It has now been confirmed that a recent motorcyclist’s death marked the 60th traffic fatality on Oahu this year. That number is more than double the count at the same time in 2024, when the island had reported 29 fatalities. Behind the grim headline is a less discussed truth: many of these deaths, particularly pedestrian deaths, are not just tragic accidents. They are the predictable result of long-standing infrastructure neglect.
Hawaii’s sidewalk problem isn’t just about sidewalks.
We first wrote about this issue years ago, when the removal of a key crosswalk in Honolulu resulted in a pedestrian being struck by a car. That case led to a lawsuit, and while it made waves at the time, nothing changed.
On Oahu, sidewalks often disappear mid-block, and crosswalks are removed without any alternatives. Basic public infrastructure, such as lighting, benches, and shelters at bus stops, is either deteriorating or being deliberately removed.
In Waikiki, sidewalks away from the central area of Kalākaua Avenue can be so narrow that visitors with strollers or mobility aids are forced into the street…