Editing Interstate H-2 (section)

===Construction and later projects===

Construction on the southernmost section of H-2 began in early 1971 with work on the Waiawa Interchange.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 13, 1971 |title=H-2 Hearing Tomorrow |page=C12 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89182829/h-2-hearing-tomorrow/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119020731/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89182829/h-2-hearing-tomorrow/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By June 1973, [[grading (earthworks)|grading]] of the Pearl City–Kipapa section of the freeway was nearly complete and contracts for paving and interchange construction were prepared to be released.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 26, 1973 |title=Freeway work going smoothly |page=A10 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89186853/freeway-work-going-smoothly/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119025059/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89186853/freeway-work-going-smoothly/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The remaining projects for H-2, with the exception of the Kipapa Gulch bridge, were contracted by August and under construction by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 21, 1973 |title=Everything's Booming on H-2 Improvements |page=C2 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187306/everythings-booming-on-h-2-improvements/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119025100/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187306/everythings-booming-on-h-2-improvements/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 25, 1973 |title=Work to begin soon on H-2 |page=A16 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187491/work-to-begin-soon-on-h-2/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119025114/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89187491/work-to-begin-soon-on-h-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Work on the Waikakalaua Gulch bridge near Mililani began in December 1973,<ref>{{cite news |date=December 18, 1973 |title=H-2 Bridge Work to Begin |page=A21 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89185224/h-2-bridge-work-to-begin/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119020729/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89185224/h-2-bridge-work-to-begin/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while the Kipapa Gulch bridge began the following year using a cantilevered truss system.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tune |first=Jerry |date=April 7, 1976 |title=New Building Process Cuts Cost of Bridge |page=C7 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89192511/new-building-process-cuts-cost-of-bridge/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119050529/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89192511/new-building-process-cuts-cost-of-bridge/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Construction on a section of the freeway near Wheeler Army Airfield unearthed the ruins of the Cabrini Chapel, a small church built by Italian [[prisoners of war]] housed at [[Sand Island (Hawaii)|Sand Island]] from 1944 to 1945.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Lyle |date=September 8, 1976 |title=WWII Footnote Frozen in Stone |page=C5 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89302684/wwii-footnote-frozen-in-stone/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121060329/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89302684/wwii-footnote-frozen-in-stone/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The southernmost section of the freeway, traveling {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} from the Waiawa Interchange with H-1 to the Mililani Cemetery, was completed in early 1974.<ref name="HSB-1974"/> It was opened to traffic on October 3, 1974, after a temporary road through the cemetery was finished, connecting H-2 to the Kamehameha Highway near the Mililani Town development.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 4, 1974 |title=Ribbon cutting on H-2 |page=B6 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89188693/ribbon-cutting-on-h-2/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119031840/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89188693/ribbon-cutting-on-h-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 16, 1977 |title=H-2 ceremony slated Monday |page=A2 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969044/h-2-ceremony-slated-monday/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115083335/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969044/h-2-ceremony-slated-monday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Part of the freeway's northern terminus at the Wahiawa Interchange opened in October 1975 to allow traffic to bypass a congested left turn on the Kamehameha Highway.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 3, 1975 |title=Part of Wahiawa Interchange Open |page=D16 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89192048/part-of-wahiawa-interchange-open/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119050536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89192048/part-of-wahiawa-interchange-open/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The final section of the freeway, including the Kipapa Gulch bridge, opened to traffic on February 21, 1977, after a delay while awaiting delivery of a [[transformer]] to control its lights.<ref>{{cite news |last=Imig |first=Joanne |date=January 13, 1977 |title=The Kokua Line |page=A3 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193290/the-kokua-line-jan-13-1977/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119050539/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193290/the-kokua-line-jan-13-1977/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HSB-Open1977"/> The entirety of H-2 cost an estimated $43&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|43000000|1977}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|index=US-GDP}}) to construct.