Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: There is a red Volkswagen that parks on Kawaiahao Street near the Mission Houses Museum every day. The meter is always expired, yet the enforcement officer tags all the other cars but this one. Does the owner of this car have some kind of special parking privilege with the city? Is there such a thing, and if so, who is eligible for this special privilege? City allows officials free
parking in metered stallsAnswer: The car belongs to the director of the city Office of Economic Development, and yes, he does have special parking privileges, said Carol Costa, spokeswoman for the city administration.
The city Council amended the city ordinance (Sec. 15-13.13) last year to allow city directors and deputies and elected officials to park free in metered stalls and other designated areas while on city business.
The city director of transportation services issues the special parking placards for 12-month periods. The placards are supposed to be displayed in vehicle windshields, Costa said.
In this case the car's owner works from two offices: the main one at Honolulu Hale and the other one at the Small Business Resource Center at Chinatown Gateway downtown, she said.
"He is in and out of the office quite a bit, attending business meetings."
City officials with those placards may park legally and at no charge at loading/unloading zones, metered stalls, for periods longer than designated by official signs, and on any portion of a public street where on-street parking spaces are marked off. However, the placards are not effective during a parade or event when parking may be prohibited.
The following city officers may receive placards: Council members, prosecuting attorney, mayor, managing director, deputy managing director, the heads and the first deputies of city departments, including the additional first deputy of the Honolulu Police Department, and the manager/chief engineer and deputy manager and chief engineer of the Board of Water Supply.
The director of transportation services also may issue parking placards to federal, state and city agencies to be used by employees driving vehicles while on official government business, and to members of city boards and commissions on an as-needed basis for official business.
Auwe
Regarding your March 18 column on medical records, I went to get the medical records for my son, who had cancer in his arm when he was 10. I found out, under Hawaii law, they only have to keep the records for seven years. My son is now 30 and experiencing the same problem in his leg, but all his records are gone -- no X-rays or reports. If they are going to throw things out, they should make it an option to give the records to patients. -- Andi van der Voort, registered nurse
Mahalo
To Ikaika and his friend, who took the time to pick me up and give me a ride back to my van when my bike had a flat tire in Waimanalo on March 6. May God bless both of you for your kind and generous hearts! -- Vern Yamauchi
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com