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Honolulu Walmart to Charge for Parking Starting May 1st
Beginning May 1st, finding a parking spot at the Keeaumoku Street Walmart in Honolulu may get a little easier, but it will also get more expensive. The store is partnering with Secure Parking Hawaii to implement a new paid parking system aimed at reserving spaces for Walmart shoppers.
After a three-hour grace period, parking will cost $3 for every half hour, with a maximum daily rate of $48. Vehicles left with unpaid parking fees exceeding $50 may be towed.
Secure Parking will monitor vehicles entering and exiting the lot using video surveillance to track license plates. Payment kiosks will be installed on-site.
While the move is expected to deter non-Walmart shoppers from using the lot, some community members feel blindsided by the change. Kathleen Lee, chair of the local neighborhood board, stated, “I understand from a business owner’s perspective that you can do whatever you want in a parking lot. However, Walmart is such a significant structure in our neighborhood that if they were to do something like start charging, it would be nice to give the neighborhood a heads up.”
At least one shopper welcomes the change. Ge Song told local news outlet KHON 2, “I think it will free up parking… I won’t have to spend 30 minutes finding a parking spot.”
This change comes as Walmart announces a nationwide revamp of 650 stores to its “Stores of the Future” layout. It is currently unclear whether paid parking will be implemented at other Walmart locations. While Walmart’s corporate policy generally allows overnight RV parking with store manager approval, this is subject to local laws and parking availability.