Question: We live on Kaelepulu Drive in Lanikai, a street that is not very wide and that can get pretty congested with local families and tourists trying to find parking to do the wonderful “pillboxes” hike. Late one afternoon I saw a number of cars being towed. The policeman in charge informed me that it was illegal to park on either side of a street if it limits the street to less than 10 feet in width. This makes sense, but I do not think it is common knowledge. Also, you could park legally, then someone could park across from you and you both end up violating the law. I asked why they just didn’t post a sign saying no parking on one side. He said it was his understanding that the community does not want signs as it would make the area look less “country.” But with all the cars being towed, why don’t they post no-parking signs?
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department receives a lot of parking complaints from Lanikai residents on Kaelepulu Drive, especially on three-day weekends.
During the New Year’s weekend, for example, it was so congested that officers couldn’t get through to respond to a call, said HPD Capt. Dagan Tsuchida.
Patrol officers are aware of the situation and try to work with the public, but they will take enforcement action if the area becomes impassable, he said.
The city Department of Transportation Services has been considering signs for Kaelepulu Drive as part of a more comprehensive review of the Lanikai area.
DTS Director Wayne Yoshioka said he attended a community meeting at Lanikai Elementary School on Feb. 29, organized by district state legislators and Council members.
“We heard from the Lanikai community about multiple issues, including Kaelepulu Drive,” Yoshioka said. He said the department is working with the community to develop “a plan of action” and will have another meeting in the near future to discuss possible remedies.
Question: Is there a law regarding a school bus dropping off students at a city bus stop, at an intersection where there is a traffic light, across the street from a school? This is the scenario: the light has turned green, but the school bus stops at this city bus stop and the driver turns on the red flashing lights to allow students to cross the street to get to the school campus. Is it legal for the driver to do that? At that intersection, pedestrians can push a button to cross the street. Is the bus driver required to turn into the school campus so the students do not have to cross the street?
Answer: If the city bus stop is the designated school bus stop for the area, then yes, students are allowed to be dropped off there, according to the state Department of Education.
Under Section 219C-95 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the bus driver is required to turn on flashing red lights when picking up or dropping off students on a public street in a residential area. Other drivers are required to stop if they are in the lane occupied by the bus or in any lanes adjacent to it, regardless of what direction they are traveling.
As to whether the bus driver should drop students off on campus, DOE spokeswoman Sandra Goya said, “Not necessarily.”
“We would need specific information about the bus stop location in proximity to the specific campus in question” to give you a more definitive answer, Goya said. Call the Student Transportation Office at 586-0170 if you believe student safety is an issue.
Mahalo
To a very nice lady. We had a problem with our truck tire, causing us to park in the driveway at 5403 Kalanianaole Highway the morning of Feb. 16. The lady came out to ask us if we needed help. My husband said we were waiting for AAA and asked if we were blocking her driveway, but she said no. Sometime later she came out with a delicious smoothie and papaya for us to enjoy while we waited. In my distressed state I did not ask her name. We are so thankful for her terrific aloha. — The Higas
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