Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, student Noelle Wandersee parked her moped nearly every day in the same spot on the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa campus.
Wandersee, who commutes to campus Monday through Friday, believed she was safe to park in the spot because no signage indicated otherwise. Then, on Jan. 21, Wandersee returned to her moped after classes to find a $55 ticket.
“There were no ‘No Parking’ signs there either, so I thought that it was fine,” Wandersee said. “That’s where I parked every day last semester, and I never had a problem with it. Then, randomly, I got ticketed.”
Sidewalks at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa campus are being used illegally as moped parking stalls, drawing concern from students and the administration.
The UH Mānoa Office of Communications sent an email Wednesday, January 22, urging students to be more considerate when parking off-campus.
“When parking and traveling through campus and the Mānoa community, please do so responsibly and respectfully and follow all city and county traffic and parking laws. Avoid parking on sidewalks, in no-parking zones, unmarked stalls or private property without permission,” the email stated.
On the same day, the University posted an Instagram photo of mopeds parked illegally on the sidewalk on Dole Street.
The University’s communications about the issue come after numerous complaints from students who feel frustrated by the lack of clear guidelines and enforcement.
Kayla Cox, another student at the University who drives a moped to campus, said it’s unfair to charge students to park.
“My tuition is over $30,000 a year, and they apparently can’t go without my five dollars daily to park,” said Cox. “Even if I’m parked legally, I get a ticket. I don’t agree with this at all. The University just wants to milk money out of us, and it’s just ridiculous.”
Cox also questioned why students are expected to pay for parking when even legal spots can lead to tickets for minor infractions, while illegally parked vehicles face the same penalty.
The University requires students to pay to park on campus. A daily pass for mopeds costs $3, while daily parking for cars is $5. Additionally, a semester parking permit for mopeds costs $75.
“They could make the price of the on-campus passes cheaper,” Wandersee said.
“I think this situation can be resolved if they just stop giving out tickets like it’s a raffle,” said Cox. She, along with other students, believes that the University’s approach to parking enforcement has created unnecessary stress for the student body.
The University’s communication around parking issues has been inconsistent. The January 22 email was the first official notification students received after many had already received citations. This delayed response from the administration has led to confusion and frustration among students, many of whom feel they are being unfairly targeted.
Tony Hall, an IT support staff member in the commuter services office, said the process of obtaining a parking permit is not always straightforward. Moped owners must provide proof of registration under their name, but the University can only issue about 300 moped permits per semester. For students who buy a used moped, this can be a complicated and time-consuming process, especially if they need to track down the original owner to complete the registration.
“The total amount of daily moped parking is probably around 30 stalls total, so it’s a big difference between the demand and what’s actually available,” said Hall.
This shortage of available parking spaces is a contributing factor to the illegal parking on sidewalks. The moped parking stalls on campus are located in various areas, including near dorms, academic buildings, and student facilities. However, due to the limited number of spaces, many students are left with no choice but to park illegally, often on sidewalks.
Cox agrees that there simply aren’t enough spaces.

“There isn’t enough parking for mopeds on campus. There isn’t even enough parking for cars,” she said.