Free parking is often hard to find in Waikiki.
And it could get more difficult if a bill moving through the City Council becomes law.
The bill passed the Budget Committee 4-0 today.
It affects metered parking along Kapiolani Park.
Sharon Chang-Eaton lives at the Tropic Seas.
It’s right across Kapiolani Park, on the makai side of Kalakaua.
"I’ve lived here 30 years and we don’t have enough parking for each unit," said Sharon Chang-Eaton.
Only a handful of stalls for 64 units.
"More than 50% of us park along the park," said Sharon Chang-Eaton.
Especially since these stalls are free, from 6pm to 10am every day. Otherwise it’s $0.50 an hour.
"And a lot of us come home after 6 o’clock so we don’t have to pay the meter," said Sharon Chang-Eaton.
But under a City Council proposal, these meters would be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at a rate of $1/hour, with no time limit.
That means someone like Sharon, who parks here at least 12 hours a day, will have to pay more than $350 a month to park in a spot she currently gets for free.
"It’s not fair. Even here at the Ambassador next door, there are not enough stalls per residences, that’s the blue one," said Sharon Chang-Eaton.
That’s where Dave Sungarian lives.
Just like Sharon, Dave also parks across the street in the metered stalls.
"It’s a little bit disappointing because I don’t really know where we would park," said Dave Sungarian.
Emma Panui and Aaron Snakenberg come to exercise at Kapiolani Park twice a week, and they usually try to get here at 6pm so they can park for free.
"I think they ought to leave it the way it is," said Aaron Snakenberg.
So, if the bill goes through …
"Maybe I’ll start walking from my house. It’s only maybe an extra half a mile," said Emma Panui.
The bill also proposes upping the fees for metered parking at Aala Park — same thing: $1/hour, 24-7.
The final vote on this bill is scheduled for June 3rd.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
