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Kokua Line
Question: I recently went to Straub Hospital to visit a friend. I parked in the hospital's garage and was there for an hour. When I tried to get my parking ticket validated, I was told I couldn't since validation was only for family members. I was charged six dollars. Isn't that excessive? And why are only family members allowed to have their parking tickets validated? As a friend I think I am just as important to my friend's recuperation. Parking rates seem
high to Straub visitorAnswer: Straub Hospital only validates parking for family members. That amounts to a flat fee of $2. For other hospital visitors, the rates are $2 per half hour or any fraction of a half-hour from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you were charged $6, you stayed at at least an hour, plus a little more.
Ann Nishida, Straub spokeswoman, said the hospital rates are comparable for what's charged in the area. To park at Straub from 4 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., it's a flat $3 fee. Parking is free on Sundays and holidays. Validated parking is available to all hospital and Straub Clinic patients.
Q: I would like to know an address where I can send a donation for the Lorito Gomez family, whose house burned down recently.
A: There are two ways you can help. You could send a donation to the American Red Cross local disaster relief fund. The Red Cross provided the Gomez family with temporary housing and other services. That address is: American Red Cross; 4155 Diamond Head Road; Honolulu 96186.
Or you can send donation directly to Lorito Gomez at P.O. Box 1895, Kailua 96734.
Gomez and his family were attending a church meeting July 20 when a blaze swept through their home at 1250 Maunawili Road. Their home was destroyed.
Following the fire, the Red Cross provided the family with clothing and food and found them a temporary shelter. It also is trying to determine if the family needs other emergency services.
Auwe
To the city bus driver on "A" express on July 31. At 1:45 p.m. during a familiar Manoa downpour, my 11-year-old son and I attempted to get on the bus at the Dole/University stop. We intended to get off at the Isenberg/Kapiolani bus stop. The bus driver told us that my son couldn't get there without paying again at the next stop, but would have to walk to the Sinclair Circle stop, which was the end/beginning of the route.We purposely walked down from the Sinclair Circle for two reasons. One was to seek shelter from the rain underneath the large trees and to be able to walk on the sidewalks. That's the second reason, since in April, I slipped on the wet grass at the Sinclair Circle stop and broke my ankle. I knew it was safer to walk on wet blacktop and sidewalk, then to walk on wet grass and mud.
So as my son and I walked on the cement toward the next stop, he slipped and fell on the curb. We waited for the bus to stop and let us on. Well, the driver was obviously upset and decided to pull ahead of the bus stop, about 20 to 30 feet beyond the sign, making us walk even further from the stop.
I ride the bus daily. I have arthritis in both my knees and rely on my disabled bus pass. I'd say 95 percent of the bus drivers are absolutely wonderful. It's those few drivers who have no sense or aloha or kokua that need to really lay off those nasty pills they must take before they get on their route. -- R. Shugars.
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