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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Massage work in park not allowed
Question: Is it OK for someone to conduct a business at Manoa Recreation Center's pavilion? There's a fellow who does massage work at the pavilion five or six days a week, charging a fee for 40 minutes (I asked). Though he takes up only a small space with a mat, chair and a few stools, I was just wondering what the policy is about allowing something like that.
Answer: It's not allowed, and the man no longer is offering the massages there.
"Massages are not a designated commercial activity under parks rules," said Dana Takahara-Dias, deputy director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.
That means someone cannot perform massages and accept money, as a donation or otherwise, in a city park unless it is held as part of a fundraising activity conducted by a 501-C nonprofit organization. Even then, a parks permit and temporary concession permit would be needed, Takahara-Dias said.
Following your query, parks staff talked to the man, "who apparently had set up in the open pavilion at Manoa District Park to give 'free' massages," she said.
He was informed that he cannot continue the massages on park property, "and he has agreed," she said.
He is not affiliated with the Parks and Recreation program, she added.
Q: I and several of my co-workers park along Elliott or Valkenburgh street, then walk or bike to work at Honolulu Airport. But we get soaked by water sprinklers unless we get off the walkway and walk on Nimitz Highway, where cars are driving by. I ride a bike, and sometimes I have to get into the second lane or get soaked. Who do we call to change the sprinklers so that they're not drenching the walkway? Everyone, from all the different airlines, parks in the area and walks through there.
A: The sprinklers are under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Transportation, which said a highway inspector would be sent to assess the situation.
"Adjustments to the sprinkler head orientations and water pressure will be made to rectify this situation," a spokesman added.
Auwe
While driving to town on Wailua Street early one morning, a senior male driving a Honda Accord with Vietnam veteran plates was turning left onto Keahole Street. The light inside his car was on, and he had a newspaper on the steering wheel. This was the same car and driver I saw a few months back, same time in the morning, driving down Kalanianaole Highway, reading a paperback book on his steering wheel from Niu Valley past Kalani High School. Can the Honolulu Police Department send him a letter and suggest he get up an hour earlier to do his reading at home? -- Concerned Morning Commuter
You can send details, including license number and description of the car and driver, to HPD's Traffic Division, 801 S. Beretania St., Honolulu 96813. A letter, not citation, can be sent to the registered owner.
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.
See also: Useful phone numbers