Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: There is a large municipal parking lot on Likini Street, close to Ala Napunani, in Salt Lake. It's a metered lot with lots of stalls that was supposed to help ease the parking congestion on the streets. But why would anybody pay for parking when they can park for free on the streets? In all the years it's been there, the lot has been used very little. It's a waste of space. Is the city going to do anything about that? What about renting out the stalls on a monthly basis instead of having meters? Likini Street parking
lot gets plenty useAnswer: As far as the city is concerned, the lot is doing what it was meant to do: provide convenient, cheap off-street parking in a heavily congested area.
Grant Tanimoto, chair of the Aliamanu/Salt Lake/Foster Village Neighborhood Board, said he hasn't heard any complaints about the lot being underutilized. In fact, the times he's seen it, "it's pretty full," he said.
The only concern about the lot that he can recall being brought before the board was about the parking times being too short, Tanimoto said.
Pam Mitsumura, acting section head of the Honolulu Police Department's parking enforcement and collection section, also says the lot is well used, especially at nights and on Saturdays.
The lot, which opened on Likini Street on Aug. 23, 1991, has 152 electronic parking meters. It costs 10 cents an hour to park in 133 stalls with 10-hour meters and 25 cents an hour for 19 stalls with two-hour meters, she said. The rates have not increased since the lot opened.
The monthly average collected per meter at the lot is about $13, Mitsumura said. She said that's a good collection considering the low rates charged.
"The parking lot is mainly used in the evenings," she said, adding that a city parks official reports heavy use every Saturday during the People's Open Market.
Mahalo
To Joe Kekahuna, a bus driver on Route 62. I took my car in to my dealer for repair on Wednesday, July 24, and caught the town-bound bus on Nimitz Highway. When I got off, I forgot my lanyard on the seat behind the driver. Attached to it were my company ID badge, driver's license, garage pass card and house keys.I took emergency vacation leave and went home, intending to call a locksmith to change all the locks at my house. But not long after I got home, Kekahuna showed up at my gate, lanyard in hand. He had just gotten off his shift, said he lived in the neighborhood and decided to cut the red tape and deliver the lanyard directly to me. I was surprised, impressed and delighted! He had already contacted my workplace to say that he had found my keys and planned to deliver them to my home. I am so happy that there are people in Honolulu with the honesty and integrity of Joe Kekahuna. -- F.J.
Mahalo
To whoever found my VISA card at Marukai and turned it in. I tried to get the person's name, but no one knew. I appreciate the kindness.
Ellen
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