Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: What can be done about the "no parking" situation at Waimea Bay Beach Park? People have no choice but to take their chances of parking in areas where heavy traffic flows constantly and risk bodily injury. On the Fourth of July weekend, police were ticketing and towing vehicles parked in a grass area where no signs indicated such action. Officers should be mindful that on holidays, beaches are expected to have a lot of people. Why don't they go fight crime rather than pick on tourists who have no clue about our parking situation at many of our beaches and parks? Get HVB to warn visitors. Waimea Bay parking
rules a safety issueAnswer: The tow-away zones and signs are there for a specific reason -- safety -- which is especially of concern on busy days, police said.
Steven Nishihara, now a police sector sergeant for the North Shore, was a beat patrolman in that area from 1988 to 1992. "We've always been enforcing the (tow-away and no parking) signs," he said.
Particularly inside Waimea Bay park, tow-away zones -- with curbs painted red -- are designated at the entrance and turnaround areas to make sure that an ambulance or fire truck can get through in an emergency, he said.
There also are several signs that say parking on the grass is prohibited.
Cars were towed from the grass area the Fourth of July weekend because they were creating a hazard and causing an obstruction for beachgoers, Nishihara said.
Meanwhile, along Kamehameha Highway, you are allowed to park in certain spots. But there also are a number of areas clearly marked "no parking, tow away zone." In fact, Nishihara said there are 27 such signs around Waimea Bay.
Most of those signs have been there for a long time. However, about three to four new signs were posted before the Fourth of July -- in the bus stop area across the entrance to Waimea Falls Park -- "because people were just ignoring" other signs, he said.
It's hazardous enough for cars driving into and pulling out of Waimea Bay because of the winding turns without having to deal with parked cars blocking the view, Nishihara said.
Mahalo
To Suzanne at the airport post office for retrieving a package that should have been mailed priority, but was mailed express. She saved me much needed money. -- P.S.
Mahalo
To Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kamai of Waianae for stopping to change my flat tire on Saturday morning, June 12. Your kindness is truly appreciated. -- Grace
Auwe
To people who toss cigarette butts out their cars, using the outside as a big ashtray. On June 16, at Castle Junction, a man in a late model dark green Infiniti tossed his barely smoked cigarette. If you have to smoke, at least dispose of the butts inside your car. -- R.S.
Mahalo
To motorists who stopped to assist us at 9:30 a.m. June 6 on the H-1 freeway (Ewa-bound) near the Pearl City on-ramp. In the shock and confusion, we did not take note of the names of those good Samaritans who risked their safety to help us. We are recovering from the two-car collision. Although there were other motorists who cussed at us (without knowing what happened), we now know that the aloha spirit is alive and well. -- W.T.
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