A decade ago, cars would start lining up at University of Hawai’i at Mānoa parking areas at sunrise, recalls Marc Arakai, the spokesperson for the commuter services.

“The parking lots would be full by 8 a.m.,” Arakai said.

The demand for parking at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa has improved since then, but students are still learning about new upgrades and systems designed to ease parking hassles.

One important feature that helps UH Mānoa commuters is the text messaging signup. This system is designed to keep students, faculty, and staff informed in real time about lot closures, reopenings, and more. It allows individuals who sign up to receive notifications directly on their phones, providing timely updates.

“Whenever the lot closes for daily passes, we send out the notifications,” Arakaki said. “We encourage everyone interested in the latest parking updates to sign up for our text notifications.”

Currently, 2,800 people have signed up for this messaging system. This number includes a mix of students, faculty, and staff. While this is a significant start, it represents a relatively small fraction of the total university population, which includes more than 20,000 students.

Cecile Selinger, a sophomore, who commutes from Kailua, said she wasn’t aware that there was a text notification system for the parking structure.

“I get to campus early, so the structure is open when I arrive, but I can see how it’s useful for other commuters,” Selinger said.

The text notification system at UH Mānoa is another step commuter services is taking to improve communication. For those who are signed up, it takes away the worry about if the parking structure is closed once you arrive.

“I signed up for the text notifications at the beginning of this semester,” said McKenzie Kuruso, a senior who commutes from Ewa Beach. “It makes me feel more informed of the parking situation.”

To sign up for the parking structure text notifications, go to the UH Mānoa Commuter Services website and click “Text Messaging Signup.”