Parking woes await stadium neighbors
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
Maria Arakaki isn't looking forward to the start of football season — and the annual parking nightmare in the neighborhoods surrounding Aloha Stadium.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Not that she's not a fan. But she is a resident of Halawa, which, like nearby 'Aiea, will find its streets full of cars Saturday when the University of Hawai'i opens its season against Eastern Illinois.
Maria Arakaki, a Kalaloa Street resident, is concerned that a lack of parking spaces at Aloha Stadium will turn the street into a parking free-for-all Saturday at the University of Hawai'i's season-opening football game.
It's been that way for years on game day, but there's concern that this season may be even worse.
In a good year, cars clog the already-congested residential streets, sometimes from early in the morning as drivers reserve stalls for the evening game. Arakaki has seen her driveway on Kalaloa Street blocked and has even been offered money to allow fans to park in her driveway.
"It's very, very congested and inconvenient," said Arakaki, who has lived in the neighborhood for 38 years. "Football season is the worst ever."
This year, the parking fee has been increased at Aloha Stadium — from $3 to $5 — and residents and merchants fear that may drive even more fans into the neighborhoods and business lots.
Every season football fans invade the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium in search of parking. The stadium lot, including Kam Lot across the street, has 8,000 stalls, about 1,500 of which are designated for football boosters, the disabled and the media. And with season ticket sales up this year to about 24,700, thousands of drivers will be forced to park elsewhere — such as in residential areas.
Stadium gates open at 2:30 p.m. The parking lot typically fills up by 5 p.m. Stadium officials and police encourage fans to go early and use alternative parking sites, which are: • Kam Drive-In: $5 per vehicle, free shuttle service • Leeward Community College: Free parking, $2 round-trip shuttle service • Radford High School: $3 per vehicle, no shuttle service Shuttle service runs 3:30-6:30 p.m. and 9-10 p.m. Tailgating is not allowed at the alternative sites. Tune in to KKEA 1420 AM for parking and traffic advisories beginning at 3 p.m.
Though Juliane Tavares won't attend Saturday's game, she will inevitably be part of the evening's drama. Her street, Ohenana Loop, just a block from the stadium, turns into a parking lot every game day.
Other options
"And when there's no parking anymore, they park on the sidewalks and in your garage," Tavares said. "It's a big concern."
Businesses in the area are also gearing up for the onslaught of commuters in search of the cheapest and closest stall.
Donna Kahalewai groaned when she found out about the parking fee increase, which stadium officials say was necessary to generate additional revenue for maintenance and repairs to the 27-year-old facility.
"It's going to be bad," said the bookkeeper at Stadium Mall, which doesn't allow noncustomers — or football fans — to park in its lot.
Kahalewai started working on a sign yesterday to make it clear: "Parking for customers only." All others will be towed.
Stadium Mall, which has security only on Friday and Saturday evenings, hires six parking attendants, two security guards and two police officers to handle the parking situation on game days, Kahalewai said. But even with increased security, people still manage to sneak out of the mall to the game. Even in UH shirts and caps.
"We're going to have to start thinking of something else, like marking tires," Kahalewai said. "Some people get away with it. But our guys are pretty good."
Jane Sugimura is amazed that people park in her 'Aiea neighborhood, which is a good 30-minute walk to the stadium.
"I see them walking as I go home during the football season, with coolers and green shirts, so you know where they're going," said Sugimura, who lives above Pearlridge Center. "There's not a whole lot of parking in the community. As it is, people park in every square inch you can imagine. Even in places you can't imagine."
Though the Honolulu Police Department hasn't significantly increased its coverage, officers will be out in force to ticket illegally parked vehicles.
"Persons who choose to park in surrounding neighborhoods or residential areas around the stadium should be aware that illegally parked cars will be subject to citing," said Michelle Yu, police department spokesperson. "Police don't anticipate any increase in illegally parked cars due to the fee hike, but we'll see what happens."
And with parking woes come traffic, a long-standing complaint with residents.
Once Tavares forgot there was a football game and went grocery shopping at Safeway in Waimalu. It took her nearly an hour to get home.
"When we have games here, we always have traffic," said Eugene Tokuhama, Aloha Stadium events manager. But he said there should be enough parking for everyone when the other lots are included.
But that hasn't stopped people from finding convenient — and free — parking spaces in residential areas.
"It's been like this for a long time," Tavares said. "And it's getting worse and worse."
Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.
