This dark stretch of Kalanianaole highway near Sea Life Park was shut down shortly after 2:30 Sunday morning. Two young men had been involved in a fatal car crash.
"The vehicle was traveling from Waimanalo side towards Makapuu lighthouse when vehicle ended up loosing control," said Capt. Letha DeCaires, Honolulu Police Department.
According to the Honolulu Medical examiner, the driver was 19-year-old Ikaikakane Makekau from Kona and his passenger was 20-year-old Benjamin Makekau from Waimanalo.
They were in a 2001 Toyota sedan when they veered off the road and up an embankment, plowing right through a fence.
"As it went airborne it went upside down, went thru several objects and ended up finally resting in a structure," said Capt. DeCaires.
The car crashed into the roof of Hawaii Pacific University's Oceanic Institute.
"Airbags did deploy, do not believe either person had seat belts on," she DeCaires.
Both the driver and passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Police say speed may have been a factor, but how fast they were traveling before the crash is unclear.
"I think that by looking at the behavior of the car, and how far it went people can come to their own conclusions in regards to this," said DeCaires.
Police have not ruled out whether alcohol or drugs also played a role.
"Police are investigating whether or not this may be part of an incident related to racing," said DeCaires.
No other cars were involved in the crash, but police are hoping someone will come forward with information.
"If anyone has any information in regards to what happened prior to this incident or just prior to the collision and the car loosing control please call us at the police department," said DeCaires.
Kalanianaole highway was shut down in both directions for about five and a half hours while police investigated.
