Question: There are three problems that need to be addressed at Ala Moana Beach: 1. People saving parking spaces by putting a cooler or chairs to block the space or parking a car in the middle of two spaces. I have seen confrontations when people want to park in the saved spaces. 2. Dogs on the beach and in the water. 3. Volleyball playing on the beach. I read that lifeguards will not enforce the rules of the beach because their concern is people in the water. One Saturday morning, a family set up a volleyball net on the beach. There also were people with their dogs in the water and on the beach. I called 911 and reported the volleyball net and the dogs and was told someone would be sent. No one had come by the time I left at 4 p.m. I understand this is not an emergency and I really didn’t expect an officer to come right away, but six hours is a long time. By then the dogs were gone and the net was down. I noticed at Waikiki there are police patrolling the beach and enforcing the rules. Why can’t we have that at Ala Moana Beach?

Answer: Not all the activities you cite are illegal at Ala Moana Regional Park.

Saving parking spaces is not allowed, but volleyball playing is not prohibited on the beach. And, while dogs are not allowed to frolic on the beach, they are allowed to "traverse" the beach, leashed, to get to the water.

But first, as parks officials explained previously, the Honolulu Police Department enforces park rules and an officer has to witness a violation personally before any citation can be issued.

Neither park workers nor lifeguards have any enforcement authority.

HPD says officers do patrol Ala Moana: "Similar to Waikiki, we have officers on foot, on bicycles and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), and

in cars at Ala Moana," said HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu. "The officers will issue warnings or citations if they observe violations."

Asked why no officer responded to your complaint, Yu said, "We’re checking into what else was going on that day."

» Parking spaces: Park users cannot "reserve" parking in any city park unless they have a permit.

"Our parks are meant for everyone’s enjoyment, so we ask that people refrain from blocking and reserving parking stalls at Ala Moana Beach Park." said parks Director Michele Nekota. "We hope for everyone’s kokua in this matter, but if the Honolulu Police Department witnesses this behavior they will ask the person to vacate the parking stall so that others may park there."

Nekota added, "The road which runs through Ala Moana Beach Park is a city-owned road." No one is allowed to block off any public roadway with cones, chairs or other obstructions without a permit.

The Parks Department’s parking rules can be found online at bit.ly/1nKPZUp.

» Dogs on the beach: The city bans dogs at Ala Moana in the park and on the beach. However, the state allows dogs in the water.

That means "dogs are allowed to traverse the park and beach in order to enter the water," said Jeanne Ishikawa, deputy parks director. "To ‘traverse’ means to travel directly from one point to another."

» Volleyball playing: Volleyball courts are at the Ewa end of the beach.

However, there is no rule against playing volleyball elsewhere or in the park.

"Before setting up their net, volleyball players are asked to look around for an area that provides a safe ‘buffer zone’ in order to protect other park users from being hit by errant volleyballs," Ishikawa said. "This considerate behavior will allow everyone to enjoy their day at the park or beach."

Mahalo

To the two men who stayed with my son and called 911 after he had a seizure while crossing Maunakea Street in June. It would have been very easy for you to just go about your business and I can’t even remotely express my gratitude. Your concern and thoughtfulness not only comforted my son but gives me hope. Mahalo also to the police officer who stopped to make sure my son was OK and asked if we needed an ambulance. I’m sorry I didn’t ask your names. — Kevin

———
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.