During the recent tsunami warning in Hawaii, residents encountered major traffic jams that slowed evacuations. Thousands of commuters, including Devin Fukunaga, reported long delays. "It takes its toll sitting down for two and a half, three hours for something that should be 15 minutes," Fukunaga told KITV. Roger Morton, director of the city's Department of Transportation Services, said that adjustments to stoplight patterns were not enough to prevent intersections from becoming blocked, leaving drivers stuck through multiple light rotations.
State Sen. Sharon Moriwaki said the gridlock on evacuation routes into Waikiki, which could take hours to navigate, was a serious concern, calling it “It was really a bad situation on the ground,” according to Hawaii News Now. She urged the need for stronger contingency plans for coastal areas. Retired HPD deputy chief John McCarthy said, “There’s a lot of stress involved in that that can turn into physical health problems for some people or cause accidents, road rage, that sort of thing. So, could it have been handled better? I think so," referring to the risks of congestion during emergencies. Waikiki Rep. Adrian Tam said some residents chose to stay in high-rise buildings instead of evacuating due to the traffic delays.
City officials are reviewing evacuation procedures after heavy traffic delays during the recent tsunami warning. Morton said, "It was not a surprise to us that that traffic became a critical issue," while working at the new Traffic Management Center. Despite the congestion, city buses, handy vans, and support from the military and local police helped complete coastal evacuations before the waves arrived. Morton added, "Our messaging in the future should be a little bit more nuanced to say if you’re in a safe place, stay there," noting that clearer instructions may help reduce unnecessary road travel, especially for residents in high-rise buildings, as mentioned by Hawaii News Now.
