Question: From Haleiwa to Pupukea, three bus shelters were knocked down in different car accidents six to seven months ago, and none has been replaced. There are no benches and no overhead shelter to protect people from the sun. The buses are being used constantly, not just by residents, but also by tourists. What’s taking so long to replace them? The bus stops are at the Haleiwa post office, Haleiwa Beach Park and Pupukea Fire Station.
Answer: We found it hard to believe that three bus shelters in relatively close proximity were all taken out in different accidents, but that’s what the city Department of Transportation Services is now dealing with.
There’s no estimated date of replacement yet for any of the three shelters. Construction costs are expected to exceed $5,000 each, said DTS Director Michael Formby.
DTS had hoped to begin replacing the damaged shelter at Pupukea with an available “dog bone” shelter, but proposals all exceeded the department’s internal contracting limits, he said. Consequently, “we are now going out with bids through the purchasing section,” he said last week.
Dog bone shelters are concrete-based. The concrete portion, which holds the vertical structure and functions as a bench, looks like a dog’s bone, Formby explained.
DTS also will be going through the construction bid process for the other two shelters.
Asked whether the persons who damaged the shelters would be held responsible for costs, Formby said that if police are able to link a driver to damage of public property, the case is referred to the city corporation counsel, and “there is a process by which they seek reimbursement for damages.”
Question: I recently attended a party at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. Valet parking was full, so I was forced to park elsewhere. We searched behind the Ilikai Hotel. Near the boat ramp, two lots that normally are public pay lots were being used by and reserved for the Modern Hotel valets. What right does Modern Hotel have to use these public lots for their valet parking?
Answer: The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ parking concessionaire at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, Diamond Parking, is allowed to rent out stalls for special events.
That was the case the night you were there.
Organizations may request a number of stalls in a section of the lot behind the harbor master’s office for special events, said Meghan Statts, DLNR’s Oahu district manager for the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
They may rent stalls at the going rate of $1 per hour per stall during events held at surrounding hotels or at the yacht club, she said. The rate is the same as for the general public.
Allowing the parking vendor to utilize the stalls for specific events ensures that the entire lot is being paid for and that it benefits the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, Statts said.
But even though stalls may be reserved for specific events, she said there is still a large number of public stalls available throughout the harbor.
Except for the Fourth of July, which is the busiest day at the harbor, there should be enough public parking available at other times, Statts said.
There are 943 parking stalls at the Ala Wai harbor: 300 free stalls, 330 paid public stalls and 313 paid permittee stalls for harbor tenants.
Mahalo
To three kind ladies who immediately came to my aid when I tripped and fell near Neal Blaisdell Center. They were waiting in line by the ticket booth and ran toward me, asking, “Are you OK?” Two supported me while the third took my hands and pulled me up. Thank you, ladies, for your quick response and concern.
— Phyllis from Kapolei
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