Heads up—if you’re planning to cruise past Sandy’s or hit the lookouts this Monday, you’re gonna need a New Plan. Kalanianaʻole Highway is shutting down for filming on April 27, and it’s basically the whole day.
Here is the breakdown so you don’t get stuck in the Koko Head bottleneck:
The road is closed in both directions between Lānaʻi Lookout and Hālona Blowhole. You can see the official Hawaii Department of Transportation post [here].
- When: Monday, April 27, 2026.
- The Window: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- The Odd Exception: If you’re headed downtown for work, like from Waimanalo side to Koko Marina, they’re letting cars through from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. after that, both directions are pau until after 8:00 p.m. Probably better to just go through the Kalama Valley side at the traffic light by Sandy’s.
Why Monday?
The state picked Monday because Hanauma Bay and the Koko Head Shooting Range are closed anyway. Since no one is heading to the bay, they figured it’s the best time to let the film crews do their thing and get some landscaping done on the side.
How to Get Around
If you’re trying to get from Waimānalo to Hawaiʻi Kai (or vice versa), don’t even bother with the coast. You’ll want to take the “back way” through the neighborhood:
- Use Kealahou Street, Hawaiʻi Kai Drive, or Lunalilo Home Road.
Heads Up for Tuesday
If the filming isn’t quite finished by Monday night, on Tuesday, April 28, expect some “stop-and-go” action (Intermittent Traffic Control) from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. They’ll hold traffic for about 3 to 5 minutes at a time, so just be patient.
Quick Tip: Special duty cops will be out there directing everyone. Just follow the signs, stay cool, and maybe leave the house 15 minutes early so you’re not rushing through the residential streets.
Safe driving, Oʻahu!