Hawaii Road Signs (A Complete Guide)

Single Broken Yellow Lines	These serve as the centerline in a 2-way roadway. While driving, remember to keep to the right. However, you can cross it to pass another vehicle if it’s safe.
Double Solid Yellow Lines	Two solid yellow centerlines mean you cannot pass, regardless of which direction you are driving. There is only one exception — when you need to turn left into or from an alley, driveway, or private road.
No Passing Lines	A no-passing line is a single yellow centerline. As its name implies, you cannot pass another vehicle if it’s on your side. Like double solid yellow lines, you can only cross if you’re turning into a private road, alley, or driveway on the other side of the street.

Single Dashed White Lane Lines	Indicates that you can pass other vehicles when it’s safe.
Single Solid White Line	Be careful when you see these because moving from one lane to another may be dangerous. You may also notice that its width varies in certain areas — the wider the line, the more serious the hazard. Although you can cross a single solid white line, you can only do so during unusual situations.
Double Solid While Lines	You cannot cross these lines, regardless of the circumstance. Moving from one lane to another is not allowed.

Red Pavement Markings	You cannot use or enter a roadway when there are red pavement markings. Besides using paint, the state also utilizes reflectors.
Edgelines	Edgelines act as safety guides and can be yellow or white. Depending on the color, you may find them in different areas. White edgelines are typically on the rightmost part of the roadway. Yellow ones are on the left edge of highways and divided roads.
Stop Lines	As its name implies, stop lines indicate the point where you’re supposed to cease moving. You typically find them at intersections and pedestrian crosswalks.
Crosswalk Lines	Crosswalks are primarily for pedestrians, indicating where people can safely cross the street. You always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on a crosswalk.
Two-Way Left Turn Channelization Markings	These consist of solid and dashed yellow lines in the center of a roadway. They indicate areas where you can turn left from either direction. However, you cannot use these to pass other vehicles.
Obstruction Markings	Obstructions, such as bridge supports, take up road space, requiring you to drive around them. These markings help you determine where to pass. These may be yellow or white, and the color determines where you should pass. Motorists can drive on either side of white markings but should stay on the right side of yellow ones.
Directional Markings	These are white arrows or words that indicate which direction you can take. If your lane’s arrow only points in one direction, it’s the only path you can take. If the arrow points to multiple routes, you can choose between them.
Railroad Crossing Markings	You’ll find this marking before a railroad crossing. It consists of a large X with two Rs on either side. You’ll also find a solid yellow centerline because you can’t pass other vehicles at a railroad crossing.
Traffic Island Markings	Traffic Islands protect pedestrians when they have to stand in the middle of a roadway. This is why it’s also known as Safety Islands. Traffic Island Markings indicate which directions you can go. Remember, these can be painted on the road but have other forms, such as paved, landscaped, or curbed areas. You cannot cross a traffic island. You cannot drive into it either.

	Steady Red Light When the light turns red, you must stop at: The stop line Before entering a crosswalk (if there is no stop line) Before entering an intersection (if there is no stop line or crosswalk) You cannot move until the light turns green. You can turn right with care, unless, of course, there’s a sign prohibiting it. If so, you must yield the right-of-way if other vehicles or pedestrians are at the intersection. You can turn left if you are coming from a one-way street and entering a road where traffic flows to the left. However, you cannot proceed if there is a sign indicating it isn’t allowed.
	Steady Yellow Light This immediately precedes a red light, which means you should begin slowing down when you see it. When you see a yellow light, avoid entering an intersection.
	Steady Green Light You can continue driving on a green light, whether straight, left, or right. The only exception is when there is a sign prohibiting a turn. You must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or vehicle already at an intersection.

	Red and Yellow Arrows have the same meaning as their traffic signal light counterparts. However, it means stop or slow down in the direction of the arrow.
	A Green Arrow has the same meaning as a green light. However, you can only move in the direction it shows.

In some instances, you’ll see lights and arrows used simultaneously. Don’t worry — it doesn’t necessarily complicate things.

The lights and arrows carry the same meaning as when used separately. Remember that you can only go in the direction a green arrow indicates.

	A Flashing Red Signal carries the same intent as a stop sign, which you’ll find posted in the same area.
	You can only proceed with caution if you see a Yellow Flashing Signal.

	You can’t use a lane marked with a Red X. The traffic is going in the opposite direction.
	You can proceed as usual if you see a Green Arrow on a lane.
	If you see a Yellow X on your lane, prepare to move off it. It means the traffic is about to flow in the opposite direction. You can only use a lane with a Flashing Yellow X if you are about to turn left.

	Don’t Walk signals come in two forms. Sometimes, you’ll see an upright palm symbol. Other times, you’ll see the actual words. Regardless of the visual cue, a steady sign means you shouldn’t cross. A flashing one means the same thing, but those already at the crosswalk must hurry to the nearest traffic island, sidewalk, or safety zone.
	You can cross the road if you see a Walk sign or a walking person symbol. However, if you see a flashing light, it may mean there’s a possible conflict between pedestrians and vehicles.

RED	Red-colored signs mean specific actions aren’t allowed. For example, Do Not Enter is colored red.
YELLOW	Yellow typically indicates danger. You’ll mostly see it on diamond-shaped warning signs.
ORANGE	An orange sign almost always indicates that an area is undergoing road work. These signs are usually rectangular or diamond.
BLACK and WHITE	Black and white signs are usually rectangular and necessitate action.
GREEN, BLUE, BROWN	Information and guide signs are typically in these colors and are usually rectangular.

Stop Sign	Encountering this sign means you must yield the right-of-way to other vehicles. A stop sign is always red with 8 sides. The appropriate place to stop is before the stop line or crosswalk. You can proceed slowly if there isn’t any traffic coming from the opposite direction.
Yield Sign	You’ll always know a yield sign from its shape — an inverted triangle, colored red and white. You don’t need to stop every time you encounter this sign, but you must do so if other vehicles have the right-of-way.
Speed Limit Sign	These indicate the minimum and maximum speed you can use when driving in a particular area. You must always maintain a speed between those limits.
Reduce Speed Ahead Signs	These look similar to speed limit signs. However, its main purpose is to inform you in advance that you will need to shift to a lower speed in preparation for a new speed limit sign.
Lane Use Control Signs	These signs indicate that vehicles in your lane must turn in a specific direction. Like speed limit signs, Lane Use Control signs are also black and white and rectangular.
Do Not Pass Signs	Other rectangular signs are Do Not Pass signs. These indicate which areas in two- or three-lane roads prohibit passing.
No Passing Zone Signs	No Passing Zones look different because it’s pennant-shaped (imaging a triangle on its side). They complement the Do Not Pass signs but specifically indicate where the no-passing zone begins.
Pass with Care Sign	These indicate where a no-passing zone ends.
Other Alignment Signs	These are rectangular, black, and white signs that tell you where you must drive. Traffic may become congested if you don’t follow.
Exclusion Signs	As the name implies, these signs indicate whether or not vehicle types can enter a roadway. These also tell you if there are specific maneuvers you cannot make. Visually, these come in different forms, although all are rectangular. Some are blank and white, others show a red circle against a white background. Other times, you’ll see a red circle with a red diagonal line on a black and white background.
Other Regulatory Signs	There are more regulatory signs beside the ones previously mentioned. These typically restrict people, parking, as well as vehicle types and weights, among other things.

Beginning of a Divided Highway	End of a Divided Highway	Approaching a Hill	Road becomes slippery when wet
Pedestrian Crossing	Lane Ends or Narrows	School Crossing OR School Zone	Traffic Signal Ahead