Emergency crews responded to yet another gas leak in Kalihi yesterday afternoon after a Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation contractor struck a two-inch gas pipe near McNeill Street and Dillingham Boulevard. Hawaii News Now reported that Honolulu fire and police were called to the scene around 1:30 p.m.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of utility strikes that has plagued rail construction along the Dillingham Boulevard corridor. According to Hawaii News Now, the same contractor hit gas lines twice in three days back in August 2023, with one incident forcing several nearby businesses to close for the day.
Growing Pattern of Gas Emergencies
Kalihi has become a hotspot for gas-related emergencies tied to construction activity. In January 2025, Hawaii News Now reported that a construction crew hit a gas line, shutting down westbound lanes of Dillingham Boulevard between McNeil and Kalihi streets. Just weeks earlier in December 2024, another gas leak shut down portions of Dillingham Boulevard and McNeil Street.
The frequency of these incidents raises questions about safety protocols and construction oversight. Hawaii Gas has stated that contractors are required to call 811 before digging and must hand dig to verify buried line locations before using power equipment. However, these requirements "were not followed" in previous incidents involving the same contractor, according to company officials, as mentioned on Hawaii News Now.
Economic Impact on Local Businesses
The repeated utility strikes continue to compound economic disruption along Dillingham Boulevard, where ongoing rail construction has already prevented left turns up and down the roadway. Local business owners along the corridor have expressed concerns about the prolonged impact of construction activities on foot traffic and customer access.
These utility coordination problems reflect broader systemic issues that have plagued the rail project. In 2023, contractor Shimmick/Traylor/Granite Joint Venture sued HART for more than $99 million, alleging the rail authority's failure to address utility relocation problems caused expensive delays. HART eventually settled the lawsuit for $60 million, according to Construction Dive.
Project Costs Continue to Mount
The utility mishaps contribute to HART's mounting costs and delays on what has become the most expensive public works project in Hawaii's history. The project's cost has more than doubled from original estimates, with completion now pushed back 11 years from the original 2020 target date.
As construction continues toward the eventual Civic Center terminus, yesterday's gas leak serves as another reminder of the infrastructure challenges that have made the Skyline rail project both costly and disruptive to local businesses and residents along its route. The pattern of utility strikes in Kalihi highlights ongoing questions about construction oversight and safety protocols as HART moves forward with additional phases of the project.
