HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. NO.
58
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE RESOLUTION
URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MINIMIZE RUMBLE STRIP DIMENSIONS ON A SEGMENT OF KAMEHAMEHA V HIGHWAY ON MOLOKAI TO REDUCE UNINTENDED HAZARDS.
WHEREAS, the safety of motorists on Hawaii's rural highways is a priority of the State, and lane-departure warnings like rumble strips are intended to be a vital tool in preventing accidents; and
WHEREAS, on Kamehameha V Highway on Molokai, specifically the segment extending east of mile marker 9.5, the current physical dimensions of the installed rumble strips have proven to be overly aggressive for the specific location; and
WHEREAS, while the original intent of these strips is to enhance motorist safety, their excessive depth and vibration have inadvertently fostered hazardous driving habits, as motorists frequently swerve toward the shoulder or straddle the centerline to avoid the jarring physical impact of the strips; and
WHEREAS, these unintended avoidance maneuvers create a secondary hazard by pushing vehicles into the narrow shoulder areas where cyclists and pedestrians are most vulnerable, thereby counteracting the original safety objectives of the roadway design; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of this body to maintain the high standard of motorist safety and lane-departure notification without inducing indirect hazardous behaviors or creating excessive noise that degrades the quality of life for east Molokai residents; and
WHEREAS, engineering alternatives such as "sinusoidal" rumble strips or "mumble" strips provide the necessary tactile and auditory feedback to alert a drifting driver while remaining shallow enough to discourage avoidance swerving; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation is urged to minimize rumble strip dimensions on a segment of Kamehameha V Highway on Molokai to reduce unintended hazards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is urged to modify the rumble strip specifications to a reduced-dimension or sinusoidal profile eastward of mile marker 9.5 of Kamehameha V Highway; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation, in its modification process, is requested to prioritize a design that maintains the protective function of the highway while reducing the conditions that may cause drivers to intentionally deviate from their intended travel lane; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and Maui County Mayor.
Report Title:
Department of Transportation; Rumble Strips; Kamehameha V Highway