Thursday night’s commute turned chaotic when a vehicle fire forced authorities to halt all Halawa/Honolulu-bound traffic on the H-3 freeway, stranding drivers about a mile before the notorious Harano Tunnels. The incident, first reported at 11:11 PM on August 8, brought back familiar concerns about emergency response times in one of Hawaii’s most challenging highway corridors.
According to Hawaii Department of Transportation, the H-3 Traffic Operations Center located in the control building at the Halawa portal monitors tunnel traffic at all times. The TOC calls 911 to dispatch police, fire department, or emergency medical personnel as appropriate for each situation.
A Pattern of Perilous Incidents
The latest fire adds to a troubling history of vehicle emergencies plaguing the H-3 corridor, particularly near the massive Harano Tunnels. Previous incidents include a deadly car fire in September 2024 that occurred just outside the Harano Tunnel around 10:15 a.m., forcing Kaneohe-bound lane closures for several hours during a police investigation. Just months earlier, in May 2025, another vehicle fire created gridlock on the same stretch, prompting authorities to shut down all lanes before the tunnel around 6 p.m.
As detailed by technical documentation, the freeway crosses the Koʻolau Range along several viaducts and through the 5,165-foot-long Tetsuo Harano Tunnels as well as the smaller Hospital Rock Tunnels. The freeway then runs on Windward Viaducts through Hālawa Valley for about six miles until reaching the tunnels.
Engineering Challenges Create Emergency Risks
The H-3’s unique geography creates particular hazards during emergencies, with limited escape routes for stranded motorists and elevation changes that complicate firefighting efforts. The highway includes a state-of-the-art traffic operations center that monitors tunnel conditions and can detect stalled vehicles, vehicular fires, and crashes. The high-tech tunnels feature transitional lighting, exhaust fans, emergency call boxes, cross passages, message signs, lane control devices, and various safety monitoring systems…