawaiiNewsNow) – The city will begin working next week to make the westbound right lane of Kuhio Boulevard a through-only lane for buses and some other vehicles.

The transition from Kapahulu Street to Launui Street will take about a month.

“People ask ‘why this corridor?’ he might ask. And we want to do that precisely because people think this corridor is so dense,” said city Transportation Services Deputy Director Jon Nouchi.

Only 44% of people traveling on Kuhio Boulevard during rush hour were in passenger vehicles, city transportation officials said. The rest walk, bike, or take a public bus, private bus, or tour bus.

“We run more than one bus per minute in both directions during rush hour, right? And at that point, without any priority, without any lanes, TheBus will be in our way,” Nouchi said.

The transit lane will be similar to the one that opened in the right lane of King Street through Chinatown and downtown in 2020.

“Our ongoing research has proven that we have improved travel times on TheBus by approximately 20% to 30%,” Nouchi said.

The city said private tour bus companies and delivery trucks can also use the Kuhio transit lane, unlike the single bus lane downtown. However, this will leave only one lane for all remaining vehicles.

“I guess not. I mean, it’s pretty congested most of the time anyway, so I think that would make it more controversial,” Waikiki resident Taylor Poole said.

“I’m all for people and public transport and I love my HOLO pass, but I think this street is already very congested, so I think it might make it a little more difficult for people trying to get around.” said Kuhio Avenue resident Julie Chang.

Kuhio also gets more crowded when Kalakaua Boulevard is closed. During this year alone, the city allows companies and nonprofits to close this main barrier nearly 30 times.

“It’s hard to get in and out of the state right now where Waikiki is, especially with these festivals happening every weekend,” Waikiki resident David Pineda said. “You know this is going to add to the transit lane by cutting off a lane that goes this way and that.”

The city is confident and says the plan can be reversed.

“It could be a very impactful addition if it works as we plan, but if things go as planned or according to our expectations, we can make changes pretty easily,” Nouchi said.

Officials are considering building an eastbound transit lane, but there is no timeline for that.

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