Kailua Kona Paid Parking Drama
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- Опубліковано 16 січ 2025
- When Coconut Grove Marketplace announced paid parking was going into effect on October 1, 2023, a petition was created, social media blew up and people threatened to stop patronizing restaurants on Alii Drive. We were there when they were hammering the new signs in the parking lot and discussed how the parking drama started in the Kailua Kona Village Business District and how the push back on the ParkLinq expense has escalated.
This, in front of the upcoming Ironman World Championships in two weeks seems to have residents AND visitors with travel plans questioning the timing of the paid parking.
:0 Intro
1:55 What is the problem
5:42 How does the app work at Coconut Grove
6:44 Where did the problem start
7:50 Parklinq
12:10 Huggos parking
12:39 Parking Solutions
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Eric Ziemelis | RS-80376
Julie Ziemelis | RS-85062
365 Hawaii Group
REAL Broker LLC
Julie@Ziemelis.com
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We ate at Outback Steakhouse. Parked in coconut grove in the handicap space. Came out to a $57 ticket. In our city of San Luis Obispo California has free parking for handicapped spaces. Left a bad taste in my mouth.
The underground parking by Hugos’s downtown was $25. for 1 hour. That’s absurd.
I was in Big Island last week this was my first visit to Hawaii. I really wanted to explore kona and do snorkeling there but when I found out the parking was 15$ an hour I just left and went to kua bay. If I spend 3 hours there it would have been 45$ in parking that's crazy.
January 2024 - What makes downtown Kona our new last choice for eating and shopping? My wife and I moved back to the mainland in 2015, but we still come to Kailua Kona for three months in the winter. One of our rituals is to eat breakfast by the sea and stroll Alii Drive. Today we pulled into the lot behind Uncle Billy's and were shocked to find that two hours of parking was $25. There were only three cars in the lot. We parked elsewhere. We ate and walked. There appeared to be a larger than normal number of vacant storefronts and very few people on the street. I can't help but believe the high parking fees are deterring people from patronizing the downtown area. So sad to see.
Paid parking is the loss of small town feeling and aloha. Might as well build high rises now and have sidewalk fees for walking. Good grief! I think a sign that reads: Thank you for visiting. In order to help this property and to keep parking in this area , we are accepting donations at what you feel you can pay for your parking today. This is strictly voluntary at this time as we are trying to avoid parking fees, fines and maintain Aloha on our beautiful island. Mahalo for your kindness and enjoy your time here! If I read this sign I would pay and feel good about it.
I posted a video all about the bull shit No parking, I live on Kaiminani Dr. lived in my home for 20 years and never had a problem. My neighbors who started renting the house next to us were the complainers that made it all happen. The HOA did help it happen, they personally thanked the county of public works for doing it. I wrote letters and posted videos, spoke to Mitch Roth and he said if he would have known, he would have never authorized it? But because if us homeowners don’t go to meeting, because we have lives, the HOA or those who go like the homeowner next to me on behalf of her tenants, the HOA manager, who’s name is Karen, ironically, spoke on all our behalf without ever informing us and as I explained to Mitch Roth, if we were notified, you would had known all who oppose.
As it stands I can never have a visitor ever, because of the no parking sign directly in front of my home. I’m still gonna fight until it’s down. Legally there is ways and one that can’t be denied. It will get worse, but residents need to push back. It’s bullsh@?t!
I get sick of the greed that prices folks out of Kona. I’m sad for the small business owners.
We were visitors to the area in March. We paid for parking and received a notice that our time would lapse in 30 minutes. We paid for additional hours 30 minutes before the time expired. When we returned to our car, we have a ticket for $56. We appealed and the charge was rescinded, but it was still aggravating.
I wanted to add that I can park for several hours on the pier at Santa Monica pier for the price of one hour at this lot. For less than what this lot wants for two hours, I can park literally all day on the pier at the village shops in Long Beach. The piers/fisherman’s wharf in Monterey is 11 hours for what this lot wants for an hour. They need a validation system and reasonable pricing. Paid parking isn’t so much the issue as it is the blatant fleecing.
Thanks for the heads up. This is disgusting and greedy. We will be going there in a few and will avoid Kona. We will NOT park in Kona. TS.
