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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, January 4, 2009

Nestor Garcia's transportation diary

 •  Councilman learns ropes of city transit

Nestor Garcia shared his transportation diary for the week he went without turning the key in his car:

DEC. 15

7:20 AM left home to walk to bus stop.

7:40 caught No. 433 at Waikele Shopping Center.

8:10 caught No. E Express at Waipahu Transit Center.

8:40 arrive Bishop and Hotel.

8:50 in office.

3:15 PM left office to walk to Aloha Tower.

3:35 arrive Aloha Tower.

3:55 boat departs Aloha Tower (more than 40 on boat).

4:55 arrive Kalaeloa Ferry Terminal.

5:00 board No. F13 to Kapolei Transit Center.

5:10 arrive Kapolei Transit Center.

5:59 board No. 40 to Waipahu Transit Center.

6:23 arrive Waipahu Transit Center.

6:40 arrive Waikele Shopping Center.

6:50 arrive home.

Notes: always wear comfortable walking shoes! Also, now that I find myself more as a pedestrian, I need to be more mindful about watching out for cars at intersections where I cross the street.

DEC. 16

Little did I know that this would be truly hectic!

6:10 AM left home to walk to bus stop.

6:43 caught No. 433 at Waikele Shopping Cemter.

7:02 arrive Waipahu Transit Center.

7:06 caught 40A to Kapolei Transit Center.

7:25 arrive Kapolei Transit Center.

7:29 caught No. 4 13 to Kalaeloa Ferry Terminal.

7:44 arrive Ferry Terminal.

8;00 depart Kalaeloa (about 25 people onboard).

8:55 arrive Aloha Tower.

Note: the boat ride is not bad at all! People warned me that morning ride could be queasy. I took seasickness pills and wore bands just in case.

9:30 arrive City Hall on foot (after stop at Starbucks).

11:55 leave City Hall.

12 noon arrive 415 South Beretania stop.

12:12 caught Country Express No. C Makaha to Kapolei Transit Center West.

12:52 arrive Kapolei Transit Center West.

12:57 Zippy's Kapolei for lunch.

2:00 Kapolei Chamber meeting.

4:25 caught No. 40 at Kapolei Transit Center East.

4:53 arrive Waipahu Transit Center.

5:13 caught No. 433 to Waikele Shopping Center.

5:27 arrive Waikele Shopping Center.

5:37 arrive home.

Note: Blind bus customers would like more frequent bus service in outlying areas.

Emergency! Need to do errand for daughter.

6:20 leave home on foot.

6:30 caught No. 433 at Waikele Shopping Cemter.

6:35 arrive Kamehameha Highway and Lumiauau Street stop.

6:42 caught No. 62 to Pearlridge Shopping Center (only one on bus between Leeward Community College and Pearlridge!).

6:58 arrive Pearlridge. Wife meets me here after her board meeting Downtown ends.

Note: after dinner, wife drives us home. Whew!

DEC. 17

Spent day with staff in Waipahu to review storm damage along Waipahu Street.

DEC. 18

Carpool to and from work Downtown.

DEC. 19

Carpool to and from work.

Note: took in blessing of new city ferry boat, Catalina Adventure. It was mentioned that the city averages about 300 total passengers a day on the boat.

DEC. 20

Not much to do today. Wife drops me off and picks me up for Waipahu Christmas parade. Note: My ride in the parade is someone with Corvette Club. Little do people know that I have relied heavily on public transportation.

DEC. 21

Daughter drops me off on Kapolei for annual Christmas Light Parade. Turned down two offers for ride home, so ...

8:42 caught No. 40 at Kapolei Transit Center East.

9:02 arrive Waipahu Transit Center, Next bus (No. 433) at 10, so I decide to walk home. The walk is all uphill at a slight grade. It is a cool night. As I cross the Manager's Drive Overpass, I noticed that the three street lights on East side of bridge are out. The walk takes about 25 minutes.

9:46 arrive home.