HONOLULU (KHON2) — The “100 deadliest days of summer” are underway, and Oahu just saw its 33rd traffic fatality of 2025. Around this time in June 2024, there had been only 14 traffic deaths.
The Honolulu Police Department reported several crashes over the weekend of June 7 and June 8, with many incidents leading to serious or critical injuries — and crashes continued into the week, with three new deaths reported between June 6 and June 9.
HPD reported the island’s 31st traffic death on Friday, June 6, after a motorcyclist crashed on the Pali Highway. On June 7, a 27-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead following a Kahaluu crash on May 30; he was Oahu’s 32nd traffic death of 2025.
On June 8, three separate crashes led to several people being taken to the hospital. A man was hospitalized in critical condition after reportedly crashing a moped in Aiea just after midnight. Around 3 a.m., a pedestrian was hit by a car while in a marked Moilili crosswalk and taken to the hospital in critical condition. The driver fled the scene.
Also on June 8, another hit-and-run left a Kakaako pedestrian in the hospital in serious condition. The driver in this instance has not yet been identified.
On Monday, June 9, an 86-year-old pedestrian was hit by a car in Mililani while “outside of a marked crosswalk.” She was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where she later died, according to the Honolulu Police Department.
How officials are addressing the issue
Germain Salim with the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) told KHON2 that roughly 40% of traffic fatalities in 2025 (up to May 30) have been pedestrians. Most of those pedestrians are elderly men, Salim said.
Salim reminded drivers that it’s illegal to hold a cell phone or be on one while driving. She also said it’s illegal to park in front of or behind a crosswalk or corner.
“On our side, we’re trying to… create better zones for sidewalks and for vehicles to be able to see ahead, behind,” Salim said. “We’re trying to improve our intersections, we’re working with our state partners at the Department of Transportation, but… the main thing right now is we’ve got to slow down.”
Salim also said that the city has been working on its Vision Zero Action Plan, which was implemented in late 2024 and aims to have zero traffic fatalities by the year 2040.
“It’s a huge commitment, and it’s really the only goal we could aim for because we cannot say that any number is OK,” Salim said.
Salim said officials are aiming to address traffic fatalities in several ways, but said “human error is always going to exist.”
Learn more about the Vision Zero plan on the City and County website.