Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Friday, December 19, 1997

Free parking for disabled
a matter of hotel’s charity

It was my understanding that in order to secure a larger building footprint, the Hawaii Prince Hotel had to offer street-equivalent parking. They offer city rates for the first four hours but refused to honor a handicap parking permit for free parking as other buildings with similar agreements do. Why not?

Under the city's special management permit, the hotel was required to provide an equal number of public parking stalls it displaced on the street next to the Ala Wai Boat Harbor.

The permit "is to ensure that the public going to the shoreline or ocean has parking," said Lorrie Chee, deputy director for the Department of Land Utilization.

The hotel, "at their expense, re-striped and restructured" the on-street parking stalls, said Ala Wai Harbormaster Robert Rushforth. The balance lost by the realignment was made available in the parking garage, he said. The 52 hotel public stalls are available at the street rate of 40 cents an hour.

The permit does not address the issue of handicapped parking, and neither does state law.

Some places may waive a parking fee, but "state law only has a provision for a reduction or elimination of fees when it's metered," said Francine Wai, executive director of the state Commission on Persons with Disabilities.

"When there is an attendant or another means to pay other than a meter, there is no difference between a disabled person or nondisabled individual other than what the establishment voluntarily decides to do," she said. "It's more out of charity than civil rights."

Even then, metered parking is free only for 2.5 hours, Wai said. The thinking behind that is that it's difficult for many handicapped people to feed the meter, she said.

Meanwhile, "the only people with complimentary parking are those going to the restaurant," said Les Arakaki, the hotel's uniform services manager.

Everyone else pays either the city rate or the banquet/event rate (some hosts may opt to pick up the parking tab for guests). "It depends on what ticket you take," Arakaki said, noting there are separate ticket dispensers for public parking and for hotel guests.

Is there a state policy regarding advertising, that they state a limit on the amount of the sale item you can buy?

If there is a limit, say five of something at a sale price, the merchant "must post a limitation in any advertisement," said Jo Ann Uchida, executive director, state Office of Consumer Protection.

Soft bed still wanted

Marion Hamilton, the 86-year-old bedridden woman suffering from osteoporosis who asked for a soft bed earlier this year, is still searching. One donation has not met her needs. If you can help, call her at 947-7250.

Auwe

To the state and the UH. They say they want more football fans but then submit fans to the indignation of bag searches. They should ask, "Is this good for fans?" If not, stop it! We've been season ticket-holders since days of the old Termite Palace, but stopped going to UH games after the searches started, wasting $425 in tickets. If they continue, we will not renew our eight season tickets. -- C.Y.

Mahalo

To the nice woman who recovered my keys at the Kaneohe Post Office. -- Helen

Auwe

To four people in a white Toyota 4Runner, for stealing Christmas decor from my Manoa front yard 1:45 a.m. Dec. 12. Much time and effort went into the display. Because of your heartless and very immature actions, many will not get to enjoy the full effect of the display. You obviously don't understand the true meaning of Christmas. -- Frosty