Pacheco V. Hilo Electric Light Co‪.‬

In early April, 1967, HELCO began erecting transmission lines along the highway between Hilo and Honokaa on the island of Hawaii. As was its practice on such projects, HELCO placed signs upon the strips of land, owned by the State, abutting either side of the road. These signs warned oncoming motorists that utility construction was in progress. They were 4 feet square, mounted on two legs of a tripod in such a manner that the tops of the signs stood 12 feet from the ground. They were constructed of wood with metal nails or rivets, and weighed approximately 80 to 150 pounds. The signs were put in place at the beginning of each work day and taken down at its end; they were placed at the same spots every day and were removed from the area permanently only when work was completed along the entire segment of the road.