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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Sewer work not taking parking stalls
Question: What's up again at Kawaikui Beach Park near Aina Haina? This time they've taken almost half of the parking stalls away from the already inadequate parking lot! I assume it's for a construction job on the highway, possibly the sewer project.
Answer: It's true that the contractor for the Niu Sewer Project is storing equipment and vehicles at the park, but it can't be blamed for taking up parking space.
"None of the stalls are being used for the construction," said Craig Mayeda, administrator of the Maintenance and Recreation Division of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.
However, there are "some illegal parking situations in progress, and we are working to remind people that the parking lot is for park users only," he said.
He declined to say who might be parking illegally because, although they suspect other workers in the area, "we have no proof."
We asked if there were no alternative space for the contractor to store equipment than the public park.
"We asked the same question of ourselves," Mayeda said. The answer was that, at least for this project, "this is the best place for them to be at."
"It will benefit the community as a whole, and therefore we felt it was best for the work to get done," he said.
The Parks Department doesn't get any compensation for allowing use of its space, but the contractor will repair any damages, as well as help with some repairs to the comfort station and parking lot.
The $9 million sewer main project along Kalanianaole Highway is expected to be completed in December.
It entails replacing the existing sewer line, which ruptured several times in 2005, and replacing it with a 3,300-foot-long pipe between Kawaikui Park and Niuiki Circle.
In the meantime, a temporary, above-ground bypass line has been installed.
Q: Why is the women's side of the main restroom/showers at Ala Moana Park, by the snack shop, boarded up? When will it reopen?
A: You're probably enjoying the showers again -- the facility reopened on Monday after being closed for the weekend.
The city Parks Department is in the process of applying a sealant to the walls and floors of all the comfort stations at Ala Moana Park.
"The sealant makes our job easier and helps us keep the floors and walls looking clean," said Craig Mayeda, the department's recreation and maintenance administrator.
He apologized for the inconvenience, but explained that the sealant took longer to cure than expected, so it was decided to keep the comfort station in question closed for the weekend.
"We also considered that the (comfort station at Magic Island) was just across the street," he said.
Mahalo
To the nice person who found my checkbook. I had left it at the Daiei (Don Quijote) counter. She turned it into the office, where I was able to get it back. -- Yoshi
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.
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