Question: Why is it that Hawaiian Airlines credit card department employees are allowed to solicit passengers waiting at the gate? I thought no solicitation is allowed at the airport. This has happened at least twice as I waited for flights to Kauai. Someone wearing a Hawaiian Airlines shirt came up to each of us sitting at the gate, introduced himself as working for the credit card department, then solicited us to get a Hawaiian Air charge card. I felt uncomfortable. And what about security? Anyone could say they worked for the airlines.
Answer: Commercial solicitations and other commercial activities are allowed at state airports by permit, but “roaming” to do so is not.
“The activities were legitimate,” said a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
The credit card company had a permit from the Airports Division and the endorsement of Hawaiian Airlines to offer promotions to Hawaiian Air passengers, he said.
He explained that permits for such commercial activities are allowed only when an air carrier endorses them and restricts the promotion to passengers flying on that specific airline.
In this case, the permit also allowed the credit card company to place a table in one of Hawaiian’s hold rooms and solicit passengers who approached.
“Roaming the hold room to address passengers, however, was not allowed and we do apologize if this created an uncomfortable atmosphere,” he said. “Permittees will be reminded to strictly comply with this restriction.”
“We are working with our vendor to make sure they remain in compliance with the airport permit,” said Keoni Wagner, spokesman for Hawaiian Airlines.
While commercial solicitations, by permit, are allowed, solicitations for contributions, including begging, are “strictly prohibited” at all state airports.
Question: First, a huge thank you to the road crew who repaved a mangled Victoria Street in front of our apartment a month ago. Now, a concern: Within two weeks of repaving, a 24-inch rip opened up where the buses brake and stop at the corner of Victoria and Lunalilo streets. The gash was widening daily until it finally was repaired. The final painting hasn’t even been put onto the pavement yet, and we already need a pothole repair. Could not a concrete pad have been put down for TheBus?
Answer: Because of your complaint about the “gash,” which was repaired shortly after you reported it, a problem with the new and old bus pads at that location was discovered.
“Our contractor will be returning to remove the top asphalt layer and tapering the roadway to match (the existing) concrete bus pad,” said Chris Takashige, director of the city Department of Design and Construction.
“Our pre-construction investigations did not identify the underlying bus pad, hence the tear between the two different types of material which do not adhere to each other.”
The existing concrete pad will be used, with a “slope-taper” transition into the asphalt concrete of the roadway before and after the pad, he said.
MAHALO
To a young man named Shane. I recently moved to Oahu from California and have been very touched by the welcome and the friendliness of the people of Hawaii. On Feb. 28, I was at Supercuts in Kailua getting a haircut. As he was leaving, a young man in the chair next to me told me it was his 28th birthday that day and he was doing 28 random acts of kindness for total strangers, including paying for my haircut. He also gave my hairdresser a generous tip. The little card he handed to me stated that it was in appreciation of his many blessings. It all happened so fast and I was so taken aback that I didn’t thank him enough. I want Shane to know that I will endeavor to follow his example. — Kate Ellis
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