Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Airport security examining
special-privilege accessQuestion: My wife and I returned from the mainland on July 17, on United Airlines flight 67 from San Francisco. When we were waiting for the tram to baggage claim we noticed a black luxury car with an "FHB" sign parked on the ramp used by the tram.
A passenger from the flight we were on was greeted and led to the car, which then departed. What are the regulations and policies regarding private vehicles using the concourses, which are normally restricted to trams and official vehicles?
Answer: Private businesses, namely ground transportation companies, can obtain permits allowing their vehicles and employees to enter airport restricted areas to pick up VIPs or individuals who may require security.
FHB -- First Hawaiian Bank -- is one of about a half dozen such businesses that have met the requirements for such permits, according to Stanford Miyamoto, the state Department of Transportation's Oahu District Airport Manager.
The bank has had an annually renewed permit since 1990.
Miyamoto said entry into the "AOA" -- airport operations area -- is based on the airport's requirements as well as security directives from the federal Transportation Security Administration.
Because of new directives from the TSA, however, access into the operations area will be tightened.
"We are relooking at all access into the AOA and we will be making some changes," Miyamoto said. He declined to go into specifics because of security concerns.
Sharlene Mata, assistant airport superintendent, said state administrative rules mandate the requirements for a ground transportation operator to obtain a permit into the AOA, including insurance and fees.
Current fees paid to the airports division are: $100 annually, plus $30 monthly per vehicle for the first five vehicles; $45 for the sixth through 10th vehicles; and $60 for 11th or more vehicles.
Additionally, the state receives a percentage of the revenues generated from any pickup in the AOA, Mata said.
According to the letter of agreement signed by permittees, standard clearance restricts vehicles to the Diamond Head and Ewa gull wing gate building, second level roadway access and connecting third level main terminal roadway.
Vehicles are not allowed to enter airfield movement areas, or cross taxiways or aircraft parking positions unless cleared by airport management.
"We are reviewing the situation and if we feel they (the permittees) have no real purpose in the AOA, although we do allow them in for this service, we will relook at all our permittees," Miyamoto said.
Q: Who can the public call when they see candidates attaching campaign signs to public property (i.e. road signs)?
A: Call the state attorney general's office if the sign is on state property, or call the city Department of Customer Service's complaint section, 523-4381, if it is on city property or if you are unsure whose jurisdiction it is.
Until recently, the state attorney general's office handled all the enforcement relating to political signs, noted Art Challacombe, chief of the customer services office for the city Department of Planning and Permitting. Now, it will only take on political signs posted on state property, he said.
If you are unsure whose property is involved or if you know it is city property, call the city complaints number and the matter will be referred to his office, Challacombe said.
But even before you do that, he said another option is to simply call the candidate or candidate's campaign headquarters, "because that's basically what we would do first," he said.
"Our experience is that once a candidate or the campaign headquarters find out about it, they are more than willing to take immediate action," Challacombe said.
He attributes the problem usually to overzealous campaign workers who don't realize they are breaking the law, adding that people running for office "don't want to be breaking the law."
Q: Why is Kamehameha Highway allowed to be in such poor driving condition during construction, specifically between Punaluu Beach Park and Hauula. The metal plates put down at the end of the day are uneven and very difficult to drive over. The asphalt that has been placed in other locations for months is extremely uneven. They finally repaired the Kahana Valley State Park area so it's reasonable but why is the road allowed to be in such lousy condition? I bought a new car in May that is totally out of alignment and the tires are being worn very quickly from this daily drive.
A: Yours is a typical road construction complaint, according to George Abcede, Oahu District maintenance engineer for the state Department of Transportation Highways Division.
In this case, because the road work is a project of the Board of Water Supply in which the DOT issued a permit, complaints about the condition of the road should be directed to the contractor (RCI) at 237-8655; or the BWS's construction manager, Herbert Chock and Associates, at 237-8467, he said.
If you feel you are not getting anywhere, then you should call the DOT (831-6703), Abcede said.
By the way, RCI should have completed its paving of the "rough areas" last week, he said.
Mahalo
To the kind gentleman who helped my father push my stalled car into a parking space fronting 715 S. King St. -- Grateful Father and Daughter
Auwe
To rude and inconsiderate neighbors who, just because they were once permitted to pick flowers from a neighbor's yard, think they can freely help themselves at any time without asking permission. Besides being wrong, it is trespassing and downright stealing! Shame on you! Please, stay in your own yard! -- Miffed in the Valley
Mahalo
To the young men of the Kapolei High School football team who delivered our Paradise Pages telephone book last weekend. It was hot on that Saturday and although we hardly have neighbors (in Barbers Point), the boys made an effort to check each and every unit to be sure they didn't miss anyone. It looked like they were being supervised by two parents, a man and a lady. Mahalo to them also! -- Grace
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