Seniors wait hours to get bus ID cards

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Thousands of senior citizens mobbed Blaisdell Center yesterday, the first day bus riders could get the new ID cards and passes required by the recent fare increase. Two thousand of them went home happy; hundreds of others left empty-handed, some angry.

No, it's not tryouts for "American Idol." Senior citizens waited to be photographed for their new ID cards as required by the recent bus fare increase. Many arrived early at the Blaisdell Center yesterday to get their passes. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Yesterday's line rivaled anything that the recent "American Idol" tryouts produced at Aloha Stadium and took longer to complete than a trip to Social Security offices at the federal building, seniors said.

Despite the long wait, the mood generally was patient and upbeat.

"I might as well wait. I've got no place else to go today," said Ricky Doria, a retired maintenance man from Mo'ili'ili, who was at the very end of the line that snaked several times up and down the length of a covered breezeway. "I'm not complaining. No sense to get frustrated. I just want to get it over with."

Those who got to Blaisdell Center early waited up to six hours in line to obtain one of the new photo ID cards, which are required for seniors and disabled people to ride at discounted rates.

Those who arrived late, sometimes from as far away as Wai'anae and Hawai'i Kai, were given a form that guaranteed them a place in today's line.

Only those who were turned away yesterday will be served today, city officials said.

Some of those waiting in the long line or left out of it were steamed and fuming.

"Shame on them for treating senior citizens this way," said Susan Becker, who caught a bus from Chinatown about 8 a.m. and ended up somewhere in the middle of the line. "We're just being herded around like cattle. Whatever they were thinking, they didn't think about it very much. It's bureaucratic nonsense."

Mary and John McGuire of Waikiki arrived at the Blaisdell Center at 7:20 a.m. yesterday and walked out with their new bus passes at 11:25 a.m. Some had to wait up to six hours for their ID cards. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Seniors and disabled riders can use old passes until Nov. 1. After that, they must have an ID card, which allow seniors to pay $1 per ride or $5 per month. They can also buy an annual pass for $30 a year.

Many of those in line yesterday said they wanted to get the new cards and passes right away, rather than wait until more processing centers open around the island starting next week.

"I knew it would be really crowded, but I'd rather wait now than risk being embarrassed by not having the card when I really need it," said 67-year-old Romeo Verquara, who caught a bus from Salt Lake, arrived by 7 a.m. and was still waiting to have his picture taken at 11:30 a.m.

City officials said more than two dozen card-seekers arrived at the Blaisdell before 5:30 a.m. By the 7 a.m. opening time, the queue wound up and down the breezeway; workers quickly brought out chairs to people in line and passed out forms that guaranteed a spot in the line.

"The chairs really help," said Madeleine Rodrigues, who left Waipahu at 6 a.m. to snare her place in line. "Standing on hard cement for two hours is really bad for the legs."

Once inside an air-conditioned conference room, the seniors stood in another line to pay their fees — only cash accepted — for the new cards and passes (minus an instant rebate for unused portions of old passes).

After paying, they were sent to another room where they waited, almost uniformly in comfortable walking shoes, for up to an hour before hearing their names called over a loudspeaker beckoning them to have their picture taken in a third room, where they then waited for the finished card.

"I thought it better to come early, but I ended waiting from 6:30 to 11:30 in the morning," said Violet Busque, who had planned to be back on her job at the Moanalua High School cafeteria by 8 a.m.

Back outside, the line continued to move forward, and those sticking it out were in good humor, despite occasional complaints about those trying to jump ahead.

Eighty-year-old Ernest Simas and 66-year-old Manual Eltagonde met in line and formed an instant friendship and impromptu comedy duo, entertaining those around them with non-stop patter and antics.

"You've just got to joke around to pass the time," Simas said. "These are all my new friends and they're going to stay that way till the end. And I sure hope this is the end of it."

A second processing center at TheBus office on Middle Street handled about several hundred people yesterday. City officials said they expected the long lines to continue through Thursday at the Blaisdell. After that, the cards and passes will be available at other locations throughout the island.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.