Commuters making their way up or down Hawai‘i Island’s Hāmākua Coast be warned: the state Department of Transportation will lower the speed limit four different areas on Hawai‘i 19, or Hawai‘i Belt Road, next month.
Speed limits will drop from 55 mph to 45 mph in two spots: between mile markers 9.2 and 9.5, near Old ‘Onomea Road and Kula‘imano Homestead Road in Pepe‘ekeo, and between mile markers 40.9 and 41.9, near Māmane Street and Kahawaili‘ili‘i Stream Bridge, in Honoka‘a.
Limits will be lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph in another two spots: between mile markers 6.3 and 6.7 near Kapue Bridge and Kōpilimai Road near Pāpa‘ikou and between mile markers 9.6 and 10.9 near Kula‘imano Homestead Road and Sugar Mill Road in Pepe‘ekeo.
The DOT says the speed limit signs will be changed 30 days from Nov. 17 and the new speed limits will be effective once the sign installations are complete.
These sections of roadway have high volumes of pedestrian activity, residential areas and a blind intersection, the DOT noted.
Each section sees between 5,000 and 15,000 cars daily, according to traffic volume data from the DOT, which can be found here.
"Implementing speed management and traffic calming devices can reduce serious traffic injuries and fatalities while ensuring an efficient system," the DOT announcement notes.
Aloha State Daily reached out to the DOT for more information.
Traffic safety continues to be a concern across the Islands, with the number of traffic deaths statewide in 2025 already surpassing those recorded in 2024.
The DOT noted last month that 106 people had died on Hawai‘i roads as of Oct. 24, exceeding the 102 recorded in 2024. These deaths included motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists, scooter riders, bicyclist and others.
Recent statistics shared Nov. 17 by Hawai‘i Police Department noted there have been 880 major crashes on the Big Island this year, compared to 872 major crashes during the same period last year.
To date, there have been 18 fatal crashes and 20 fatalities compared with 24 fatal crashes and 27 fatalities for the same time the prior year, according to HPD.
In September, Gov. Josh Green signed an executive order that aimed to improve traffic safety, introducing regulation for electric bicycles, or e-bikes, encouraging safety education for high-risk drivers and proposing additional support to state and county law enforcement agencies to amplify the enforcement of existing traffic laws.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
