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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Capitol parking sometimes set aside for events
Question:
What's happened to all the "public" parking stalls at the Capitol? It seems each year there are fewer and fewer metered stalls for the public to use. First it was the stalls on the Ewa side of the parking garage where more and more were marked "reserved." On May 21, I found that meters at all the stalls in the Koko Head side had bags on them, declaring they were "assigned" stalls. It's not like the Legislature is still in session. Of course, who would know if the "public" can't get parking to stop by and check?
Answer: There are 66 metered parking stalls set aside for the public at the state Capitol during legislative sessions, according to Russ Saito, head of the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
That's the same number as when the building opened in 1969, he said.
However, especially when the Legislature is not in session, some stalls might be reserved for staff or other people.
On the day you showed up at the Capitol, 20 stalls on the Ewa side of the building were "bagged" for a special House of Representatives event, Saito said. They have since been returned to public use.
The Ewa stalls are available to the public, except when there are requests for parking for special events, Saito said.
When the Legislature is in recess, 25 metered stalls on the Koko Head side are used and paid for by state employees, Saito said.
When the Legislature resumes, the metered stalls will be unbagged and made available for public use.
Q: What are the parking rates for the municipal stalls at Capital Place? Is there a difference between municipal parking and public parking?
A: There's no difference in "municipal" versus "public" parking, at least as far as the rates set by city ordinance, according to city spokesman Bill Brennan.
Current rates being charged for public parking are 75 cents for each half-hour for the first two hours and $1.50 for each half-hour thereafter in the 39-story residential development in downtown Honolulu.
Initially, it was reported that there would be 143 public parking stalls at Capital Place, located on the former "Block J" parking lot bounded by Beretania Street, Pali Highway, Kukui Street and Queen Emma Street.
However, we were told there are "not less than 100 public parking stalls available" on the third level.
Q: How can I request that the city change the traffic signal at King and Alakea streets? The left-turn green arrow should be made "red" when it's not OK to turn left onto Alakea. This is a busy pedestrian crosswalk and I see too many cars turn left when the light turns green (to go straight only).
A: You can submit your concerns to the city online at http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/csd/publiccom/fixit.htm.
Or, call 768-4381; e-mail complaints@honolulu.gov; or send a letter to Director of Customer Services, 530 S. King St., Room 302A, Honolulu 96813.
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