List of state highways in Hawaii explained

Shields:
State:HI
Type:I
Route:1
State:HI
Type:I
Route:201


State:HI
Type:HI
Route:11
State:HI
Type:HI
Route:130
State:HI
Type:HI
Route:2000
Caption:Standard route markers
Length Mi:1013
Statehwy:Route X
Interstate:Interstate Route HX or H-X
Us:Not applicable
Links:HI

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) maintains the smallest state-maintained system of state highways in the country. It consists of Interstates, state highways, and secondary state highways, totaling approximately 1013miles.[1]

The state's four Interstates, all located on O‘ahu, are built to mainland standards unlike their counterparts in Alaska and Puerto Rico. The first three routes (H-1, H-2, and H-3) were approved in 1960, while an auxiliary route (H-201) was added in 1989.[2]

Primary and secondary routes

The current state (then territorial) highway numbering system was established in 1955. Route numbers are organized so that the initial digit corresponds to the island:

In general, two-digit numbers are primary highways, maintained by the state. Three-digit routes are typically secondary arterials or collectors, while four-digit routes are typically collectors and minor roads. For secondary routes, the first two digits generally relate to the associated primary route. Many secondary routes are county-maintained and unsigned, their route numbers being used merely by state agencies as an asset-tracking measure.[3]

When referring to highways, Hawaiʻi residents usually refer to state highways by their names instead of their route numbers (e.g. Kamehameha Highway instead of Route 99). Note that one named highway may encompass several route numbers (e.g. Kamehameha Highway, which carries Routes 80, 83, 99, and 830 at various points along its length) and vice versa.

Temporary Federal routes

During World War II, a temporary Federal route numbering system was setup on the island of Oahu. They were used to assist military personnel not accustomed to the Hawaiian street names during the time of Martial law in the Territory of Hawaiʻi from 1941 to 1945. Though marked with U.S. Route shields, they were never part of the United States Numbered Highway System.[4]

NumberLength (mi)Length (km)Southern or western terminusNorthern or eastern terminusFormedRemovedNotes
Route 1Route 2 / Route 13 in HonoluluRoute 2 / Route 223 near Waialua19411945South Vineyard Boulevard » Wai‘alae Avenue » Kalaniana‘ole Highway » Kailua Road » Oneawa Street » Mōkapu Boulevard » Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive » Kamehameha Highway
Route 2Route 1 / Route 13 in HonoluluRoute 1 / Route 223 near Waialua19411945Nimitz Highway » Kamehameha Highway
Route 13Route 1 / Route 2 in HonoluluRoute 1 in Kailua19411945Bishop Street » Pali Highway
Route 220Route 223 in NānākuliRoute 2 in Pearl City19411945Farrington Highway
Route 223Route 220 in NānākuliRoute 1 / Route 2 near Waialua19411945Farrington Highway (road permanently closed at Ka‘ena Point)
Route 230Route 1 in KāneʻoheRoute 1 in Kailua19411945Kailua Road » Oneawa Street » Mōkapu Boulevard » Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: David T. . Hartgen . M. Gregory . Fields . Baruch . Feigenbaum . 21st Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems (1984–2012) . 9 . September 2014 . Reason Foundation . Policy Study 436 . January 14, 2019.
  2. Web site: Weingroff . Richard . Interstates in Hawaii: Are We Crazy??? . Ask the Rambler . Federal Highway Administration . November 22, 2021.
  3. Web site: Hawaii Department of Transportation . Federal-Aid Functional Classification Update: Policy and Procedures . State of Hawaii . August 30, 2022 . December 2012.
  4. Web site: Hawaii Highways--FAQs page 3 . Voss . Oscar . December 2010 . January 14, 2019.