Hawaii driver attitudes are known for having a slow pace and aloha attitude. By “aloha,” I mean we let people merge in our lanes without attacking them and other things.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
As you already know, Hawaii drivers are on the slower scale. Our speed limits reflect these attitudes. The highest speed limit you’ll find on our freeways is 55mph, maybe 65mph on certain stretches. For the most part, it’s 55mph throughout the island on freeways. Realistically, people drive 5-10 miles over that limit at any point in time. Regardless, you won’t find people racing along at 80mph like on some mainland freeways. People drive slowly here, and that’s just how it goes. The island has so much traffic and population density that it can be difficult to drive fast anyway. It’s easier to drive slower than it is to navigate between cars for the sake of speeding ahead. Slow and steady wins the race!
Even the honus (turtles) don’t like daylight savings time.
Green SeaTurtle – Maui, Hawaiian Islands by LASZLO ILYES is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original
Left Lane for Long Distance Travels
It is an invisible rule that the left lane is meant for long distance travels. This is probably because most freeway exits go off to the right, so naturally those who are not taking any immediate upcoming exits would veer to the left most lane. Hence, we have those in the left lane for long distance travels. I found myself doing this when I started driving on the mainland. My boyfriend noticed and questioned me on it. I was so accustomed to freeway exits veering off to the right and traveling a “long distance” of 5 miles that I would immediately get into the left lane. So in Hawaii, instead of the left lane going fast, we go long distance!
waipio valley by paul bica is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original
Hawaii driver attitudes Let Others Merge
This is a big one in the islands. Let others merge into your lane! Cutting someone off by speeding ahead after seeing their blinker go on is a big no-no. I noticed on the mainland, no one uses their blinkers because if you do, it lets the enemy know you are attacking and war begins. So as a safety measure, I save my turning blinkers for special circumstances only. I save it for when I really need it, for when I really need to go to war. Just kidding! But seriously. Here in the islands, if you do not use your blinker, it is war. So, use your blinker so everyone can treat you with some damn aloha.
Bishop & Queen St during Carmageddon by Daniel Ramirez is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original.
Hawaii Driver Attitudes Share the Road
People are overly cautious of cyclists and bikers in the islands. Sharing the road is important. Drivers typically provide ample room for bikers on the side and it is a well accepted virtue. When we have to go around them, drivers are extensively careful not to invade their space of safety. Cycling is a popular sport in the islands. I remember growing up and watching a group of cyclists train around the streets of my neighborhood on a daily basis. It’s not uncommon to see them, especially on the side of our freeways. So share the road, and be cautious.
Hawaii 2013 by BOMBTWINZ BOMBTWINZ is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original.
