What Are Hawaii’s Most Dangerous Roads?

Hawaii has several roads that are notoriously difficult to negotiate, due to their narrow paths, sheer cliffs, frequent rocks slides and lack of guardrails. A vehicle can easily veer off the edge of the road and plunge into the sea. The most dangerous roads in Hawaii include:

Kahekili Highway— This remote road along Maui’s rugged northern coastline from Kapalua to Wailuku narrows to a single road in some sections. Some portions of the “highway” are no more than dirt and gravel. The road has steep drop-offs with no guardrails.
Pi’ilani Highway — On the southern coast of Maui, this windy, up-and-down route narrows to a single lane and features several blind, hairpin turns. There are steep drop-offs without guardrails. Rockslides are common. Adverse weather can make the route impassable.
Kunia Road — The dangers along this remote Oahu road correspond as much to how it is used as how it is laid out. An unlit, two-lane highway without a median divider is inherently dangerous, but too many motorists along this seven-mile stretch speed, drive under the influence of alcohol and attempt to pass using the oncoming lane in restricted areas. These behaviors increase the likelihood of deadly head-on collisions and single vehicle collisions with fixed objects.

The dangers of these Hawaiian roads raise the question of liability for car accidents. The state or county that maintains the road has a duty to make the road safe, or if they can’t, to either give adequate warnings of the inherent dangers or close the road. When an accident occurs on a known dangerous road, we must ask whether the state or county took reasonable steps to ensure the safety of motorists.

Moreover, what is the duty of a rental car company toward its customers? Rental car companies warn customers that if they attempt certain stretches of road, such as Honoapi’ilani Highway north of Honolua Bay, they are on their own. But are such warnings adequate?

Defendants in accident cases that arise from unsafe road conditions assert that the motorist assumed the risk. But many motorists do not have full knowledge of the risks until they reach a dangerous pass where turning around is impossible. When continuing forward is the only choice, it’s difficult to argue that a motorist freely and willingly assumed the risk.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury or wrongful death on a dangerous Hawaiian road, consult an injury attorney who knows Hawaiian. Call Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks, Attorneys At Law at 808.524.1433 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.