Contact campaign directly to end political phone calls

Question: I seem to have gotten on some political phone message system for one of the people running for office. Almost every day I get calls that fill my landline answering machine. How can I get rid of these annoying calls?

Answer: The political campaign season for this election year is only now beginning, and the campaign phone calls are sure to become more pervasive.

The bad news is that political calls are not restricted by the federal Do Not Call Registry.

Basically, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities and telephone surveyors are permitted, as are calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship and those to whom you’ve agreed in writing to receive their calls, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s website on the registry (donotcall.gov).

There also is no protection against getting "robocalls" — calls with a recorded message — from political candidates or charities asking for donations, the FTC says. (See www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0259-robocalls for more information.)

The best option is to directly contact the campaign office in question and ask to be taken off any call or mailing list.

There is a National Political Do Not Contact Registry, a private, nonprofit online registry that says it is "a non-partisan grass-roots movement to take control back by asking our elected representatives to stop calling us at home."

It says it will "securely collect your contact information" but will send that information "to ALL interested political parties, candidates, political action committees, and any other organization that makes political robo calls and ensure that they are told that you no longer want robo calls from them."

There is a $4.99 yearly fee or a $24.99 lifetime fee. See stoppoliticalcalls.org.

Question: I was looking for parking for the Honolulu Festival’s fireworks show on Sunday, March 9, and drove around Kapiolani Park. I noticed that at 8:15 p.m. the lifeguard stalls were empty. Can we park in the stalls after a certain time?

Answer: Yes.

According to Paul Merino, captain of the city Lifeguard Division’s South Shore Operations, all lifeguard parking stalls in Waikiki, at Kalakaua and Monsarrat avenues, have a reserved time posted: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They’re available for public use outside of those hours.

Merino explained to Kokua Line in 2012 — is.gd/xjNb6i — that the hours of lifeguard duty are generally the same around the island: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

But depending on the area and surf conditions, some lifeguards may start earlier and some later.

After a lifeguard leaves, the stall becomes first come, first served.

Mahalo

To a kind gentleman who found and turned in my wallet, which had fallen out of my purse into the bottom of my cart at Costco Iwilei. I live in Kahaluu and was barely in the driveway when the phone started ringing. The Costco manager had left messages on our home phone, called my husband at work and was now phoning me to say my wallet was safely locked up until I could claim it. My husband drove me back the next morning. The checker at the entrance said he remembered exactly who the good Samaritan was, and he and the manager praised him highly. I was en route to a long-awaited appointment with a back surgeon that morning and wouldn’t have been able to register if I did not have my driver’s license and insurance card. Thanks to everyone, I was able to keep the appointment and now have hopes that I will be able to recover some of my basic mobility needs through surgery. Whoever you are, kind gentleman, this is to say "mahalo, mahalo, mahalo."— Grateful Senior Citizen

Mahalo

To Gaylene K. of Don Quijote in Pearl City. While shopping at Don Q., I unknowingly lost my driver’s license and credit card. A day later I received a letter from Gaylene with both items enclosed. What a surprise! Thanks again for your kindness. — Kyoko Young

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Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.