StarBulletin.com

Maintenance closes park next to aquarium


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POSTED: Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Question: I noticed that a while ago a black galvanized fence had been put up around the park adjacent to the Waikiki Aquarium. My kids used to love to play there, as the grass was nicely cut, and we used to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon there. The kids were really disappointed when the fence first went up, but it's been months and we thought it would come back down, but it never did. Now it just sits empty. Why would this beautiful piece of Kapiolani Park go to waste with a fence?

Answer: Don't think it's actually been “;months,”; but if it's the fencing installed between the aquarium and the Kapiolani Beach Center, that's only temporary.

As part of the city's Malama o Waikiki project, the Department of Parks and Recreation has been doing extensive work to repair the grounds of Kapiolani Park.

The area adjacent to the aquarium was subjected to heavy fertilizing and watering, and “;we're keeping everybody off for 20 to 30 days,”; Lester Chang, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, said earlier this week.

Different areas of the park will be subjected to the maintenance work, so the fencing will be moving around.

During the summer, the heavy ground maintenance will be suspended, but it will resume in the fall, Chang said.

Although Kapiolani Park is popular, “;we never put back proper maintenance and recovery. ... We've never done (such extensive ground repair) before, so this will enhance the grounds,”; Chang said.

The Malama o Waikiki cleanup project involves closing down the pavilions every morning for cleanup as well as “;doing a makeover”; of some of the pavilions and restrooms.

Beginning Monday, Kapiolani Park, mauka of Kalakaua Avenue, will be closed from midnight to 5 a.m. daily. The area makai of Kalakaua will be closed from 2 to 5 a.m.

 

AUWE

One morning, just a bare minute after I pulled into a parking spot on Uluniu Street in Kailua and was organizing my change for the meter, a parking enforcement vehicle pulled up beside me. The female driver just stared at me (stink eye!) until finally I smiled and said, “;Hello?”; She rudely said, “;Coming or going?”; and I told her I had just arrived. She said, “;You gotta put money in the meter then,”; and continued to stare at me.

The street was practically empty. (It was 8 a.m. on a Saturday, and there were five empty spots behind me and two empty spots in front of me!) Even the woman across the street who was parking her car couldn't believe how rude the parking official was to me, and said it was completely uncalled for.

There isn't any need for unprofessional communication like that, and it was completely uncalled for. Perhaps if she had at least returned my smile (a little aloha, please?) or waited a few seconds to see that I wasn't trying to take advantage of free parking?

I would like to notify her superiors and place a complaint. I cannot locate any contact numbers for their office, and I can't figure out what department they are associated with. I can only find places to pay my parking tickets! — A nice Kailua resident who doesn't deserve stink eye

Answer: You can make a complaint with the Honolulu Police Department's Parking Enforcement Section. Call 832-7832.

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