Thanks for the update!
Well Kailua-Kona gets “smaller” once more.
Last winter when we returned to Kona we pulled into the farmers market lot to park (like we always have done), only to find there were plenty of open parking spots (that is not typical). We pulled into one of the spots and then we noticed the sign that the once free lot, is now something like $12.00/hr.
We were going to the Kona Inn for a meal, but there is no way in H*ll we are paying that type hourly rate, so we immediately left that lot, and we headed down south to Coconut Grove lot. We parked there for free while we ate at the Outback and then we did some shopping.
We are snowbirds and own a home down in Keauhou and we spend just short of 6 months each year in Kona. So, all of last winter we never went to any of the shops or any of the restaurants on what I would call the “north end” of downtown because of these new parking fees. We just patronized the establishments on the "south end" of downtown.
From what your now reporting, this winter will have us avoiding the “downtown” shops and restaurants altogether. But I’m now worried that our other favorites like Jackie Rey’s and Willie’s Hot Chicken will be way overcrowded from everyone else escaping the parking lot shakedown.
I think that you actually may have hit it on the head when you said that some will just say “we will just buy our groceries at Costco, and we will just cook it at home instead of going out”. Sounds like our plan from now on.
To change this, it will have to be the stores and the restaurants complaining to the property managers and some even closing and going out of business due to a lack of customers. The property managers need to own these lots that the patrons of these stores and restaurants park in, and they need to make the parking either inexpensive or free. They can increase the rents on the storefronts to cover the cost of parking.
Also, a favorite scam for the Scammers out there is that they print out their own QR code onto stickers and then they place it over the legit QR codes on the parking signs. Then people scan that fake QR and are sent to the scammer's site to be scammed, while you also getting a parking ticket to boot.
Let's talk about the snowbirds. A lot of them own apartments and condos and pay excessive non-resident property tax. However, we do not qualify for the kama'aina rate unless we have a drivers license from the state of Hawaii. I live here 6 months a year and will no longer be going downtown.
If this is private properly, how do they enforce the paying of tickets? Is the state involved and if so, how much do they get by enforcing the fines? Paid parking should be low in price ($5 is a good amount).
This is ridiculous. It was already painful to go to Kona to eat. I'll keep my money in Waikoloa Village and WBR where our condo is located. I'll have to tell my guests to avoid this debacle. I don't want to hurt locals, but I don't want my guests to have to deal with this.
I am originally from the big island and presently live in Washington State. I still own my childhood home in Hilo. Because I don’t live there my property taxes are double of what the locals pay. The reason we are not there more often is because we have to keep working to keep the house. We were there in March( Flew into Kona) to spend a couple of days celebrating our anniversary. I was appalled at what we paid. It’s not the Kona I long remembered. The fees added to rooms are atrocious. We are coming back on October 9th for a couple of weeks. We are coming to celebrate my husband’s bday. Hoping to spend 1 or 2 nights in Kona but it’s just too expensive. Now that I hear about the parking situation that does it for us. Even though I pay more than most to keep our home I’m not eligible for kamaina rates. Greed is a very good word. Hawaii better be careful it’s becoming travel unfriendly. They are making it harder and harder for locals. It’s seems that the state government does not have the locals as a priority. It’s all about the MONEY.
Thanks for listening to my rambling. Love your show, you bring home to my heart.
Mahalo, Ethel Mae
The property taxes are still some of the lowest in the nation, but Uncle Billy's I guess was on the hook for a 17k tax bill. Nothing is inexpensive anymore..sadly, it DOES affect the quality of life and the FEELING of small town Kona from days gone by.
Thank you for a very informative video! You’re right, we’re not L.A. We left L.A. for this and a host of reasons. Making it 2 hours helps. But thats just long enough to eat, no shopping. I used to shop downtown. I haven’t done that for months due to the parking situation. It’s very expensive to have dinner out. To add this cost to it, we will think twice. Friends we go out with pretty much every week had us over to their home Sunday evening instead of going out to eat. It’s just easier. I seriously hope they get this worked out. Our tourists from large, western cities wont mind it as much. But people coming from the southeast where I’m from, these rates are prohibitive. They’ll vacation elsewhere. That makes me sad as we need tourists.
