Kokua Line
June Watanabe
Question: Why is a man who apparently lives in his car allowed to park nearly full time in the Kaimuki Library parking lot? Several librarians have expressed their concern, saying he can be belligerent. Along with several obvious problems here, such as his personal use of the bathroom and the basic illegal use of a state public parking lot 24/7, I am very concerned about a man being allowed to live in his car at a library that has high-traffic use by children. Library warns man
who lives in his car
in parking lotAnswer: The branch manager has informed the man, both verbally and in writing, about the posted signs restricting use of the lot, according to a spokesman for the state library system.
However, he is a daily library user and is allowed to use the parking lot while in the library, the spokesman said.
The library security guard and staff will be enforcing the "No Parking" rule for all non-library users, and the branch manager has asked for help from police when the library is closed, he said.
Q: Regarding the onramp to the H-1 freeway, Ewa-bound, by Old Waialae Road, it's hardly a ramp and there are no yield signs. Cars coming on don't slow down anymore, causing cars already on the freeway to slow down. It's confusing. Who has the right of way?
A: Common sense and safety should be the key factors because there is nothing in the Hawaii Revised Statutes that specifically addresses the issue of who has the right of way.
A similar question popped up a couple of years ago, and the state Department of Transportation referred us then to the Hawaii Driver's Manual on what to do when driving on the freeway at a merge: "The right lane should remain open for traffic entering and leaving the freeway as much as possible. If you are in the right lane, allow space for entering vehicles."
But it all depends on the situation, with drivers entering the freeway advised to slow or stop if it is congested.
Here's what the driver's manual says about entering the freeway:
>> "Observe traffic in the entrance lane. If it is congested, slow down or stop near the entrance. Do not move slowly to the end of the entrance lane and stop. It is very difficult and dangerous to attempt to enter freeway traffic when you are stopped at the end of the entrance lane.
>> "When the entrance lane is clear, use your turn signal to indicate that you are going to merge into the freeway traffic lane; then increase the speed of your vehicle to match that of oncoming freeway traffic.
>> "Look to see if there any oncoming vehicles in the freeway near lane. If not, move into the freeway near lane and maintain your speed. If there are oncoming vehicles, slow your vehicle slightly and move in behind the oncoming vehicle."
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