Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: My wife used a handicap stall in a restroom, and a handicapped person got very upset and told her she should not use it because it is reserved for handicapped people. Is this true? Anyone can use a
restroom wheelchair stallAnswer: No.
The international symbol of accessibility by itself does not designate a reserved status, said Francine Wai, executive director of the state Disability and Communication Access Board. "It just indicates it is designed to be accessible."
So you'll see the symbol on restroom stalls, doorways or ramps, which are not designed to be used exclusively by persons with disabilities, she said.
It's a different matter with parking stalls, where you have both the international symbol of accessibility as well as posted signs.
"Our signage requirements require you to put 'reserved parking, permit required' because the symbol itself doesn't mean that it's reserved. It just means it's designed to be accessible," Wai said.
"As a courtesy, not by law, people should not use the handicap stall if other stalls are available," she said. "But nobody expects somebody to leave it vacant if it's the only stall left."
Q: What times and days of the week are the Manoa and Makiki park pools open for swimming? The doors always seem to be locked.
A: The pool at Manoa Valley District Park is on a summer schedule until Aug. 15: 3:15 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
After Aug. 15 the hours for public swimming will be from 12:30 to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
Call 988-6868 for more information.
At Makiki District Park, until Aug. 2, the pool hours are 3:45-5:15 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 3:45-5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
After tomorrow, the pool hours will change to 3:45-5:15 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Call 521-4803 for more information.
Q: There is a new home being built on Manoa Road that has a concrete hollow-tile wall fronting the road. The wall must be about 20 feet high, extends almost the width of the property and gives it the appearance of a barricaded compound in what is a serene and tranquil neighborhood. Aren't there any regulations that prevent this type of "out of character" construction?
A: No.
The property owner obtained the necessary permits, and the structural plans meet all the city's housing code requirements, according to William Deering, chief of the Housing Code Section.
That includes such things as structural strength, setback requirements and height limitations, he said.
There is nothing in the code that addresses the character of a house, he said.
A few years ago, the Malama o Manoa community group did suggest seeking designation of Manoa Valley as a state historic district and/or city special design district to preserve the character of the valley. However, the effort was shelved because of opposition.
Useful phone numbers
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com