We don't mind paying for parking at all, and are quite used to paying $2.50 to $3 an hour. However $7 to $12.50 an hour is quite a shock. It would certainly prevent someone from being able to spend a day leisurely shopping and going for lunch or dinner. I'm afraid the businesses will indeed suffer, not from paid parking, but more from the high rates they are charging for it.
It will certainly limit the number of trips we make into Kona for dinners! Two years ago, we came into town 3 or 4 times a week for dinner, lunch or shopping! Don’t mind paying an extra $10 but not $40-50!!
Went downtown last night for dinner at Kamana. My wife and I were talking about the paid parking and the entire drive there I was defending it saying, “I would rather have paid parking than NO parking with people living in their cars and doing drugs in the lots”. The alternative was not being able to park because there was NO parking downtown. After parking below Kamana we went to pay and see the parking is $25 an hour! No option for Kamaaina, no validations, just fuck you and enjoy losing your muffler on the way in. I IMMEDIATELY changed my tune and said, “ This is madness! What do they think this is San Francisco? This is the WORST idea”. The issue is not that parking is indeed paid. The issue is the EXORBITANT fees associated with said parking. The garage we parked in is not a “new” paid parking lot but I never remember the fees being that high and it sounds like the new lots are close to this cost. I will gladly pay $2.00 for parking but not $25 an hour. I also don’t wish to go back to free parking and no available spots . So we need to get these prices cut by at least 90%.
This is just sad. We have been vacationing on the Big Island for many years, staying in Waikoloa and visit Kona regularly. Now, my husband and I agree, we will stop visiting Kona if we have to pay for parking. I feel sad for the business owners. Kona was "dead" on our last trip. Also, I am appalled by the parking charges for Hapuna State Park! $30 for a family of 4 to go to the beach?!?! Excessive!😢
Aloha @Heididavis6512 -- On the Hapuna Beach fee..I looked it up and it said $5 per person. Where are you seeing $30? And at this point, they don't even have the stand open anymore to collect the parking fees. And we get it on having to pay..street parking on Kuikini is still a free option, too.
They charge per vehicle PLUS per person
@365Hawaii the vehicle costs 10$ and 2 visitors will pay extra 10$
This is the second time when, in advance of Ironman, a formerly "free" public parking lot has begun to charge for parking. I cannot see how this benefits the businesses and/or the workers (who also need to park somewhere). Paying $7 and $12 an hour to frequent the local community as a tourist does NOT feel like a friendly way to encourage visitors to l-o-v-e their relaxed, different, world-famous, "laid-back," aloha-filled vacations here. "They paved paradise, put up a parking lot. Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop"
How many people will now NOT park downtown. They need to welcome tourists with open arms to spend their $$
I didn't was visiting big island first time came to kona a beautiful town but heck not paying 15$ an hour
We are here now. I was told to try and get the parking validated by the local business. I went 1 for 3 on this. Only one location did this for the lot I was parked in. One told me they don’t validate at all and the last told me they don’t support “that lot” even though it was basically next door.
I did pay to park in one of the beach parks. Was only given the option of 4 hours. We left after maybe 2-1/2.
At the last restaurant we went to, I was still within my 4 hour window but obviously a different location. By the time I figured out that the restaurant wouldn’t validate, I’m pretty sure it was already too late…
Last point of contention, as a VISITOR I think we should get one written warning. My first ticket was for $59. Sorry, but that’s BS.
We had a beautiful time in Kona but this parking thing is a ripoff.
What a shame. I got back from Kona on Friday. We spent quite a bit of time near Coconut Grove eatting, drinking and shopping. Not in that order.
Don’t forget the recent additional 3% on tourist was added 2 years ago. A nice meal and tip and parking could easily add up to over $120 per couple. Where it used to be about $80 - $90
I agree with the others on here. A nominal charge for parking is fine, but $7-12 is expensive and as a Canadian visitor the exchange rate makes this too much. Guess we won’t be going to Kona from Waikola any more. Hope they rethink this decision,it’s going to be bad for business.
Indeed it is bad for business! We're Hawaii residents, and every time we drive past these subject parking lots -- lots which used to be full and bustling -- we see that they are mostly empty to less than half full these days. Pity!
