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Question: We went to a very exciting University of Hawaii-Nevada football game. The radio and freeway signs all indicated parking in Aloha Stadium was full, and people were redirected to alternate parking sites. We parked very far away because even the alternate parking at Radford High School was full. When we got inside the stadium, I noticed a number of empty stalls, mostly I assume from people who had pitched tents to tailgate and then had taken the tents down. Are there any guidelines for people using extra stalls for their tents when parking is so tight?
Answer: Many empty stalls are those that have been prepaid through a "reverse auction" program offered by the University of Hawaii athletic department and ‘Ahahui Koa ‘Anuenue to fund scholarships for student athletes.
They are reserved for season ticket holders who bid on parking passes prior to the start of the season.
Even if the pass holders don’t show up, "we have to leave those (stalls) open," said Stadium Manager Scott Chan.
The prepaid stalls are located in the Inner Circle, Koa and Kam parking lots.
But Chan doesn’t doubt that some empty stalls also were the result of people removing prohibited tents at the last minute.
The stadium does not allow any tent to be propped up in an empty stall.
"We are trying to enforce the rules" with the help of police and sheriffs, but it’s become more difficult to monitor now that people with passes can drive in any time to claim their spot, Chan said.
Previously, the stalls "would fill up quickly, and we wouldn’t have to worry about breaking tents down all the time," he said.
He said he personally goes around on game days "trying to shut those (tents) down" but that the problem is "endless," with many tailgaters simply refusing to follow the rules.
Employees try to monitor the situation, but fans also have "to be responsible guests when they come to our facility," Chan said. "They know the policy in regards to our tailgate procedures. (But) they’re just violating (the procedures) because there are available stalls."
Question: Is there recycling at the stadium? After each game there must be thousands of bottles and cans left in the trash cans. I certainly hope they’re being recycled.
Answer: Aloha Stadium does have a recycling policy, with recycling bins placed "all over our facility," said Stadium Manager Scott Chan.
The revenue generated from recycling is deposited into the stadium’s special fund account and "goes back to the stadium," he said. "So, we stop anyone from taking cans from our recycling bins."
AUWE
To the off-duty police officer driving a new model white Toyota 4Runner down Meheula Parkway in Mililani Mauka at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1. At the intersection of Lehiwa Drive and Meheula Parkway, he didn’t realize he had the red light, stopped in the middle of the busy intersection, paused, then decided to complete running the red light. As he continued down toward the freeway interchange, he dangerously cut across two lanes of traffic, narrowly missing cars in both lanes without signaling his intentions. If the police can’t set the example for proper, lawful driving, then who will? — Disgusted
We passed on your complaint to the Honolulu Police Department, but without a license number, it really can’t follow up.