<ref name="HSB-Open1977">{{cite news |date=February 21, 1977 |title=Long-Awaited H-2 Freeway Opens |page=2 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969067/long-awaited-h-2-freeway-opens/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115083337/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969067/long-awaited-h-2-freeway-opens/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The freeway's HOV lanes also opened at the same time, having been added to replace an earlier plan for exclusive [[bus lane]]s,<ref>{{cite news |last=Harpham |first=Anne |date=February 22, 1977 |title=New restricted lanes: destination mass transit |page=A1 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969083/new-restricted-lanes-destination-mass/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115083335/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969083/new-restricted-lanes-destination-mass/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tune |first=Jerry |date=July 19, 1973 |title=State Proposes H-2 Bus Lane |page=B4 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193872/state-proposes-h-2-bus-lane/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119051255/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193872/state-proposes-h-2-bus-lane/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but were eliminated in January 1979 due to low use.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 28, 1978 |title=State Will Eliminate H-2 Car-Pool Lanes |page=A3 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89194017/state-will-eliminate-h-2-car-pool-lanes/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119052728/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89194017/state-will-eliminate-h-2-car-pool-lanes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Construction of the freeway allowed for residential development in the [[Waipio Valley]] and around Mililani, which had been designed in conjunction with H-2 in the late 1960s.<ref name="HSB-Open1977"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Cook |first=Bill |date=December 17, 1967 |title=A Town With a Plan |page=D1 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89185023/a-town-with-a-plan/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119020730/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89185023/a-town-with-a-plan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A pair of sites along the highway were also considered in the 1970s for the [[University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu|second Oʻahu campus]] of the [[University of Hawaiʻi]], which was ultimately located at [[Kapolei, Hawaii|Kapolei]].<ref>{{cite news |date=January 22, 1972 |title=UH eyeing 35 sites for Oahu 2nd campus |page=A13 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89185094/uh-eyeing-35-sites-for-oahu-2nd-campus/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119020732/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89185094/uh-eyeing-35-sites-for-oahu-2nd-campus/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A new interchange with Ka Uka Boulevard was opened in July 1989 to serve new development in Waipio.<ref>{{cite news |last=Killelea-Almonte |first=Patti |date=August 1, 1989 |title=Waipio Interchange to H-2 opens |page=A3 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193591/waipio-interchange-to-h-2-opens/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119050534/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193591/waipio-interchange-to-h-2-opens/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Mililani Mauka, Hawaii|Mililani Mauka]] development opened in the 1990s after development closer to the freeway was approved.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tune |first=Jerry |date=January 4, 1987 |title=Mililani Mauka Plans For Housing, College Campus |page=B1 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193433/mililani-mauka-plans-for-housing/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119050532/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193433/mililani-mauka-plans-for-housing/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Glauberman |first=Stu |date=June 15, 1992 |title=Freeway exits multiply along with Oahu development |page=A3 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193516/freeway-exits-multiply-along-with-oahu/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119050531/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89193516/freeway-exits-multiply-along-with-oahu/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Meheula Parkway interchange was rebuilt in 1993 to accommodate expected traffic and H-2 was widened to readd the HOV lanes, which opened in December 1994.<ref>{{cite news |last=Engle |first=Murry |date=March 22, 1993 |title=New ramps coming for freeway drivers heading to Mililani |page=A4 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89194231/new-ramps-coming-for-freeway-drivers/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119052726/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89194231/new-ramps-coming-for-freeway-drivers/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Morse |first=Harold |date=February 20, 1995 |title=Lane abuse frustrates commuters |page=A4 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89194333/lane-abuse-frustrates-commuters/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119052725/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89194333/lane-abuse-frustrates-commuters/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

H-2 was designated as the Veterans Memorial Freeway in 2002 by the state government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leidemann |first=Mike |date=October 29, 2002 |title=Governor renames Honolulu freeways |page=B1 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969485/governor-renames-honolulu-freeways/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115092023/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969485/governor-renames-honolulu-freeways/ |url-status=live }}</ref>