The city has launched a pilot project that aims to save lives.

South King Street -- between Pawaa Lane and Hauoli Street -- now has a set of overhead safety lights that will hopefully change a dangerous crosswalk into one much safer.

A ceremony at the crosswalk in Moiliili marked the start of the project Friday, with Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle pushing the button for the first time.

If all goes well, this will be the first of several crosswalk overhead safety lights around the state.

For Gwyne Isa, 68, they're lights she thought she'd never see.  Literally.

"My face shattered on this (left) side, so my eye fell down, they had to rebuild my eye socket.  I got titanium plates in my face," said Isa.

Five years ago, Isa was hit by a car while crossing this sidewalk.

"When he hit the brakes, I flew like 30, 40 feet, out of the crosswalk," said Isa.

She's still in therapy for brain damage, but making sure this doesn't happen to anyone else, has been her mission.

PHOTOS: New crosswalk pilot project

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