Honolulu Board of Water Supply crews were working into the night to repair a broken 24-inch water main in Nanakuli that brought traffic on Farrington Highway to a crawl yesterday.

The agency was hoping to complete repairs before this morning's rush-hour commute period.

"The traffic coming into the area is really bad because there's only one road coming in," said Mokihana Abaro, a Sack N Save office clerk. "We've been really slow, and they turned the water off at the store."

The water main break was reported at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at 87-2070 Farrington Highway between Lualualei Naval Road and Nanaikeola Street.

Board of Water Supply crews excavated part of Farrington Highway to repair the pipe, closing both lanes between Lualualei Naval Road and Nanaikeola Street. Police routed Makaha-bound traffic onto Helelua Street to Lualualei Naval Road. Honolulu-bound traffic was diverted to a dirt road on the makai side of the highway.

The Board of Water Supply asked Leeward Coast residents from Honokai Hale to Makaha to use water sparingly as crews worked to repair the main and restore the water system.

No homes were without water, the agency said. The agency asked residents to use water only for cooking, drinking and personal hygiene.