Lighting the way to safer streets in Waipahu and ʻEwa

In neighborhoods across Hawaiʻi, when the sun sets and the bus stops fall into the shadows, the simple act of walking or waiting for transit can make a person feel vulnerable. But thanks to a new initiative led by the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, residents of Waipahu and ʻEwa are poised to benefit from brighter streets and safer crossings.

Hawaiʻi Appleseed has been selected as one of only four organizations nationwide to participate in Phase 2 of the federal Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) Program. Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s project—titled “Improving Women’s Mobility in Waipahu and ʻEwa through Pedestrian Amenities and Transit Lighting”—responds directly to community-identified gaps in pedestrian and transit safety for women, families and other vulnerable travelers.

 Why the focus on lighting and pedestrian amenities?

Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s prior research—which included listening sessions, travel surveys, and design workshops with over 200 residents—found that inadequate lighting, unsafe crossings, and a lack of welcoming pedestrian infrastructure were among the top mobility barriers for women who walk or ride transit in the two communities.

One resident put it plainly: crossings that are poorly lit or poorly marked feel risky even during the day, and waiting for a bus after dark becomes a matter of “I hope I don’t have to walk alone.”

By investing in solar-powered lighting at high-ridership bus stops, and improving intersections near elementary schools (with curb extensions, raised crosswalks, and colorful street art), the initiative aims not just to change infrastructure, but to shift how safe mobility is experienced for entire families.