QUESTION: Well, it's election time again, and overzealous sign-wavers and candidates are out on Kalanianaole Highway. They are out at the busiest rush afternoon time and line the sidewalks and bikeways near the freeway exit from town just past Kahala Mall at Kalanianaole Highway and Waikui Place (eastbound). They are putting walkers, joggers and bicyclists who use the narrow asphalt bike lane/sidewalk in a lot of danger by forcing them to step off of it into oncoming traffic, into the gutter by the right-turn lane from Kalanianaole into Waikui Place. The short bike lane is clearly marked with a bicycle sign, yellow in color, yet they still stand there with large signs blocking it for public users. Can't this situation be monitored by police?

ANSWER: A pedestrian standing in the bike lane would be subject to citation, and anyone seeing a violation should call 911 and an officer can be sent.

“;We do get a few complaints from time to time,”; a Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman said.

You didn't say what candidates these sign-wavers were representing, so we posed the same question to the top three candidates for the U.S. congressional seat representing urban Honolulu.

Representatives for Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, former U.S. Rep Ed Case and City Councilman Charles Djou all said their volunteers are instructed not to impede traffic.

Crystal Kua, Hanabusa spokeswoman, said: “;Safety and courtesy are always priorities when it comes to sign-waving. We instruct volunteers who hold signs to stay on the sidewalk, back from the curb, and to give pedestrians the right of way. Volunteers are also instructed to stay out of the bike lanes and not to impede the flow of traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians. It is also important to us that we treat everyone who passes by with aloha.

“;If there is a complaint about our sign-wavers, please call headquarters at 593-9934 and let the campaign know,”; Kua said.

Jackie Kido of Case's campaign said: “;Our campaign instructs sign-wavers to position themselves where they don't obstruct vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists or lines of sight, and to move well out of the way when pedestrians or bicyclists are using the sidewalks where we're waving. We've received no complaints throughout our months of sign-waving in this election.

“;At Kalanianaole and Waikui specifically, we usually wave on the other (east) side of the intersection for just the reason noted,”; Kido said.

Dylan Nonaka, Djou spokesman, added: “;We give our sign-wavers very clear directions that they should never block the sidewalk and impede pedestrian movement. We do not make walkers or joggers go on to the road; our sign-wavers make sure to give them the right of way. People on bikes have to use the road because they are not allowed on the sidewalk, so they should not have a problem. We have very experienced sign-waving captains who make sure safety is our No. 1 priority. If someone witnesses something specific, we ask that they contact us to address it.

“;The other thing to take into account is this is politics and our opponents' supporters love to complain,”; Nonaka said. “;The bottom line is, if there is something illegal or unsafe going on, call the police. That has never happened because there is no reason to. It is easier to call a reporter and have a newspaper story written, so that is what they do.”;

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June Watanabe is on vacation. Write to “;Kokua Line”; at Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).