Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Tuesday, March 2, 1999
Kokua Line
Why did they allow people to save parking spaces at Aloha Stadium on Pro Bowl day? I think it's very unfair for people to have to drive around looking for parking while people are saving spaces. We have been University of Hawaii season ticket holders for 20 years and every year we see the same thing. At UH games, they used to have a motorcycle police officer go around to make sure people don't save spaces. Hoarding parking space
never allowed at stadium"We do not allow people to reserve parking at any time for any event," an Aloha Stadium spokesman said.
Motorcycle officers do go around to monitor the situation, and "we try to put a stop to it if we are aware of it," he said. Based on your complaint, "We will consider if there is a need to have officers in heavy (parking) areas that are being abused."
However, it's a difficult situation to control, he said. "A lot of it is timing."
You may see someone reserving a space, but when an officer or stadium employee comes by, nothing looks amiss. As soon as they leave, however, the coolers and chairs pop back out to prevent others from moving in, the official noted.
The other situation is, after the space savers are told they can't hog a space, "people refuse to park because they are afraid of retaliation," he said.
My wife and I attended the recent Kenny Loggins concert at the Waikiki Shell. He put on a great show, but we were unable to see him during most of the concert because there was a piece of equipment on stage in front of the conductor that was reflecting light any time the floodlights pointed center stage. It was like having a large truck parked behind you at night with the high beams reflecting in your rear-view mirror and not being able to adjust the mirror or move for two hours. The problem only affected people sitting toward the middle of the audience. We told three different ushers and a manager in the box office, but nothing was done. During intermission, they could easily have taped a piece of paper over the equipment to stop the reflection. I hope this problem will be corrected before the symphony performs again.
The Waikiki Shell staff apologizes for your experience, said Alvin Au, director of the city Department of Enterprise Services.
The production manager did look into your complaint "and she couldn't find any problem" that night, he said.
However, she believes your problem probably was caused by "follow spots," created when "the spotlight strikes certain things," Au said. He noted the symphony, for the first time, was using acoustical panels, located in front of the orchestra, "to give a better sound response."
The stage lights were checked the evening before, he said, but the effect of the spotlights on the panels was "not suspected, and therefore not noticed."
"But they are now aware of the problem and will advise the symphony that if they use these panels again, the lighting has to be carefully projected so it won't create this reflection," Au said.
To Valentine Ishihara of Kailua, who returned our son's wallet, which he dropped at the bus stop at Enchanted Lake on his way to school Feb. 8. By 7:55 a.m., Valentine Ishihara was going out of her way to drive to our home to return it. May only good things be brought upon you and your family. -- T.C. of Keolu Hills Mahalo
To the lady with the cell phone who called 911, the security and all those who came to my aid when I fell at Ala Moana Center's third-floor parking structure on Feb. 2. My deepest appreciation. -- Meg Mahalo
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
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