Glad to see you guys taking a stand here. Especially calling out the Oahu based company that's subcontracting for Diamond Parking.
Actually ParkLinq and Diamond are two separate companies
I’m sorry but as an owner of a home in Kona, although not a full time resident I for one will not pay one single penny to these gouging corporations. To even insinuate this will benefit all Kona residents is an insult to our intelligence.
For those who do rent out their homes we all just had an additional 3% County tax to pass onto the tourists who want to visit The Big Island.
Where did this come from you ask? it was to make up for lost revenue during Covid and now it’s here to stay. I inform my guest not to park in town, don’t pay the gouging prices for parking walk into town or take the Trolly, at least that’s a local give back to,the community service.
We tried to pay for one hour in August and it was over 13 dollars!!! We parked elsewhere and walked. There were no prices posted and we didn’t realize the fee was not in effect until October. Not an aloha feeling we were used to.
As a Canadian visitor who pays nearly 40 cents on the US dollar this will definitely affect the amount of time we spend shopping and dining in Kona. It will cost more to park than to eat.
I dont mind paying day use parking in the state parks as long as the money goes to the maintenance of the park.
Thanks for the covering this very important issue hope we can solve this issue quickly
Mahalo for the video! The dynamic pricing is garbage, set the rates so people know. Hawaii County appears to have missed out with parking as maybe they should’ve bought the lot where the farmers market is and kept it free. The 12.50/ hour to park there was higher than it should be especially since I was going to the market.
Due to parking costs in Chicago I go eat in the suburbs as it saves travel time and money.
Thanks for the info. Parklinq has an option for “all month” parking which you did not address. We will be in Kona for 7 weeks for our 8th winter visit. Paying $7 -$9 an hour to park at the farmers market to buy $20 worth of fresh fruit seems absurd, their business will suffer. Although we love dining at the Kona Inn, Humpy’s, and the Fish Hopper, we will start looking at other options. We are in our 70’s now and cannot walk all the way from our condo like we used to. Will stay tuned for further changes. Mahalo
I just heard of the all month parking today...I heard $100..will find out more. And Fish Hopper still has its own parking lot behind it..
This isn't a county or state run parking system, it's a private company so none of the parking fees will go back into the community. Pure greed and a fantastic way to destroy a beautiful small beach side town businesses.
The Kona bus trolley runs until 9:55 PM.
It starts behind Target and runs to Keauhou Shopping Center.
It’s supposed to take an hour to do a round trip, but typically takes a little longer than an hour. It starts on the hour at Target in the morning, but gets a little further behind schedule every hour until 2PM when they switch drivers and then starts to get behind again.
Although you wait at least an hour to continue going in the same direction on another bus, your wait is under an hour catching the trolley going in the other direction. The closer you are to Keauhou, the quicker the return trolley comes back.
We got that information from the web..thanks for letting us know!
I have been coming to Kona for the winter for 30 years. I know my solution. The Tuesday evening run club out of the Big Island Running Company. Gone. Buying my running shoes there. Gone. I am now sorry I signed up for the Jingle Bell Run. I won't next year if they are still gouging people like me for parking. Downtown Farmers market was gone last year. Just won't bother with the downtown area anymore. It's getting to the point where coming to Kona is becoming not viable. It is a shame.
Wow! I alway’s thought that was Snorkel Bob’s parking lot. Didn’t realize it was public parking.
Thank you both for taking the time to make this video.
We're going there soon and won't plan to eat anywhere we have to pay for parking. There are plenty of other places to eat without paying. After paying for expensive flights, rooms, rental cars, gas, entrance fees, and food, we need to cut excessive fees. Certainly not going to pay 12.50 an hour to get a coffee! I guess someone will have to jump out and grab an order to go while the car drives around. Maybe dinner in the room or just have picnics at a park would be great. It doesn't make the tourist feel welcome. I'm glad the locals don't have to pay.
If you are trying to get ocean front coffee...you can go to the businesses that validate..that may cause a string of businesses to figure validation out. If you are a local or a visitor, you can go to the Huggos parking lot for validation. Kai's Eats and Drinks offers validation, too, and you can drink your coffee by the ocean!
