Parking meter rates along Kapiolani Regional Park were doubled three years ago. The City Council is now considering doubling them again — and city parks officials are already envisioning installation of meters at parks elsewhere on Oahu. All this would discourage residents from engaging in treasured outdoor recreation. No compelling argument has yet been made about the essential need to raise parking rates now near Kapiolani and Aala parks, and in lieu of one, the Council should forget about regarding parks as a source of revenue.

Residents value their relaxation at city parks and nearby beaches after work and on weekends. They should not have to contend with steep parking prices at public parks as yet-another cost of living on a beautiful island. Doubling the prices of parking for the second time in just a few years would be a blow to many.

Bigger rate increases have been considered in the past but tailored back. Only three years ago, then-Mayor Mufi Hannemann proposed raising parking rates at Kapiolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo to what he considered a "fiscally conservative" $1.50 an hour, from 25 cents an hour. The Council instead merely doubled them to 50 cents an hour.

Last year, the Council considered not only doubling the price again at the 280 meters along Kapiolani Park but also establishing fees at all other city parks. It prudently backed away after a storm of public opposition.

"We don’t want to discourage use of the park from our residents," Councilman Ernie Martin said at the time. It’s a statement that still applies today.

The Council is considering doubling the meter rate to $1 an hour not only along Kapiolani but also around Aala Park, and imposing that higher rate 24 hours a day. Meters currently need to be fed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The freedom of access to now-free public venues may be curtailed for some users if this monetization of city parks and other recreational spots continues.

"We’re not going to rule anything out if this bill passes," said Al Tufono, the city’s parks and recreation deputy director.

The proposed rates around Kapiolani would create a dire situation for some residents of nearby condominiums who are provided no parking stalls in their buildings so now rely on metered areas for overnight parking. Many, especially senior citizens on fixed incomes, could be forced to move away.

The city gets most of its revenue from property taxes but also has income from fuel taxes, sewer fees, driver’s license fees, zoo rates, auditorium rental rates and public golf course green fees. Upon taking office, Mayor Peter Carlisle proposed that monthly city employee parking fees be raised by $13 to $48 per month.

If the city needs to increase revenues to make ends meet, the Council should look first to other sources that don’t infringe on an asset special to Hawaii, and that is for residents to be able to afford to relax in public parks and nearby beaches.