Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Tuesday, January 12, 1999
Kokua Line
Why has the city given approval for a vendor in a small van to sell food and sodas on the sidewalk by Kuhio Beach in Waikiki? The half dozen ABC stores in the area are more than enough to provide beach-goers with anything they might wish to buy. New commercial activities should not be allowed on the makai side of Kalakaua. Wheeled vendor
fronting beach has
city contractActually, it's a "mobile cart" that the city allows to operate from the food concession at Kapiolani Beach Centre "all the way to Kealohilani Avenue on Kalakaua Avenue on the beach side," said Alvin Au, director of the Department of Enterprise Services.
The cart is operated by Naniwa-ya Investment, a Japanese company that won the bid to sell food and drinks at the concession. The contract calls for Naniwa-ya to pay the city $5,000 a month for five years, beginning Dec. 1, 1998. The deal allows the electric-powered, golf-cart-like vehicle to operate during the hours the concession is open.
"There is a very strong anti-peddlers' law in Waikiki that prohibits people from selling, other than the people who are properly licensed, which this company is," Au said.
He also said that allowing such carts is not new. The Hyatt Regency, which runs the concession behind the police substation, used to offer such service, but discontinued it on its own, he said.
The city also allows the concessionaire at Ala Moana Park to run a mobile service all along the beach area and Magic Island.
Why is someone who no longer is with the state Department of Public Safety allowed to use a state placard saying for "Official State Business," permitting her to park all around town in virtually any spot? I called police, but an officer told me he couldn't take a complaint about alleged misuse of the permit from a private citizen -- that the complaint had to come from DPS or another state agency. Does having such a placard allow a person to park anywhere he or she chooses?
"We weren't aware of this situation until the call came in" around Christmas, said Ted Sakai, who took over as director of the state Department of Public Safety in December.
The former administrative aide was asked to stop using the pass and then to turn it in, which she subsequently did, he said. As it is, the permit expired Dec. 31.
While the state Department of Accounting and General Services's Automotive Services Division issues permits for use in state parking lots/garages, the city Department of Transportation Services handles permits for on-street parking.
In both cases, holders of the permits are required to obey parking regulations, officials said.
To William Chun, who was walking his dog, Pepito, on the sidewalk in front of the bowling alley on Isenberg Street on Dec. 7, for willingly coming to my rescue when I found myself in a very stressful parking dilemma. I had parallel-parked in the very last (and open-ended) space, but could neither back out my car, having parked much too close to the curb, nor move it forward because a big black van was parked right in front. After much maneuvering and effort, then with added coaching from someone leaving the bowling alley, William finally was able to back my car out for me. He would accept no token of appreciation. He then waited and, with a big smile and wave of his hand, saw me drive off. My heartfelt thanks to him and the "coach." -- K. Sumida Mahalo
Is there any organization that would like old magazines? I have lots of magazines, but the library doesn't want to take anything older than six months. Call 988-4331. -- Muriel Free magazines
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
