Question: The new sidewalks in Waikiki look great except for the median and Diamond Head/makai corner of Saratoga Avenue, where Hawaiian words and English translations appear. "Malahini," not "malihini," appears as the Hawaiian word for newcomer. Sharing our language is a wonderful idea, but it should be done correctly. How can we have this corrected or removed?

Answer: The misspelling was done by a stone subcontractor, who will replace the tiles at its expense, said Louise Kim McCoy, press secretary for Mayor Peter Carlisle.

"The city agrees with your reader (about sharing the Hawaiian language), and that’s why Hawaiian words are etched on certain tiles to be enjoyed by our visitors and residents," she said.

The city’s consultant had provided the correct spelling of "malihini" to the subcontractor. However, McCoy said the general contractor did not notice the error because tape had been placed over the words to protect the tiles during their installation.

Because of your query, she said the city also asked that the "new comer" etchings be redone as one word.

Question: The city’s process to obtain a handicap parking placard is in the Stone Age. Do you know what is being done to automate the process? I read recently that they are working to automate the same-sex marriage process. Why can’t the governor or mayor get this done for the parking placards? Why can’t we pay a fee for services and apply online for the parking placards? This disabled vet wants to pay for services.

Answer: State officials say they would like to automate the system but that there is no money to do so.

"We are certainly very aware that the parking placard system is a bit tedious," said Francine Wai, executive director of the state Disability and Communications Access Board. "It is our desire to eventually have an automated system."

However, Wai said the state Legislature did not approve a request to increase motor vehicle registration fees to generate funds for this purpose. "We are continuing to seek the funds necessary not only to automate, but to also improve enforcement efforts."

While applications for parking placards can be filled out online, they must be printed and taken to physicians to sign and mail. State administrative rules also require that a first-time applicant appear in person at the city-county office.

"The subsequent renewals are not in person, but they are still not electronic, but rather snail mail," Wai acknowledged.

She pointed to a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that found the fee for a long-term placard was a surcharge and thus not permissible under the law.

"As a result, we have not been able to charge for the placard for almost a decade," Wai said, necessitating "general taxpayer support for the program."

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