Hawaii Route 61

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Route 61

Length:

10.8 mi (17 km)

Formed:

early 1950s

South end:

HI 98 in Honolulu

Major
junctions:

HI 83 near Maunawili

HI 72 near Kailua

North end:

Kailua

Routes in Hawaii

Highway 61 runs through the Nu‘uanu Pali Tunnels, as seen from the Old Pali Highway.

Route 61 is the main highway connecting downtown Honolulu, Hawaii with windward O‘ahu. From downtown, it traverses up Nu‘uanu Valley and the residential neighborhood of Nu‘uanu, passes through the Nu‘uanu Pali Tunnels, and descends to the major windward communities of Kāne‘ohe (reached by Kamehameha Highway, State Route 83) and Kailua.

The current Pali Highway is actually the third roadway to be built here. The original Pali "highway" went along much of the same route and portions of the old road still exist, although closed to vehicular traffic. When the current Pali Highway and its tunnels opened, the original roadway was closed and is now used by hikers. The Old Pali Highway, as it is now called, is noted in the popular culture of Hawai‘i for being a place with strong spiritual connections. Many "ghost stories" have settings along this old highway.

1 Names of State Route 61
2 Communities served
3 Intersections with other highways
4 See also

[edit] Names of State Route 61

Pali Highway (from downtown Honolulu to Castle Junction near Maunawili)
Kalaniana‘ole Highway (from Castle Junction to Castle Medical Center in Kailua
Kailua Road (from Castle Medical Center to central Kailua)