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Honolulu County Route 803

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Honolulu County Route 803 is a 5.9-mile Highway located on the Island of O'ahu.   Honolulu County 803 begins at Hawaii Route 930/Farrington Highway and follows an eastward course via Kaukonahua Road and Wilikina Drive to Hawaii Route 99 at the outskirts of Wahiawa.  Honolulu County Route 803 is part of the original alignment of Hawaii Route 99 north of Wahiawa.  


This page is part of the Gribblenation Hawaii Roads series.  A compellation of all Hawaii-related media from both Gribblenation and RoadwayWiz can be found by clicking here. 



Part 1; the history of Honolulu County Route 803

Prior to the Statehood the first signed highways within Hawaii Territory came into existence during World War II.   During World War II the territory of Hawaii saw an influx of military activity following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.  Numerous Military Routes and early Hawaii Routes were signed through the Hawaiian Territory to aid military personnel in navigating the islands.  Military Highways were assigned US Route style shields whereas lesser highways were assigned an early variation of what is now the Hawaii Route Spade.  Wilikina Drive and Kaukonahua Road north of Wahiawa to Farrington Highway can be seen assigned as part of Hawaii Route 121 and Military Route 1.  A full version of the 1946 Army Map of O'ahu can be seen on hawaiihighways.com here.  


Circa 1955 following the conclusion of World War II the United States Bureau of Public Roads renumbered the Hawaii Route System.  The 1955 Hawaii Route Renumbering saw most of the conventions utilized by the current Hawaii State Route System established.  Primary Hawaii Routes were given two-digit numbers whereas Secondary Hawaii Routes were given three-digit numbers.  The Hawaii Routes were assigned in sequence for what Island/County they were located on coupled with what Federal Aid Program number they were tied to.  In the case of O'ahu the Island was assigned numbers in the range of 60-99.  Hawaii Route 99 was assigned north of Wahiawa to Ka'ena Point via; Wilikina Drive, Kaukonahua Road and Farrington Highway.  

Hawaii Route 99 north of Wahiawa to Ka'ena Point can be seen on the 1959 Gousha Map of Hawaii.


It is unclear when Hawaii Route 99 north of Wahiawa was realigned towards Haleiwa.  According to Oscar Voss of hawaiihighways.com the County Route System had been created around 1968.  Much of the undesirable segments of Hawaii State Highway System were spun off newly designated County Routes.  Strangely the County Route Shield in Hawaii from the outset of the System have always been identical to the Hawaii Route Shield.   What had been Hawaii Route 99 north of Wahiawa on Wilikina Drive and Kaukonahua Road can be seen as Honolulu County Route 803 on the 1983 USGS Map of the Waialua District.  




Part 2; a drive on Honolulu County Route 803

Eastbound Honolulu County Route 803 begins as Honolulu County Route 930 westbound transitions from Kaukonahua Road onto Farrington Highway.  Wahiawa bound traffic is directed to take Hawaii Route 803 on Kaukonahua Road eastward.  



Honolulu County Route 803 follows Kaukonahua Road 4.1 miles and transitions on Wilikana Drive.  Honolulu County Route 803 is carried another 1.8 miles eastbound to a terminus at Hawaii Route 99 near Wahiawa.  



During June of 2019 Dan Murphy of the Roadwaywiz YouTube Channel and Gribblenation featured real-time drives on Honolulu County Route 803.  Below eastbound Honolulu County Route 803 on Kaukonahua Road can be viewed.  


Below westbound Honolulu County Route 803 on Wilikana Drive and Kaukonahua Road can be viewed.  


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