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we just moved to oahu a couple weeks ago. we're in a vacation rental for a month while we figure out where to live (semi-)permanently. i'll most likely be working in downtown honolulu but my wife could probably find part-time work anywhere. we're torn between living somewhere in kaimuki/palolo to be closer to the city or going for the slower life up in kailua. we'll be renting either way, and the same amount seems to get bigger places with more space up in kailua, plus we just went up there today for the first time and it was great. the only thing i'm concerned about is if i end up working in honolulu, i don't wanna be stuck on the pali highway everyday in traffic jams, which is what i've heard it's like. so how bad is the traffic really during rush hour on the pali highway? and also, in case we end up a little further north, how about the likelike?
also, please try not to exaggerate. i mean, i've noticed that people here tend to exaggerate mildly bad traffic situations into the worst rush hour monstrosities ever (others i know here have confirmed this, as well).
The Likelike varies a lot with time of day and even the year. We also looked at places in Kailua (ended up in town). To test the commute, we drove out to Kailua early, went out to breakfast (Boots & Kimos and Moke's both recommended!). Then we drove back to work during what would be our commute.
We found that if we went at 7:30-8am, traffic moved along pretty well until you got to the H-1 merge in town. Then we sat there for about 20 minutes (just as long as we had been driving already). If we went at 8:30, traffic was almost cleared out, and there was just a minor backup at the H-1 merge. If you could go even a bit later, I suspect no problem at all. I've heard from colleagues who live in Kailua that it's better when school is not in session (lots of parents driving their kids to school early and then going to work all at the same time, maybe?).
The other problem is that if there's an accident on the Likelike, you're done for. You're just not going to get to work in any reasonable time. I don't think this happens very often, but it does happen. There's no way to get off the highway and take side streets. You just sit & wait, maybe for hours.
My colleagues all say they like living in Kailua but hate the commute. Some of them have been looking at places in town, but can't find any place nice enough to move to, I guess.
i'm surprised i haven't gotten more replies. maybe not that many commute from kailua after all...?
I commuted from Kailua to the Pearl Harbor area from 1965 to 1971, and it was tolerable.
From 1971 to 1997, things slowly got worse and worse. In Dec 1997, the H-3 opened, and anyone going from Kailua or Kaneohe to Red Hill or west, including Pearl Harbor and Hickam, began using H-3. It took a lot of traffic off the Pali and Likelike, and things are much better.
I'm retired, so I can't claim routine knowledge, but I drive to downtown for a breakfast at 7AM once a month, and the traffic at that hour flows freely.
I'd do it yourself a few times. Just get up real early, visit Kailua, and drive to town at 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30 a few mornings. Make sure you do it when the public schools and UH are in session. Vacation times get much lighter.
So I am hoping that no responses means no people travel this and therefore smooth sailing?? Did you end up finding out the answer to the real commute times from say Kaneohe to downtown? We are moving this July and are wondering the best place to live (with easy commute downtown). We are looking for 2br private house+small yard...
I do not live there but I've been there plenty. Do you want traffic conditions with or without mudslides and rock slides? Water main breaks (not so bad on the highways but seems like every other day they have one in town) Driving that far every day to me would just drive ME crazy. Be good to yourself whenever possible!
My co-worker commutes from Kailua to downtown Honolulu. It takes him about 30 minutes. I'll ask him if he takes the Like Like or the Pali when he gets in today (8am).
He takes the Like Like, takes about 30 min he says.
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