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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Concession stands require city approval
Question: I would like to know if it is possible to put a shave ice cart at Ehukai Beach Park. I see it as a good business opportunity. Can you let me know if it is possible?
Answer: It's possible, but you'd have to convince the city Department of Parks and Recreation that such an enterprise is needed and would benefit beachgoers.
Currently, the department allows food concessions, ranging from stand-alone sites to lunch wagons, at five locations: Ala Moana Beach Park, Hanauma Bay, Kailua Beach, Kuhio Beach and Sandy Beach, said deputy parks director Dana Takahara-Dias.
Permits would be issued by the Department of Enterprise Services, based on a recommendation by the parks department.
The city's share of proceeds would go into the general fund.
For Ehukai, call District 4 (Makapuu to Mokuleia) parks manager Wilfred Ho, at 233-7300. The other district managers are District 1 -- Sandy Beach to Punahou Street, Mike Smith, 973-7250; District 2 -- Punahou Street to Aiea, Rosalind Young, 522-7070; District 3 -- Pearl City, Ewa, Waipahu, Waipio, Wahiawa, Kapolei to Waianae, Dexter Liu, 675-6030; and District 5 -- Central Oahu Regional Park, Hans L'Orange, Waipio Soccer Field, Glenn Kaijwara, 676-8777.
Q: I voted in the primary election at an elementary school and was really surprised to see my name and address posted on the wall. Why do they do that? We try to ensure our privacy. I even saw my doctor's address. Why not just post names?
A: The short answer is that state law -- Hawaii Revised Statutes 11-24(c) -- requires it.
After voter registration is closed, county clerks are required to prepare a list of all registered voters in each precinct, noting, "in alphabetical order, without designation of the race or age of voters, the names of all voters so registered in each precinct, and the residence of each unless such residence is deemed confidential. ... The list shall be available for inspection at the office of the county clerk prior to election day. On election day the precinct officials shall post the list at the precinct polling place."
The election law also includes a voter challenge process, explained Honolulu election administrator Glen Takahashi.
Voters can challenge someone's qualification to vote in a certain precinct, "but the only way they would know (if something is amiss) is if they see the name and address listed there," he said. "It also helps voters know they're in the right place."
Takahashi understands concerns about privacy, but says "when it comes to elections, we do have to have a degree of transparency. ... (Disclosing names and addresses is) part of the transparency."
"We ought to know who's voting in a particular precinct. If everything were kept under wraps and whatnot, people might say, 'How do I know all the voters in the precinct are actual people?' The law balances privacy and transparency."
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