HONALO — A portion of Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 180) in South Kona was temporarily closed Tuesday so work crews could repair a downed utility pole that temporarily snarled traffic. ADVERTISING HONALO — A portion of Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 180) in
HONALO — A portion of Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 180) in South Kona was temporarily closed Tuesday so work crews could repair a downed utility pole that temporarily snarled traffic.
The Hawaii Police Department reported shortly after 4:30 a.m. Tuesday that the highway was closed at the junction with Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 11) near Teshima’s Restaurant in Honalo. Traffic was rerouted down Kamehameha III Road for most of the day.
Authorities reported the highway was reopened to both directions of traffic just before 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Police Department said the pole was hit and severely damaged during a crash at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Reports say the vehicle involved in the crash caught fire and the 24-year-old male driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The driver was taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
