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Kokua Line
Question: There's been a lot of publicity about the traffic and parking situation at Aloha Stadium for the University of Hawaii football games. Many of the articles mention that only cars with passes will be allowed in when the "lot full, passes only" sign is posted. Who's entitled to these passes? We'd appreciate a breakdown of who has a pass and what the procedure is for obtaining one. Who gets parking
passes for stadium?Answer: According to a spokesman for the Aloha Stadium, 1,358 passes are issued for the 8,000 or so parking spaces at Aloha Stadium, leaving about 6,500 for the general public.
The bulk of the passes, 1,121, goes to UH, which has distributed them as follows:
Koa Anuenue, the UH booster club, 823; Board of Regents, 13; athletic department, 58; president's office, 12; athletic director/assistant director, 15; Steinberg Moorad & Dunn Sports Management (the marketing arm for the athletic department), 200.
Others receiving parking passes are game officials, 46; news media, 51; stadium staff, 40; police, 50; other stadium licensees, 50.
The passes are not available to the general public.
As part of the stadium's contracts with licensees -- UH is considered a "major licensee" -- a certain number of parking passes is allotted, a stadium spokesman said. In the case of UH, that number is 50. For every pass issued above that, UH has to pay $3 per pass, per event, the spokesman said.
Q: Doesn't it make sense for the UH to offer parking passes for sale to all football season ticket-holders -- and for all advance ticket-buyers? The passes would be color-coded for designated parking lots and print recommended routes to the lots on them. That's what they do to get 80,000 fans into Notre Dame Stadium, so it should work for 40,000 at Aloha Stadium, which actually has much better highway access. This would organize the traffic, cut down on congestion and eliminate the cash transaction at the parking lot gate, which further slows things down. UH would also get the parking revenue up front.
A: Aloha Stadium administrators and the Stadium Authority are "entertaining many ideas to improve the parking situation," including the one you suggest, a stadium spokesman said.
The process is "ongoing" to try to improve the situation, he said. Police, as well as transportation officials, also are involved.
He noted that while any operational issue can be handled solely by the Stadium Authority, anything involving the stadium's fees -- such as selling parking passes --must go to a public hearing.
Also, the UH doesn't receive parking revenues. The stadium gets both parking and concession revenues.
Sega devotees: Help!
Could any of your readers tell me where I can find game cartridges for the old Sega Genesis (3) game system? They're obsolete in Hawaii, but I'd like to buy a few for my nephews who live in California. Seems even used cartridges are nowhere to be found. -- J.J.(If anyone has a lead, please call Kokua Line, 525-8686, and leave a message.)
Mahalo
To a very kind couple. I was stranded in the airport parking lot after seeing a friend leave on a Saturday night red-eye flight. It was close to midnight and the flat tire that I was struggling to tug off my car just wouldn't budge. Mr. and Mrs. Kaneshiro drove from their side of the parking lot to where I was stranded to help me change my tire. I am truly grateful. -- Sheri A.
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