Sterling Higa: How to Fix the Injustice of Workers’ Long Commutes

On the island of Hawaii, some residents drive two hours in the morning from Puna to the Kona coast to work in the hospitality industry. When night falls, most head back the other way. Others sleep in their cars on the west side of the island, reducing the number of trips they have to make back to the east side during the work week.

A similar dynamic exists on Maui, where workers commute 40 minutes from Wailuku (or an hour from Haiku) to work in the tourist hub of Lahaina.

On Oahu, the morning drive from Waianae to Waikiki can take more than an hour. Accidents can sometimes make that a two-hour drive from the West Side to the city. My aunt used to wake up at 4:30 am to avoid rush hour traffic and drive from Ewa Beach to her work at Kuakini Medical Center.

Long commutes are endemic to the islands, but not inevitable. Investing in multimodal transportation, digital infrastructure and the strategic location of worker housing can free people from commuting and free up time for friends, family and all that makes life worth living.

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed an inequality between those who have to commute to work and those who can work remotely. The “laptop class” (which I belong to) had it relatively easy.

When Hawaii Pacific University decided to move all courses online in March 2020, I didn’t lose my job. Instead, I was able to work from home, which eliminated a 20-minute bus ride from Ala Moana to the Waterfront Plaza classrooms.

It was remarkable back then to walk the streets of Honolulu‘s central business district and see it free of cars and pedestrians. But the banks and law firms didn’t go bust. Employees went to the distance, and everything was fine.

Essential workers — those who work in grocery stores, healthcare, delivery, retail, agriculture and other key industries — continued to commute. There was less traffic, but the commute still lasted, and these essential workers were at risk of contracting coronavirus while continuing to serve the community.

My compatriots in the laptop class didn’t all go to waste. Freed from the tyranny of the commute, some exercised at home and lost weight. Others celebrated the time they had to spend with their children. And many questioned whether the daily commute was even necessary.

Some technology companies – like Square and Twitter — took that thinking to the extreme, announcing employees could work remotely forever. Many companies have introduced more flexible working arrangements, allowing employees to work in the office two days a week and stay at home the rest of the time.

The math works. One hour of commuting each way means two lost hours per day. These two hours could be dedicated to family, a hobby, starting a business, joining a church or sports club, volunteering at a nonprofit organization, or participating in civic affairs.

What would it take to free essential workers from this tyranny?

Multimodal transport

First, significant investments in multimodal transport would be required.

“Complete Streets” is an attempt to design and operate a transport infrastructure that recognizes and accommodates the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, transit drivers and the disabled. Making neighborhoods accessible by foot or bike is a key to reducing car dependency.

Large mass transit projects could help. In the end, Railway project in Honolulu (now estimated to cost $11.4 billion and just 11 years late) was originally intended to reduce the time people on the West Side spend commuting into the city. If the track is completed and ridership is in line with forecasts (and those are big ifs), it would make a significant difference.

The Handi Van Handivan for physically challenged wheelchair users.
Investments in the Handi-Van and other forms of public transportation make it a more desirable option for commuters. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

But on Oahu, our humble bus and van service deserves attention and investment. When mass transit is safe, clean, and reliable, it’s more likely to attract passengers. And for those who can’t afford a car and rely on the bus or handi-van, the quality of transit matches the quality of their commute.

digital infrastructure

Infrastructure has been the key to prosperity since Native Hawaiians first established irrigated agriculture on the islands. But today’s vital infrastructure is largely invisible. Think of undersea fiber optic cables or radio waves carrying packets of data.

Groups like Broadband Hui have highlighted the digital divide in our state. Many residents lack “the information technology capacity needed to participate fully in our society, democracy and economy, including civic, social and cultural activities, employment, lifelong learning and access to basic services”.

Digital access enables the delivery of telemedicine and education in remote areas. It creates business opportunities in the digital economy and provides access to government services. Addressing disparities in digital access is key to making suburban and rural areas less dependent on urban centers.

Everyone should have the opportunity to take the laptop class and investment in digital infrastructure is critical.

Site selection for workers housing

The current mantra in mixed-use development is “live, work, play,” which refers to the co-accommodation of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. This development model reduces commuting, allowing families to save time and money.

New developments should strive for “live, work, play” as an ideal, but it can also be applied to the allocation of current resources, especially housing.

Can our state go beyond a narrow income orientation when allocating affordable housing?

If a proposed affordable housing project is three blocks from a major hospital, should we limit access to those earning less than 60% of the median median household income?

What about nurses who work in the hospital who earn between 80% and 140% of the AMI but are currently forced to commute an hour?

A similar problem arises for civil servants, teachers, hospitality workers, farm workers and any occupation that requires commuting to a fixed location.

Building worker housing requires fewer subsidies, and strategically located worker housing can accommodate essential workers, eliminating their commute, saving time and money, and improving the quality of life.

A world without hours of car journeys is possible, and not just for the laptop class. All it takes is strategic vision and the willingness to break with tradition.

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