Friday afternoon traffic in Waikīkī turned chaotic when a moped carrying two men collided with a car, leaving both riders seriously hurt and headed to the hospital.
The crash happened at about 3:38 p.m. at the intersection of Royal Hawaiian Avenue and Kalākaua Avenue, near the Royal Hawaiian Center, according to KITV. The station reported that the moped’s driver is 25 and the passenger is 53, and that both men were wearing helmets. They were treated at the scene, then taken to a nearby hospital in serious condition. Officials did not immediately say whether speed, alcohol or drugs played any role in the collision, according to KITV.
Where It Happened
The crash unfolded along Kalākaua Avenue, Waikīkī’s main hotel and shopping strip, right outside the Royal Hawaiian Center. The Royal Hawaiian Center lists its address as 2201 Kalākaua Avenue and notes garage entrances on Royal Hawaiian Avenue, which puts the collision in one of the neighborhood’s busiest zones for both cars and pedestrians.
Emergency Response
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services crews and police rushed to the intersection and treated the two riders for multiple injuries before transporting them to a hospital, KITV reported. First responders briefly directed traffic around the scene while investigators documented the crash and gathered details.
How Common Are These Crashes?
Moped and other micromobility crashes keep showing up on Oʻahu’s police and hospital logs, with several recent incidents ending in serious injuries or deaths. As reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, a 70-year-old moped rider was seriously hurt in another Waikīkī collision, and a separate e-bike crash with a seriously injured rider was reported the same day by Hawaii News Now. For people on two wheels, Waikīkī’s packed corridors can quickly turn unforgiving.
Police say the investigation into Friday’s crash is still underway. The riders’ names and any updates on their conditions have not yet been released. This story will be updated as authorities share more information.
