Likelike Hwy_2024

From the ahupuaʻa of Kāneʻohe to the ahupuaʻa of Kalihi lies a busy highway that connects windward Oʻahu to the busyness of Honolulu.
We are speaking of Likelike Highway.
The word Hawaiian word likelike could mean “alike, similar, or equal.”
But Likelike as a name brings our attention to royalty.
Princess Miriam Likelike was the sister to Hawaiʻi’s last ruling monarchs, both King David Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani.
Alongside them and their other brother, Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku, the four royal siblings became known as Nā Lani ʻEhā.
They are credited with immense contributions to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian music with poetry and compositions.
The most famous of Princess Likelike’s compositions is entitled “ʻĀinahau,” speaking of her beloved Waikīkī residence which was known as one of the most beautiful in all Hawaiʻi.
While ʻĀinahau may be no longer, replaced today with apartments and condos, the name Likelike lives on.
Likelike Highway is used by many cars who traverse over it daily, connecting east Oʻahu to Honolulu but only made possible by the tunnels constructed through the Koʻolau mountain.
Unfortunately, though, that came with a cost.
What started with a big bang produced by 250 pounds of black powder, a hole began to be gouged out of the Koʻolau mountain in 1954.
Seven months of its construction, the tunnel had collapsed, claiming five lives.
The project was halted for eighteen months before continuing.
Nearly five years following its commencement, the first tunnel opened to Kāneʻohe bound traffic on October 30th, 1958.
The following day, a lane opened to Honolulu bound traffic, providing eastside residents with an additional, yet vital, avenue to town.
The Wilson Tunnels, and in turn the Likelike Highway, became fully operational with both tunnels on November 22, 1968, nearly 70 years ago.
Did you know? Now you do!