Question: A few Sundays ago some friends and I decided to ride along the Ala Wai bike path and decided to meet at the University Avenue end of Ala Wai Park. When some of us arrived, we noted that several of the parking spaces were being reserved by families of the softball team playing at the field by putting folding chairs in the parking spots. I have seen this happen at Ala Moana Beach Park also on busy weekends. Can anyone reserve parking stalls for late-arriving family members by setting up their folding chairs in the stall?
Answer: Not if they want to follow the law. The Honolulu Police Department states that “it is against the law to reserve a parking space on a public roadway, even in front of your own residence. Anyone may park on a public street as long as they are legally parked.”
Report offenses to 911; an officer will be sent to investigate, according to the department.
There are times when companies reserve metered parking stalls with the city’s permission, as in the case, for example, of contractors in Kakaako who buy up street parking in advance for crews working on the neighborhood’s high-rises. However, spaces set aside in that lawful manner would be marked with a permit signifying how long they’ll be in use, and by which company.
What you describe is not that, but a casual dominance that seems to be growing more common on Oahu, although Kokua Line receives more complaints about traffic cones than folding chairs as place-holders.
As HPD noted and Kokua Line has previously reported, it’s illegal to do this even in front of your own house — public-street parking doesn’t belong exclusively to the adjacent homeowner.
The advent of neighborhood restricted parking zones doesn’t change this basic fact. To answer a separate question: permits issued to residents of Kalihi Valley’s RPZ convey permission to park there, but not to occupy a specific location.
Q: If a parking meter is broken, can I treat it as a free spot?
A: No, according to the city Department of Transportation Services’ pamphlet “Five Easy Steps to Citation-Free Parking.”
It says that metered stalls flashing “Out of Order”/“Fail” are considered official “No Parking” signs. Do not park at broken meters, the pamphlet advises.
Auwe
Auwe to the bus driver who left a young Japanese family with three small children stranded at Queen and Punchbowl streets because they had a stroller. The lady folded it up, and it wasn’t any bigger than the walkers and rolling carts that regularly are allowed on the bus. — An auntie
Mahalo
This senior citizen would like to extend her sincerest appreciation and “thank you” for the help I received Aug. 21 when I lost my balance walking on the sidewalk behind Pearl City Walmart. … I do not know the names of all these thoughtful people (about eight to 10 of them) who came to help me when I landed in the street. … They lifted me off the street to a grassy area and stayed while I waited for help. These thoughtful people went to their cars and brought tissues, towels, sanitizing wipes, mats and even offered water. I am thankful I was not run over by cars coming up the road. The first driver (from Wong’s Meat Market) saw me on the street, stopped about 25 feet away and brought his cellphone to call 911. He is an attentive and careful driver and his employer is fortunate to have this alert driver. And thanks to Pat and another person who found my pair of hearing aids and glasses. This is truly Hawaiian hospitality and I am grateful for all the help and thoughtfulness extended by Hawaii’s people. — Mahalo, 89-year-old pedestrian
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.
