Blaisdell parking to increase up to $2

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Blaisdell Center event-goers can expect to pay $1 to $2 more for parking beginning next week, a city official announced yesterday.

"What we'll be doing is raising the event parking to $5 after 5 p.m. and $4 before," said Barry Fukunaga, director of the city Department of Enterprise Services.

Parking at the center is a flat fee of $3, which has been the rate for about 12 years, Fukunaga said.

The price increase, effective July 1, is a result of the department's budget requirements, he said.

"We have to make the additional revenue projections that are included in our (forthcoming fiscal) budget and also just to make sure that we're keeping pace with the cost of operations," Fukunaga said.

Department officials surveyed parking rates at facilities around Blaisdell Center and found that the center's parking price was "on the low side," he said. "So essentially what we've gone up to is the same rate that they're charging at the (Aloha) Stadium," he said.

In addition to Blaisdell Center, the department oversees the Waikiki Shell, municipal golf courses and the Honolulu Zoo, Fukunaga said.

Reach Zenaida Serrano Espanol at zespanol@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.