Kokua Line June Watanabe

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Parking meters at the zoo always hungry

Question: On Thanksgiving day, we parked at the Honolulu Zoo to do some shopping in Waikiki. We noticed that almost every vehicle there didn't feed the meter, so we didn't. We came back three hours later and almost every car had a ticket. Is there a list of which parking lot is free and which ones need to be fed on holidays?

Answer: You should always check the posted signs at any municipal lot, according to Honolulu Police Department Maj. Marie McCauley.

The zoo's parking lot has two signs, one at the mauka entrance and one at midsection, that state that the parking regulation is enforced 24 hours a day, including holidays.

There also are metered parking areas on Kalakaua Avenue, adjacent to Kapiolani Park, where there are 18 signs noting two-hour parking.

Meters there must be fed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, including holidays.

These areas usually are monitored by "meter maids," HPD warns.

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Q: After reading your response to the letter about restriping Geiger Road (Kokua Line, Nov. 28), I e-mailed my concerns to the city about repaving Kamehameha Highway, from Waimano Home Road headed north/west past Sam's Club. All six lanes in both directions are in extreme need of repaving. Cars zigzag dangerously to avoid very bad road deterioration. I was told this was not the city's jurisdiction and advised to call the state Department of Transportation at 831-6703. I wanted to file my concerns online, but could not find anywhere to do so. Please pass on my concerns to whoever is responsible and find out why the public doesn't have access to an online complaints Web site like the city has.

A: The DOT plans to begin design work "soon" along Kamehameha Highway through that section of Pearl City near Sam's Club for future resurfacing work, said spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

But, "There is no firm timetable for the repaving at this time," he said.

Repaving the entire Kamehameha Highway, through Aiea and Pearl City, will cost about $30 million, "so we may have to do it in phases or sections because of budgetary constraints," he said.

As for filing complaints and concerns via electronic form, you can e-mail dotpao@hawaii.gov. That goes to the public affairs office.

"We will forward the complaint to the respective departmental office to take care of the problem or get a response," Ishikawa said.

Mahalo

To the people of Hawaii. In the last two months, my 1973 Volkswagen Bug, my computer, my phone and my health all crashed at the same time. Then, my new Hyundai died. I got a second car from Evolution Hyundai and the most helpful personnel made sure I had the right one. Mahalo to the many people who have helped me. Things are better now. -- Nancy

On vacation Happy holidays to all our readers! Kokua Line will be on vacation until Jan. 4.