Question: I read in the Star-Advertiser that the city will start charging for camping. I do not have an objection to the charging of a daily fee, but am concerned with the required duration of three days or five days, depending on the campground. I believe that everyone should pay for what they use, but I do not know many people who can camp for five days. The state campgrounds are reservable by the day, so I do not understand why the city requires a campground to be reserved for five days. I have noticed that many of the five-day campgrounds have gone unreserved since the fees have been instituted. Do you know why city campgrounds cannot be reserved by the day?
Answer: Even before the fees were instituted March 1, campers “for many years” have been required to obtain permits for three or five days, depending on the campground, said Jesse Broder Van Dyke, spokesman for the city administration.
Now, however, a three-day permit will cost $32 and a five-day permit $52.
Enforcement of a daily permit fee would be difficult, according to Broder Van Dyke.
“This policy is in place because Saturday night is by far the most popular night to camp, and the city has limited ability to do permit enforcement,” he said. “If the city allowed people to reserve only Saturday night, in most cases no one would reserve the other nights. The parks department is concerned that some individuals could reserve Saturday and stay for the entire week without paying for the other nights.”
Apparently the fees have not discouraged campers this weekend, although it may be too early to see what the effect will be in the long run.
We checked the city’s website for camping information and reservations and found that of the 225 campsites available at 17 campgrounds, only 11 were still available as of Thursday morning for this weekend. (See https://camping.honolulu.gov.)
For the weekend of March 15, fewer than half of the campsites were available when we checked.
Campsites can be reserved only up to two weeks in advance.
Five-day campgrounds are at Hauula, Kaiaka Bay, Keaau, Kokololio, Kualoa B, Lualualei, Nanakuli, Waimanalo Bay (currently closed because of construction work) and Waimanalo.
Money generated by the new camping fees will be used to increase supervision and enforcement of the city’s campgrounds, Broder Van Dyke said.
“When the increased staffing is in place to allow more enforcement, (Mayor Kirk Caldwell) will consider changing the minimum stay policy,” he said.
Question: A friend and I parked at a metered stall in front of One Kalakaua, the retirement residence. She lost 50 cents because the meter was malfunctioning. Fortunately we were able to get another parking spot and made our appointment, but she barely had change to feed the second meter. How does she get her money back?
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department, which oversees the Parking Enforcement Section, said you need to call the city Corporation Counsel’s office, 768-5222. Ask for a claim form, which will handle such claims against the city, including when a parking meter just gobbles your money.
MAHALO
To the family who found my wife’s set of keys after they fell off my truck along Kaipu Street on Jan. 29 and called HPD. Mahalo also to the helpful female officer who responded, tracked down my number and returned the keys. — Grateful
MAHALO
To the person who left a note about a driver who hit my truck and left without telling anyone at the Aiea Medical Center on Feb. 13. Your note with information on his vehicle made it possible for police to track down the driver, saving me money with my insurance company. — James Cook