We are now in Waikoloa. Drove to Kona for lunch and shopping. $22.75 for 1.5 hrs. Ate lunch didn’t shop. Headed back to Waikoloa
My husband & I will be in Kona for a week come Oct 25. Thankfully we WALK mostly 🙂unless we go away from Kona. Thank you so much for the heads up!!
This whole thing favors folks who are willing to hoof it a bit.
Will avoid this area now. Used to always go and browse Jack’s Dive Shop but luckily there are options.
Twenty Year Resident. This will definitely hurt our local business 😢
Yes, it will. Good news is I am seeing more cruise ships in port and they just walk around downtown.
Same here -- I moved here in 1988 and have spent decades calling Kona home. Big Island has only recently bypassed Kauai as the 3rd most visited of the islands. These parking rates are NOT going to help those numbers.
I've been lucky enough to visit BI numerous times, and have always understood that a Hawaiian vacation is not normally a destination you can do on the cheap. If you're able to afford a trip to Hawaii, a few extra dollars here and there for parking shouldn't make a big difference one way or the other. I'm willing to pay for parking, within reason. It won't stop me from returning. Since the cost of living in Hawaii is so high as is, I think it should be free for locals.
Taking all free parking! How do employees off alii afford to pay parking fee or walk far!?! Government stuffing their pockets!
The employees won’t have to worry about parking after they lose their job because there are no customers going to these stores or restaurants. Problem solved!!!
Thanks for the update on the "no free parking" in downtown. I'm a volunteer at the pier on cruise ship days and I can tell you the Kona Trolley is NOT something I recommend anymore to our guests. Drivers have been driving past visitors with an empty (or near empty) bus because the bus is "only for locals". As a result, we only have the Hop On/Hop Off for our visitors (which they generally really like). Our visitors are none too happy about being stranded in Keauhou with no way back to the pier since the driver will not stop and pick them up. Therefore, they tend NOT to spend as much money in downtown as they used to. So....the paid parking is driving away locals and the Kona Trolley is driving away visitors. Soon....Ali'i Drive will look like a ghost town much like San Franciscos' Market Street!
A suggestion (for the county): give parking lot owners a tax break for operating free parking lots for the good of all the people. It could drive more revenue to businesses along Ali'i Drive and up the amount of taxes collected.
Another suggestion: Create more parking along Kuakini Highway (marked parking, not a "free for all parking" as we have today. This will take some of the stress off Coconut Grove paid parking but it won't take it all away.
Mahalo for your work.
Thanks for this perspective and info
The businesses that are near free parking will flourish and the paid parking business areas will get slower.
That's about right.
Good job u 2. The shuttle from Target is of no help if one wants to have dinner in Kona. Stopping service at 6 pm is stupid. And question, where can one park to eat at Canoe Club???
I am going to Canoe Club tonight to test the whole experience now that there is two hours of parking for free. Parking at the Farmers Market parking lot and walking over.
If your a time share holder would i get the residence rate ?
We were there in June for 10 days, only in town one day. Parking rate pretty high .
Thank you for this video. Yes we were in Kona and we paid 30 bucks to park over by the farmers market and luckily my son-in-law did it on the phone because I was gonna park my car over at your place and walk over to the farmers market by the library even though you’re not close, but I need to exercise😂😂😂😂 but all in all just left Kona back over to the Hilo side and you’re right about the parking situation. It’s kind of expensive and it’s not right.
Do they have paid parking plots in Hilo? Watch out..they may be coming for you guys next..
I'll be visiting in about three weeks in the NCL POA. We're renting cars in each port. Interestingly enough we hadn't decided on whether or not to rent one in Kona but I think this pretty much settles it. Will probably be cheaper to Uber around or just stay close to the ship that day.
Terrible idea especially as the area isn't that busy. If I want to park there to go to lunch & shop the charge is way too much. A couple of bucks I dont mind but approaching the cost of lunch it's a no sorry.
We paid $25 for parking on Friday to volunteer! Two hours for free..but you have to hurry!
It's almost like they're trying to discourage tourism.
They are trying to make a buck.
Living on Hilo side, so many refer to Kona as "Little Waikiki" that parking fees don't seem surprising...however, hourly rates that high are NOT PONO.
