Avoid These Pedestrian Dangers in Hawaii – 3 Simple Tips

I wanted to share some walking tips for those walking in Hawaii. Because of the conditions of the roads and how some people drive here, it's important for pedestrians to pay attention when they walk. We often hear about pedestrian fatalities in Honolulu. I think most of those fatalities could be avoided. So here are some tips for walking around Hawaii, specifically in Honolulu. There are a lot of cars and when people are driving fast, it's sometimes dangerous.

Intro - 0:00
Look before you cross at all times - 0:50
My wife's thoughts on local drivers - 1:52
You can't always rely on drivers reading signs - 2:14
Use the crosswalk. Don't try be one hero - 4:11
Give a wave or shaka when you can - 6:06
Closing thoughts - 7:55

Filmed using the Insta360 Ace Pro.

#hellofromhawaii

[HelloFromHawaii]

Believe it or not, the idea for this video was from three years ago. However, it just kept getting pushed back and pushed back, so I'm glad I'm finally able to talk about it. So many video ideas, so little time 😆

[GanNing]

This video should be shared to the tourists on their infotainment screens on the arrival planes, and to the locals at the DMV, schools, university/colleges, and whichever media.

[ChancyC]

I agree with this video pretty much front to back. Being someone who has lived in a number of cities including Honolulu, I can say you are absolutely correct. I would add though, Oahu (particularly Downtown to Waikiki) has the world's worst pedestrians. There isn't even a close second.

I avoid the area almost entirely due to pedestrians. The number of people (usually tourists but not always) that just walk into dangerous positions without a clue is insane. Yes "pedestrians have the right of way" legally, but the mindset that some people have walking is so crazy.Worse though is people on bikes and electric skateboards. These people will go sidewalk to street to crosswalk to street to sidewalk without ever looking over their shoulder once just assuming "I have the right of way."

Yes Hawaii has some bad drivers, but man, it's got some BAD pedestrians too.

[PjPjPaul]

Its so interesting to hear this from your perspective. Wife's family is from Ohau. I'm from Washington DC. Every time we come back to see family, I find Hawaiian drivers to be absolutely lovely. Polite, use their signals, aren't driving aggressively, mindful of pedestrians, throw up a shaka for letting them in, etc. I think you'd be horrified to see how people drive back on the mainland lol.

[Bodhismile]

I am very glad your mom is getting better from her injuries. I do know what that is like. I was in a pedestrian/vehicle accident last year, being hit from the back while I was in the crosswalk with the light. I didn’t see the driver coming up behind me-he drove diagonally thru the crosswalk to get to a parking lot entrance. I was walking southbound and hit hard enough that I was face down on the pavement with my head pointed directly west. The driver was cited for failure to yield pedestrian right of way. I was seriously injured, surgery and hospitalization for 13 days and staying at a rehab center for 3 months. 19 months later I am still recovering from my injuries.

In a personal injury suit, when you are deposed, one of the first questions you will be asked is “what color was the walk light when you entered the crosswalk?”

Be careful at night especially, wear clothes that are easier to see and don’t count on the driver to do the right thing. I hate to say that but I have seen so many impatient drivers since then-you just have to be defensive as a pedestrian. Always pay attention, and look behind you even if it feels overly cautious.

[johnhall]

I live part of the year on Oahu and part of the year in New England. In general I find drivers on Oahu to be very polite and less agressive than in most other cities. Very few Honolulu drivers though seem to know what turn signals are and there are a lot of older frail looking typically Asian locals who are lost in space.

So as a driver, pedestrian or cyclist just be alert, be aloha, be clear in how you signal your intentions.

Mahalo for an interesting video!

[risingradiance]

The Las Vegas strip is a good example. "Look at me, I'm a tourist, everyone encourages me to be an idiot! Lalalalallaa" *runs into traffic to take a selfie*

[kelvinyschun]

Riding a bike is dangerous..many hit and run.
Drivers yell get off the road.
If on sidewalks, they yell get off the sidewalks.

