The swell is picking up and so are the parking restrictions along Kamehameha Highway—as the surf community gears up for the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. According to a press release from the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, no parking will be permitted on either side of the highway from ‘Ili‘ohu Place to the Mission of Saints Peter & Paul Church. This restriction takes effect Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10 p.m. and will continue throughout the duration of the surf event.
To ensure that traffic flows as smooth as possible, temporary barriers will be set up to prevent parking and promote pedestrian safety. The Honolulu Police will be actively patrolling to enforce these restrictions, and vehicles found in violation can expect to be ticketed and/or towed at their owner's expense. Should the competition be called off, Hawai‘i Department of Transportation promises to quickly remove the barriers and lift the parking restriction.
This isn't just about keeping parked cars off the highway—it's about making sure everyone can get where they need to go safely and without too much hassle. With the parking restrictions, electronic message boards have been laid out in strategic locations including Wahiawā, Kahalu‘u, and Kahuku. These boards are set up to alert drivers to both the parking restrictions and the predictable heavy traffic in the North Shore area related to the Eddie event. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is working in conjunction with other local agencies to make this a smooth experience for all.
For those planning to head to the North Shore on the day of the event, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation urges patience and safe driving, as traffic congestion is likely to quickly exceed road capacity. A map indicating the no parking zone is provided by the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services and can be found through their official communications, offering a visual guide for motorists planning their journey to watch the legendary surf competition unfold.