Don't mind paying fees to park conveniently in a busy commercial area, but NOT giving personal tracking information to a private company just to park a car!!!
Guess I'm not spending much time in Kona any more. Was already too commercial for my taste anyway. Just wish they weren't so committed to making it worse.
We had been part-time residents for a longtime, and we also learned via ticket that handicapped parking in the farmer’s-market-downtown-lot is not free as it is in other places. Love the idea of a tracking app for the trolley, and also extending its hours, that would be great.
As a once a year Hawaii traveler, we expect to pay to park. Maui has a few free lots. They are always full and people are driving around waiting for a space to open. That's not how I want to spend my precious vacation time.
Somewhat unfair to Canadians who own property and live here 6 months of the year who can not get a Hawaiian Driver’s Licence
1st world problems....
Perhaps but we can’t pay at all even if we wanted to
I remember that lot had free parking. Who bought the lots..(Boo!)
Were the rates hiked up in the lot closes to the outdoor market $12.50 for all day?
Ok well there is a way around all that!!! Rent a bicycle with a basket!
We have been coming to Kona from a small town in Idaho which is being slowly being raped by the greedy. Last October we went downtown and it was a shock. Not only parking prices but the town is DEAD. Talk about shooting your economy in the foot. We could find nothing worth going to town for and we love Kona. Sad that this happened
This is where I always park when I visit from east side,won’t be going to this area any longer unless I take the bus parking was already bad…
As long as you are a Hawaii resident, you can get three hours for free..or park up on Kuakini Highway and walk in..but I get it
diamond parking is the problem
I’m heading to Hawaii in days, and was planning on hanging out in Kona. Can someone tell me how much parking fee is added to out meal budget?
At the very least, parking should be free for residents.
Well.at least now they get three hours.
@@365Hawaii Is it 3 hours now? I tried it out earlier this week and got 2 hours. Just enough time for some gelato and a short stroll. Then you start worrying about the time. Not fun.
How about us poor schmucks who live here just under six months each year so we are not Hawaiian residents, we own property here and we pay much higher property taxes because we have not switched over to become a Hawaiian resident. Tell me again the definition of Aloha?
Thanks for your Vlog! I'm so disappointed... I guess that I will not be stopping in town to have a have a drink or a bight to eat and support the local business after surfing in town or going to Costco from here on out. What a bummer. I moved here to get away from this relentless capitalism. This is just another notch in my belt to sell and move some ware else, maybe Mexico, Panama, Indo, Philippines, etc...
Don't forget Nicaragua or CR.
I’m not convinced that parking fees are necessary because of our economy; in my opinion everyone suffers so why impose this additional burden? Let’s call a spade a spade, It all goes back to greed, pure and simple.
Great information on the parking, is the public transportation in Kona and surrounding areas, big enough, with enough routes to help with the parking issues?
As we mentioned..they could use another trolley so they go every thirty minutes..right now it's every hour and some days its crowded.
Thank you, here is to hoping for a solution to the parking situation.
Also, the dirt parking lot directly across the street from Snorkel Bob’s is now a paid parking lot.
I filmed that and It did not make the editing cut! I was actually SHOCKED at the fact that the hourly fee there is $18 and they really just want to use it for employee parking.
@@365Hawaii I’m giving your comment a “thumbs up” out of respect for you, but I really want to give it a huge thumbs down.
Trolleys would make it better. More than one would make it nicer for visiting each area of the town. Shaded area waiting for trolley. Just a thought.
Wow thanks for the info. I was planing a trip to Kailua but now that l see this l will only be on the friendly side of the island. Hilo. Thanks again for letting me know that l should avoid this area. I will clue my friends in too.
This is what this whole thing is doing..sadly..and no one wins here.,,except for short term gain for the folks collecting the parking fares.
Don’t know why that guy says “welcome to California” at the beginning of the video. Out here the only parking I pay for is premium parking at a beach or theme park. Shopping centers? Nope. They all validate regardless of whether you’re a tourist or not. I pay less for parking at Disneyland than what they want to charge for parking at this lot.
