Kokua Line
Kokua Line
When I went to the UH football game at Aloha Stadium, I declined to have my bag searched. The usher then requested my ticket, tore off my stub and returned the rest of the ticket. Why do they need my ticket stub? Stadium wants to get a
handle on carry-in bags"Bag directors" are positioned outside the turnstiles to direct people with bags to be checked to a specific side gate.
"That's not to create an inconvenience, but also not to inconvenience other people," said Scott Chan, Aloha Stadium's assistant events manager. Those bag directors may collect tickets, he said.
One reason for collecting ticket stubs is to get an accurate attendance count for any audit purposes, he said. Another reason: "We also are trying to find out if there are large numbers of bags coming through."
The stadium has been stymied in getting an accurate count because even people willing to have their bags checked insist on going through any turnstile, he said.
Chan says if there appears to be a problem, security checks are made throughout an event. "But we don't go and stand in front of people" and demand to see if they have brought in outside food and drinks," he said.
I called the Handi-Van reservations number to renew my sister's ride. Every time I called, I had to wait at least 25 minutes. I was told that callers often have to wait hours to get someone. I asked if there was a better time to call and was told there is no good time because they were so busy and understaffed. They said things won't get better until they receive more help. I said this is a pretty poor way to serve the disabled in Hawaii. Whom do I complain to?
Call the Handi-Van customer service line, 454-5050, with complaints or questions.
Patricia Nielsen, vice president for para-transit services for Oahu Transit Services, which runs the vans for the city, acknowledged the long delays about the time you specified. But "there shouldn't be that extraordinary wait time" -- at least now.
While certain times of the day -- early morning or late afternoon -- may be busy, "we have a full slate of reservationists who work from 8 (a.m.) to 5 (p.m.)," Nielsen said. She said two new reservationists were to be added.
The problem is with a new computer scheduling software program "that's not working at maximum yet," Nielsen said last week.
"There are some issues that we have yet to resolve with the contract provider."
The long phone waits were caused by reservationists trying to give riders specific times when seats would be available because that's what the software program is supposed to do, she said. It wasn't just a matter of taking the requests and dealing with them later.
The staff has tried, over the course of four to five months, to operate the scheduling program, she said. Late August probably was one of those periods "where we were trying to schedule all the calls that had come in. Every time we do that, it increases the wait time."
For now, there shouldn't be delays. But Nielsen cautioned, "When we go back to scheduling and booking rides for the customer, and especially if the customer wants to book two weeks of rides, that will take many more minutes, and that will tie up the phone lines."
Clarification
Regarding Aloha Stadium parking, Aloha Stadium Flea Market has control over the parking lot on the days that it operates. For any other major event, Aloha Stadium is in charge of parking arrangements.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
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