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42 thoughts on “Driving In Hawaii 2023 | “The Worst State””

  1. I don’t think driving in Hawaii is much different than any other tourist destination. I usually stay away from the most touristy locations and prefer to be off of the main resort or hotel areas. Definitely need to just relax and live on aloha time and enjoy the journey not rush to get to a destination. I have to agree that some roads near state parks have little pavement intact and why are there no upkeep is beyond understanding with all of the visitor fees and tourism taxes. There definitely are some congested areas that some could be handled with a few roundabouts to eliminate some of the lights and have a more consistent flow. Road infrastructure seems to be not part of any master plan in Hawaii.

  2. I must take issue with the survey as others have done. Yes, gas prices are high and skew the survey, and rush hour traffic is a nightmare….it can easily take 1 1/2 hours to get from Lihue airport to Poipu, which normally is a 25-30 minute drive. And the road to Polihali State Park is not for the weak minded, or a sub-compact. Back roads in Kauai are treacherous, especially at night. But have you driven in Boston, where using your turn signal is considered a sign of weakness? Texas roads and drivers are the best but here in Colorado we have terrible roads, probably due to the freezing/thawing of our winters, and discourteous drivers. But every state has its issues.

  3. I live in Washington and roads/drivers here are so much worse than we encounter on The Big Island. Yeah, there is some stop and go during rush hour but one just plans around it. And take alternative routes. I have always thought that the roads, at least on the Big Island, are at least visible at night with great lane markers and reflectors. It has been our observation that pickup trucks (or at least their drivers) like to exceed the speed limit. But, overall, the Big Island has been one of the more pleasant places to drive in the US.

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  4. The Dept of transportation Dep. Director Ed Sniffen says he wants to do “simple things” to save lives. I am in Kauai 2-3 months per year and my suggestions to Ed is to spend some of the tens of $millions given to Hawaii in build back better and COVID relief programs and taxes on simple things such as, maintaining bright center and side lines and in road marker reflectors to aid in night time driving. Cut very tall grasses down more regularly on curvy rds to improve sight lines, and fill giant pot holes quicker. Sometimes someone comes out and paints an orange circle around one and it sits for weeks until someone else fills it. Also, check out the center rd markings on the new kukuiula Rd to Kaloa. Was the driver of the lines truck drunk?

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    1. Aloha Rob +Jeff. I like Tony S post. With the daily rain, the growth of grass on sides of hwy is hard to keep up with. But the curve areas Are important to keep visibility clear. And I agree with a 5 car behind you,pull over to let people pass by you concept.I live off a 2 lane hwy and the speed limit is 40. A lot of non-locals drive 25 and it’s all uphill into the mountains. The storms here closed the hwy for 2 days cause of mud and rock slides and it was heaven for me with no traffic. Stay well. Hope to be back soon. Mahalo for your work!!!

  5. Not evan close to the worst drivers. Sure the locals drive a little fast but they are by far the most courteous drivers I’ve ever seen.
    As far as gas prices go, I live in a state with many refineries and still pay more at the pump then I do when I’m on Maui.

  6. Ah, yes, the beloved Kapa’a crawl. We have been coming to Kauai, specifically to the Kapa’a area, annually for close to 15 years. We have adopted simple driving rules: relax, you will get there when you get there; let people merge and make left turns; and liberally use the shaka. We are on Kauai time, after all.

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  7. I never found driving in HI on Oahu bad at all. It’s an island, how lost can you get? Despite sometimes low visibility, most secondary roads along the coast have reflectors in the pavement. I had no problems at night. You have to remember to stay off H1 at rush hour. Nimitz/Ala Moana not so bad. And remember, pedestrians have right of way at all crosswalks, even if there isn’t a light. Try FL driving if you want nightmares.

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  8. We took an island break when the islands opened up after the lockdown. We bought an RV and traveled to visit family on the mainland. During that time we visited 38 states in 15 months. We live on Maui and have frequented Oahu and Kauai and I am sorry but they have no idea what they are talking about. There are so many other states that are worse.
    Yes we have traffic too, but just as you do on the mainland you avoid of you can. California roads are horrible. Drivers in the North East were just rude and unsafe. Texas had the nicest drivers, especially while pulling a big RV. I could keep going but it looks like “WalletHub” used stats and didn’t actually check out on ground level.

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    1. And you didn’t mention Albuquerque??

      90 mph+ on the Freeways, 60-70 in 45 mph zone, 40 mph through residential areas, constant Redlight runners some actually stop then drive through the redlight cuz it’s not changing fast enough, illegal U turns, magic finger signs if you confront them OR they’ll just SHhoot you! Non use of that little lever on the left side of the steering column, cutting people off to cross multiple lanes agh! Could go on and on Having been a professional driver, (ambulance and large Trucks) it used to tweak me, Dr. daughter said “Welcome to New Mexico, learn to let it go, these jerks will shoot you cuz 90+ people are armed legally, no need for permit here for loaded guns in your car concealed.”

  9. I have to agree, the last 2 times I went to different islands there has been a accident, One on Kona with a moped driver and the last time in Kauai when someone from the island ran into the back of me going around 40 while me and my 2 grandchildren were at a stop light. Still recovering.
    I think it may be best to call Uber from now on.

  10. I read the fine print on the methodology of the Wallet Hub “study.“ It’s a deeply flawed “junk” study. The reason for this is that it individually weighs over 30 variables, and the one variable, the only one, that was given triple weight was the cost of fuel. That’s absurd. It’s no wonder why Hawaii came in last because – we all know that Hawaii has the highest fuel costs. Had fuel costs been weighed equally along with the other variables at only “full” weight, HI would have ranked much much better. Places like Houston, Texas and the entire Seattle area, which are hellscapes for driving due to absolute gridlock and congestion, are really the places to avoid driving.

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