I have a 34 year history with the Big Island. Lived here, gave birth here, brought my mother here to live, have friends here. I’ve owned property in Kona since 2013, have a Hawaii registered vehicle here, pay property taxes here, and frequently patronize businesses here, especially restaurants, in Coconut Grove and Alii Sunset Plaza and other locations around town EVERY SINGLE DAY. I wanted to have the guava ribs at Lava Java and was charged $49.50 for 90 minutes of parking. I don’t qualify for the Kama’aina rate because I don’t have a Hawaii DL so after the restaurant validated my parking I’m still paying $36.38 for 90 min of parking. WTF!!!??? I go back and forth between Kona and the San Francisco Bay Area FREQUENTLY and I have NEVER paid $49.50 nor $36.38 for 90 minutes of parking in SF to patronize a business, nor anywhere else I have ever been IN THE WORLD. I can afford these parking prices but that’s not the point. WTF are we allowing Parklinq to do to Kona??!!
One approach for residents : Give say 200 hours/year of parking to each resident ; this provides the option to have longer visits to Kona occasionally.
And who would keep track of that lol.
@@HawaiiBKC_YTadditional input box in the user interface + a simple aggregation in the back ends
Thanks for the info. Guess we'll avoid this shopping center on our upcoming visit to Kona. Aloha
Would like to ask some questions about getting a business license on the big island. I’m a diesel mechanic on the 9th island and we bought a house on Hamakua coast and I would like to move my business there. I’ve been following you guys for awhile. Thought it may be a good place to ask questions and get a plan together.
As a Kona resident, I really appreciate that I can now find plenty of parking spaces at the farmers market where I go several times a week.
I can't think of a time I couldn't find a spot for that market prior to this parking grift.
Pure BS from Tyler Saenz.. paid parking never benefits the locals.
That $ doesn’t go to any improvements.
We own on the Island but only live part time. I agree that Kona is losing its Ohana feel.
Because we only spend about 3 months on the Island at our condo, we can not get the kamaina parking time.
Question: can we get 90 min if we patronize one of the businesses?
We no longer go to the market and we are avoiding Kona because these parking expenses are ridiculous and while we feel we are Islanders, but not full-time we are being unfairly punished. We pay a lot of taxes to the island, even though we are not getting any of the benefits.
Since this is a private lot, the County has no say on this and the ParkLinq app only recognizes state id's. It's a big fat conundrum.
We live in palisades....we love the old town but paid parking will ensure we stay away. Recently we have been using Holoholo ride share but I think we will avoid this area because of stupidity.
Just don't pay. What's there recourse?
What if “the mainland” starts charging Kamaaina more for parking and other stuff? Free parking for 2 hours for mainland USA, but a special high rate for Kamaaina… Would you still visit?
This has been set up like this since the islands offered free parking for locals for the beaches..
Go to Don The Beachcomber's bar in the Royal Kona Resort. 3hrs FREE parking in their lot with EASY validation in the bar. Good, inexpensive food with an EPIC view of the Bay and tons of whales/spinner dolphins. Sometimes we even see Jason Mamoa out front sunbathing on the rocks. Live music thurs/sat nights.
I hate you have to pay to park and worry about getting a ticket, ruins the vibe, I’ll skip Kona next time.
Eric and Julie - my grievance is more complicated than most. Although I am a kama'aina now, I don't need free parking there for myself; as you know, I can just walk down there. But. BUT: I wanted to take my mom to a restaurant in the Coconut Grove, and she cannot walk, unfortunately. She has to be deposited right at the entrance to the restaurant with the car parked at one of the spots for the disabled. Guess what. ALL of the parking spots reserved for the disabled (as well as ALL of the spaces close to the restaurants and shops) fall into either 310 or 313 parking code. Code 312 - the only one reserved for the free 90 minutes - means that you will have to go, like, all the way uphill. Not even closely an option for my mother...
I really would be more than happy to be a witness in the owners' legal effort, for the greedy bastards clearly violate the rights of the disabled. Please get back with me if you know the path for me to take!
I see no problem with charging for the parking (and it should be more expensive towards non locals/natives) if it’s to support the infrastructure of the island as you mentioned-parking in most other cities in the US is the same; why should it be free in paradise? Most of the people that have problems with it seem to be the privileged haoles that complain about everything-the next thing they’ll complain about is that the suns too hot and it shouldn’t cause sunburns.
