Committee forwards Bill 84 to council to remove parking meters at Alpuni Center lot

Chair James Eustace presiding over the Hawaii County Council policy committee on public works and mass transit moved to forward Bill 84 to the full council with a favorable recommendation; the committee approved the motion by voice vote, recorded as eight ayes with Councilmember Onishi absent.

The bill would amend Hawaii County Code Chapter 24 (Article 10, Division 7, Schedule 40) to remove an eight-hour parking meter zone at the Alpuni Center parking lot. Acting Director Neil Asvido of the county Public Works Department said the change follows a reconfiguration of county parking tied to the police center and emergency planning.

“As part of the police center, we’re adjusting the parking stalls,” Asvido said, adding that county vehicles are being moved to the Kilauea Avenue area and that “we’re removing those 38 parking meters.” He said the department plans to re-stripe stalls so red spaces are for county vehicles, yellow for employees and white for public parking.

Asvido said the reconfiguration will leave more stalls available to the public during events such as parades and make it easier to clear vehicles in an evacuation. He also said the county is monitoring vehicles and towing those that are inoperable to free spaces.

Councilmember Kanili Kleinfelder asked whether the committee should temporarily mark or cover meters rather than immediately removing them, citing past situations where meters taken out were later requested back by the public. Kleinfelder said she would consider contacting a local art center to create temporary decorations for bagged meters so the change is visible and engaging.

The committee’s favorable recommendation sends Bill 84 to the full Hawaii County Council for final consideration. The committee did not adopt any amendments and did not set a council hearing date during the meeting.