---

Beach lot is reserved
for park patrons

Question: I went to Kawaikui Beach park on Saturday, Oct. 23, and was amazed that NO parking was available. I noticed that a lot of the vehicles belonged to workers who leave their cars in the lot and jump into another vehicle to go to their job site. I was told by a park regular that workers who have jobs up at Hawaii Loa Ridge are not allowed to take their cars, so park at Kawaikui Beach Park and carpool. I don't mind this when park usage is low, such as weekdays, but can't they ban parking of non-park-use vehicles during weekends and holidays? I'm sure that park maintenance personnel are aware of those who aren't park users, so perhaps they can advise them to find alternate parking. I'm sure this happens all over Oahu, but given the limited number of stalls at Kawaikui Beach, it is really a hassle for us regular park users.

Answer: There is a sign at Kawaikui Beach Park that says parking is for park users only.

However, city parks officials say they don't have someone available to "stand there all day and check people in and out."

They referred us to the Honolulu Police Department for enforcement complaints.

Based on your complaint, HPD monitored the situation and verified that some people working at Hawaii Loa Ridge were doing what you said, according to Officer Herb Schreiner.

Police informed the workers that they are not allowed to park their cars in the lot and leave, he said. They did not cite anyone, but instead took the opportunity to educate them about the parking restrictions, Schreiner said.

He noted that there is one sign saying the lot was for park users only, but that it was a relatively small one in the middle of the parking lot and "you really have to look for it."

He said police planned to ask parks officials to post more visible signs, "since that is a problem." If the parks department wants enforcement, having "better signage would help," Schreiner said.

Mahalo

To Officer Daryl Takata and other members of the Honolulu Police Department. I own Main Vein Comics, Collectibles & Creepy Stuff in Greenfield, Mass., and do the majority of my ordering and stocking online. Recently, I had a situation where I was not only grossly overcharged on some sculptures, but only received a portion of my order. The seller in Honolulu was very uncooperative. As a last-ditch effort, I contacted HPD. Officer Takata returned my initial letter with a personal call informing me that he had visited the premises of the seller. Thanks to him, I am awaiting the remainder of my initial order, which was placed June 30. I truly cannot thank Officer Takata, his sergeant and the other law enforcers who helped me enough. I want it known what lengths these men and women went to in assisting an out-of-state complaint that I was informed is a civil -- not federal -- offense. Thanks to HPD, another injustice in the world has been corrected. -- James Peers III

|

---

---