HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Rail construction will temporarily close a crosswalk and pedestrian detour on Nimitz Highway at Nuuanu Avenue, which comes as a community meeting was held Wednesday for the Niuhelewai Skyline Station.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) said crews will begin work Friday, with construction lasting about a month and lasting 24 hours.
Officials said signs will be posted, and an alternate crossing will be open at Fort Street. Honolulu police will assist pedestrians as needed.
The closure comes as community members gathered at Honolulu Community College (HCC) Wednesday for the final design meeting of the Niuhelewai Skyline Station at the college.
HART said attendees had the opportunity to review feedback received from the first workshop, vote on design options, and share feedback on neighborhood integration of the station, which will be located at the intersection of Dillingham Boulevard and Kokea Street.
“All the look and feel items, the color of the station, the landscaping, those are kind of things that we’re able to get community input and make modifications to,” said project director Vance Tsuda.
Transportation officials emphasized that the crosswalk shutdown is necessary to accommodate utility relocation and guideway preparation tied to the Skyline project. Crews will be working around the clock, and motorists should expect intermittent lane shifts near the intersection.
HART representatives said outreach teams will be stationed in the area during the first days of construction to help redirect foot traffic. Nearby businesses and bus stops will remain accessible, though riders may need to allow extra travel time.
The Niuhelewai meeting marked the final opportunity for residents to weigh in before architectural plans are finalized. Participants reviewed sample materials, shade structures, and cultural design elements intended to reflect the surrounding Kalihi neighborhood.
Project leaders noted that earlier workshops generated suggestions about native plant landscaping, public art, and safer bike connections. Those ideas are now being incorporated into the station’s final blueprint, which will guide construction over the next several years.
Originally reported by HNN Staff in Hawaii News Now.
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