Boulders falling shut down Kamehameha Highway near Waimea Bay, none hurt
By Gil Cano
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WAIMEA BAY, Hawaii (KITV) — Two large boulders crashing onto Kamehameha Highway near Waimea Bay forced the closure of a major roadway on Oʻahu Friday afternoon.
According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, the boulders — both the size of a car — fell from the mountainside around 1:30 p.m., landing on the highway and blocking traffic in the area.
Transportation Director Ed Sniffen said both rocks came from the same location but took different paths as they moved down the slope, knocking down trees along the way.
“You never know where it’s going to come through,” Sniffen said. “We cannot determine exactly where these boulders will fall.”
The incident has shut down a key stretch of Kamehameha Highway, a major artery connecting communities along Oʻahu’s North Shore.
Crews said the closure is not just due to the fallen rocks. The roadway also sits above a 24-inch water main, raising concerns that additional falling debris could cause further damage.
Before reopening the highway, crews must inspect and stabilize the mountainside above the road.
“Anytime something like this comes down, we know that there’s other loose material up above,” Sniffen said. “We’ve got to make sure it doesn’t fall on anybody.”
Cleanup efforts include breaking the massive boulders into smaller pieces using heavy equipment before hauling them away. However, officials said the most time-consuming part of the process will be scaling the slope to remove any additional loose rock.
Once the area is secured, crews plan to install concrete barriers and rock fencing to help prevent future debris from reaching the roadway.
Officials estimate the highway could reopen approximately 24 hours after the initial rockfall, with a potential reopening window between 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday, pending safety assessments.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area until the roadway is cleared and deemed safe for travel.
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