Konawaena High School has implemented designated parking stalls and passes. /THE WILDCAT

Students are divided about new student parking rules this year, including enforcement of parking passes for the student lot, assigned stalls, and notices to have their cars towed. 

Some students said the parking lot rules help with campus safety and traffic flow, but others objected to the administration’s procedures – saying they appeared to involve empty threats and lax enforcement.

Anika Santos, a senior at Konawaena High School, said, “To make the parking rules a lot better I think that it should be even more monitored.”

Regarding the new towing policy for students parking in the wrong stalls, she said, “They should make it very clear. I know a couple kids have gotten warnings like three or maybe even four (times) and they still haven’t done anything about it. Admin should take action and really do what they mean.”

The school decided to change the parking lot rules to ensure the safety of students and track who is entering and using the parking lot, school officials said.

Michelle Abe, an attendance employee for Konawaena High School who also supervises the student parking lot, said, “The goal of the parking lot is to have everybody that is legal parking there. That way we know who is driving legally, and also that will be a way for the kids to park their vehicles, so then everybody can come to school.”

Other Konawaena students believe that the parking passes are unnecessary and not as organized as the administration thinks.

Ka’e’a Imai, another senior at Konawaena High School, said the new parking rules are unnecessary. “I don't know why you got to sit in your own parking spot. What if somebody takes it. Where are you going to park? Sometimes, I have to park next to the gym because everybody takes my spot and then I get one nice, fat blue note on top of my windshield.”