[AlohaLowah]

I remember when we moved to Oahu and I saw a minimum speed limit posted on the H1 and I was shocked... I'd never seen that on a freeway before!!! One thing I love, and hate, is that people are so generous and kind to allow others right of way out of parking lots and other places... It's so nice to do, but also so dangerous.... There were many times when driving on a road, where we had the right of way, and the driver in front of me would come to a stop out of nowhere, to allow someone to exit a parking lot. It's dangerous because you're not expecting to have to slam on your brakes for no reason when traffic is flowing and you have a green light ahead.

[reneecollin]

👠 simple to do, but so sad that people don't ! Also an extra tip - I don't know if it's a "generational" or "southern" thing, but I was raised that the man/male walks closer to the curb (and the girl/woman) walk on the inside! In case a vehicle (or whatever), should run up on the curb! It's a form of chivalry😎. Stay safe🌸

[Lopezflies]

Everytime I see a "slow down this ain't the mainland" bumper sticker is just ridiculous and funny😂

[wendelld]

Pedestrian safety is a two way street. Awareness of both parties are important and lifesaving. Got off the cellphone when crossing a street!

[erickim]

Thanks for your comments on awareness for both walkers and drivers, with everyone carrying phones & tablets, worst inventions for today's people IMHO. An accident will definitely cause PTSD especially for a senior citizens. WAKE UP DRIVERS & WALKERS turn off the phone & be alert. Even if you don't die in a accident it will affect your life😮😊

[jbrc]

In Honolulu it is a ticketable offense to be looking at your phone while crossing in a crosswalk. Also known as Bill 6 or the Distracted Walking Law, the law makes it very clear that the only legal reason to look at a cell phone while in the process of crossing a street or a highway is to call 911.

[etvow]

Ending Labor day weekend, My family had a pretty good time in Oahu for 9 days and visited pretty much all the places we wanted to visit. We rode bus for the first half and rented an SUV for the remaining days. Yes, one thing I was very surprised of was the sheer number of cars on the road. Even on small roads, cars were everywhere. One second I saw no cars behind me, the next second some car is on my rear wondering why I am not going fast enough.

[lvqkwdpsjn]

The ones you really have to watch out for are off-duty police officers dui/dwi . . . No, that's next to impossible because they often rear end victims or run red lights at full speed. And, no, you will NOT get any recourse, justice or compensation. That is, if you survive such a collision.

[junior]

Good subject. I’m a senior live in downtown and walk every day. I wish drivers would READ the signs! No one seems to do that now days. Some times very dangerous crossing the streets, exactly like you say, people need to pay attention to what they are doing… pedestrians and motorists. Getting bad with cyclists, especially the ebikes, they think they have the right of way on the sidewalks! Anyway good topic, mahalo for letting me vent!

[BrianBeeby]

When you are making a vlog about pedestrian safety tips downtown - you know you're in trouble.
When you are making a vlog about pedestrian safety tips downtown, and one of the first t-sections you cross greets you with screeching tires - you know you're in trouble.
When you talk about polarized sunglasses being a virtue - that is, being able to look through windshields and see whether drivers are even looking at the road - you know you're in trouble.
When road signs are frequently banged up - making them hard to see and tending to stay that way probably because people have long stopped bothering to repair or replace them - you know you're in trouble.
When the city makes crosswalk bridges that infrequent or in such bad locations that no one will use them but the government thinks if they make those bridges, people will use them no matter what - you know you're in trouble.
When you're walking downtown and the roads are too narrow, the urban planning too bad, the drivers even worse, and construction galore - you know you should have stayed home.

[Sch]

Part of it is tourists that somehow think it is fine to do whatever they want because they are on vacation. Being here and/ or visiting doesn’t mean being inconsiderate. Good tips and good video… thanks.

[wMerlinw]

This applies to Big Island as well. Lots of deaths here. Almost seen someone in a wheelchair get hit one time.