Staffing shortage keeps Paki Hale closed on weekends

Question: Did the city ever resolve the staffing problem at Paki Hale, so that it can be available for community groups to use on the weekends?

Answer: No. When Kokua Line inquired on behalf of a different reader in January 2016, the city said it didn’t have enough staff to open the stately building in Kapiolani Park on the weekends. The city says it tried to address the gap, but the shortage persists.

“Despite additional hiring, resulting in part from the previous inquiry, the staffing situation at Paki Hale and the availability of the facility remain the same. This is because the departure of more senior employees offset the addition of new hires,” said Nathan Serota, a spokesman for the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. “While we strive to make our facilities as available to the public as possible, we must work within our capabilities and guidelines. This includes having park staff available during the proposed usage so that the facility can be properly accessed, maintained and secured.”

Paid park staff must monitor any park facility being used by a permitted group, according to the city.

Paki Hale, a distinctive 1900s-era building that once was a private home, is generally available to nonprofit organizations for meetings and workshops during regular business hours, Mondays through Fridays, as well as on some weeknights, according to information previously provided by the department. It is not available Friday evenings, weekends or holidays.

Call 768-4623 to seek a permit to use the building, which is at 3840 Paki Ave. at the base of Diamond Head.

Q: I didn’t get all the cleaning I wanted done by the end of the year. When is the next recycling event that takes TVs?

A: Jan. 13, a Saturday, at Castle High School, 45-386 Kaneohe Bay Drive. Drive through the auditorium parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to drop off your donations. One TV per carload is allowed, along with an unlimited amount of other e-waste and recyclable items. This event is part of the Going Green community recycling program.

Auwe

Auwe to the person who parked their car in the blue-striped portion in between two handicapped stalls by Kozo Sushi on King Street on Dec. 23. Because of you we could not simply push my mother’s wheelchair in that spot to get into our car. We had to back up our car, blocking traffic, in order to get her from her wheelchair to the car. That striped area is needed for the handicapped; it is not an area for you to park your car. Life caring for a handicapped person is challenging enough without dealing with inconsiderate people like you. — Tired caregiver

Auwe

Auwe to people who never clean up after burning firecrackers on New Year’s Eve. Our street was littered with red paper. That rubbish that piles up in the gutters ends up in the ocean, birds eat it and it’s an eyesore. People who think it’s so important to carry on the local tradition of burning firecrackers should also take the responsibility to sweep up afterward! — Tired of litterbugs

Mahalo 

Mahalo to all those responsible for the revival of Kalauhaihai Fishpond. It’s a gift to have such a special place returned to the public. Thank you for all your efforts! — Carol H.

Mahalo

I want to thank a Christmas angel, Lynn from Hawaii Kai, who was so kind and thoughtful to ask me to sit with her at the table while I was sitting at the counter having lunch Dec. 20 at a ramen place just outside Don Quijote. Then, I was so totally surprised when she paid for my meal! May she be blessed with happiness and good health in the new year. It’s a wonderful world knowing there are people like her. I will forward this gesture along. — A grateful senior

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.