Old Pali Road is the best example of roads and engineering manifests that have been rendered useless after years of significance and relevance. Constructed to connect Honolulu to O’ahu Island, the 17.4km highway was used by thousands of motorists before its abandonment.

History of Old Pali Road

Old Pali Road or Hawaii Route 61 as it is commonly known, was constructed to connect the two islands Honolulu and O’ahu. It runs from downtown Honolulu City to Kailua, O’ahu. Major parts of the road were built on the path where the original obsolete Old Pali ran.  At least two such highways passed through the place before the actual construction of the now-abandoned “Old Pali ''. Being the fastest and the safest highway between the two Islands, thousands of motorists traveled through the road yearly. At some point, the highway was regarded as “the highway of the two heavens' '.**

Fall of Old Pali Road

Some sections of the road bordered steep cliffs that were not only hectic to negotiate bends but equally dangerous to transverse at night. For this reason, the city of Honolulu came to a decision to desert the road and build a new safer Pali Road. This road was deserted by motorists after the completion of the new highway. Later in the years, the road was declared impassable due to the deteriorated state and constant flooding that dominated the place. Old Pali Road has currently gone through serious damages; mother nature is responsible for 90 percent of the damages. Cracks that have encouraged the growth of grass and plants provide a good breeding place for snakes.

What is the current condition of the road?

Old Pali Road was permanently closed and motorists have been cautioned against using it. The road has become a favorite spot for hikers and local adventurers in the state of Hawaii. On top of being used as hiking grounds, several film productions companies have used the road to shoot some of their movies. It is also rumored that local drag races use the abandoned highway for their races yearly.  Despite its old and dilapidated state, the majority of drug dealers use the forgotten highway to escape apprehension by the authorities. This has resulted in an increase in drug activity in Honolulu and Hawaii as a whole. Old Pali Road is open to anyone who wants to take a trip down the long, forgotten highway. When traveling in groups or with trusted companions, it is recommended to venture or take a tour of the road. It is prudent to use caution when using the route, as the same reasons for its closure (i.e., safety concerns) may strike unsuspecting travelers.