Discount parking program for Waikiki grows
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
The Waikiki Improvement Association is trying to tackle one of the most common reasons O'ahu residents give for not visiting Waikiki: the lack of affordable parking.
• Parking for $1 per hour for up to five hours during special events is available at: Ohana Reef Tower, 227 Lewers St.; Ohana Maile Sky Court, 2058 Kuhio Ave.; Ohana Waikiki Village, 240 Lewers St.; Ohana East, 150 Ka'iulani Ave.; King Kalakaua Plaza, 2080 Kalakaua Ave.; Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua Ave.; Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio, 2500 Kuhio Ave.; Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, 2201 Kalakaua Ave. • Special rates are also available at the Waikiki Trade Center, 2255 Kuhio Ave.; and the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel, 120 Ka'iulani Ave. • For more information, call the Waikiki Improvement Association at 923-1094.
A program begun last year that offered 2,000 parking spaces for a discounted rate of $1 per hour for up to five hours during special events has been doubled. That makes 4,000 spaces available at the discounted rate under the Holoholo Parking program, and just in time for Family Day festivities on July 5.
Holoholo Parking participants
Typically, motorists pay $4 to $6 per hour to park in Waikiki.
The special rates are offered at participating businesses displaying the Holoholo Parking logo — a "P" encircled by a floral lei on a sign placed in front of their lots. The spaces are first come, first served.
"The objection from anyone local saying, 'I don't want to go to Waikiki because there isn't any parking' isn't exactly true anymore," said B.J. Whitman, Sheraton Waikiki public relations director.
"All the locals have to do is look for that big 'P'-with-the-lei-around-it sign and they've got parking," Whitman said.
The city's "Sunset on the Beach" events in Waikiki, with free outdoor movies and food sold by local restaurants, have proved popular, with up to 7,000 people attending. An estimated 75 percent of participants are local residents.
The city's Brunch on the Beach program, which closes a portion of Kalakaua Avenue and features food and live entertainment fronting the beach, also is a big draw for residents, but the association's goal is to bring in even more.
The idea is to make certain that residents are always welcome, said Rick Egged, executive director of the Waikiki Improvement Association.
"We want to improve the access to Waikiki for our residents," Egged said.
"Parking has always been one of the major concerns, so we are looking to make it more affordable and have parking at all different locations in Waikiki. That will make it a lot easier for residents to get in and attend activities. This is part of the whole change that's come about in Waikiki to concentrate on the events and activities that make it an exciting place for everyone," he said.
Egged said the signs are placed on the street to make it easy to find a participating parking garage.
Michael Miller, senior vice president at Standard Parking (formerly APCOA), said several of the lots managed by his company are involved in the promotion.
Miller said some locations don't take part because it could have a negative effect on businesses in their buildings.
"When they have these periods when their own business is not there and their garages have available space, they can open it up to the Holoholo Parking program," Miller said. "Some only have a handful of spaces, so the sign would disappear pretty quickly."
Egged said the program's expansion comes just in time to accommodate the large crowds expected for the city's July 5 Family Day events, including a parade from Fort DeRussy to Kapi'olani Park, where entertainment will be featured at the bandstand and food booths and displays will be set up.
The day will conclude with a "Sunset on the Beach" concert by the Hawai'i Air National Guard band, a fireworks display and the movie "Lilo & Stitch" on the 30-foot outdoor screen.