WTF?!
You people actually pay those fines? That's hilarious. I have probably over 200 of those fake tickets.
Recommend reading 'High Cost of Free Parking'
There is a book called that?! Someone get a PDF over to the property owners, stat!
Makes it easier for me to not go to Kona from the east side of the island. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
I feel sorry for Laverne’s. It is going to cut down on the number of people who attend live music events. Really bad move by the Coconut Grove owners. Welcome to big city attitude and a lack of aloha in small town Hawaii.
The 'Waikiki-ing' of Kona. This parking debacle won't last long. Like all the unassimilating transplants that have moved here the last couple of years. Everyone in a 'rush' and lacking Aloha lately.
We regulate that attitude down south. Kauai has the right attitude.
Does Kailua need more income? Everything is so expensive now, food, shopping, anything. Should e free parking for locals, just charge tourists! Where is the money from this going?
It's going to the property owners..and as you know..who would ever say they don't need more income? Especially commercial property owners..
It’s like in Switzerland. You pay to go pee. Even grocery shopping. Anything
Ridiculous! palisades homeowners are facing the same situation and it’s more from those who just moved here and rent. The HOA back the renters because it helps to further their agenda in having more power and the ability to raise fees. Kona has plans for big money developers, if they are able to move out those resident land owners then they can change laws creating more restrictions. It’s all about the aesthetics and curb appeal to the entice wealthy investors. Certain parts of the world make it hard for people to be able to buy land, such as family decent, how long you lived in Hawaii, how much land you can purchase, which maybe needed as criteria to keep Hawaii, Hawaii, maintain supply for demand and keep it affordable for those who want to uphold the Hawaiian culture?
I agree with paid parking especially in the beach parking as long as kamaaina is free for LONG time limits and money goes to beach and property improvements
I am from norcal not as rich as LA and parking is free. Don't know if asking someone from a very expensive place is really rooted in reality for this subject. That is only around 20 million people out of a country of around 340 million. Many people come from places that will freak out at a 150 dollar dinner plus tip and tax. I was in oahu and l hunted down the l9cal eateries because l didn't want to spend 85 dollars for a dinner, that was without drinks or dessert. We fought to keep our beaches free, they wanted to charge us for that. Don't really know what to say except l will go other places. I lived in Kailua back in the mid 70's and it was much different than it is today. Don't know if it really got better pretty sure it didn't. Meaning only the rich can afford to live there now.
There is a squeeze going on in Hawaii, made worse by the pandemic and ensuing inflation problem. Ugh. That guy we interviewed, DID have a good message to share that there are places like SF, LA, Seattle and Portland..all feeder markets into Kona, that they just say, "Well, it is what it is"..for those that don't want to pay, there ARE other eateries like we mentioned and you can't beat pizza on the beach!
Yes there are people with money that don't mind, l have a few friends that wouldn't mind. But it does make it look like all tourist wouldn't mind and l keep hearing people say they are shocked to find out how expensive it is over there. Being from California l don't notice that much if a difference but l don't go places l have to pay to park at so l can spend more money. Maybe it is just me but l doubt it. I won't go to shopping events that have a cover to get in either. You want me to spend money on parking so l can buy your goods at this fair. I will go to the mall and get free parking and give them my money.
I think with everything else, if you don't support them, how will they stay afloat? Upkeep costs, so eventually they will just leave. Do like Eric and bike down to Alii drive, 😅. On a serious note, I think locals should not pay for parking at all. Period.
smh
Kona is dead… been dead.
Wah im white and i have to pay for parking. Who are the Polynesians?
Polynesians were perfectly content on their islands living their way of life until "outsiders" came & stole their land & forced their way of life on them.
Hijoles mano
This is nothing new for Hawaii, the continued attack on small businesses is appalling!
The shopping center owners think the visitors can be squeezed a bit more.
Well, when the entire state votes democratic for more taxes/regulations and anti business attitude, what do you expect?! Not saying that's what you do, btw.
@@iprey4surf unfortunately, Hawaii has a very low voter turnout. Mostly State and County workers vote and they won't dare bite the hand that feeds them!