Renting Washington Place is pricey and rife with rules [Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)]

Question: The Star-Advertiser on March 9 (see is.gd/9NNp3p) reported that Lois Mitsu­naga, a campaign contributor to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, has reserved Washington Place for her wedding reception in April. Can anyone in the public use Washington Place for parties/receptions? If so, what are the restrictions? Who do we contact?

Answer: Any member of the public can reserve Washington Place, but be warned that it is not inexpensive and users are subject to an eight-page list of conditions and guidelines.

Donalyn Dela Cruz, deputy director of communications for the Abercrombie administration, emailed us a copy of the guidelines, saying it is provided to everyone who inquires about reserving the property, not just political donors.

However, she said that no political functions, such as campaign fundraisers, are permissable on Washington Place property, which includes the Washington Place Museum (the former governors' residence as well as home to Queen Liliu­oka­lani) and the current residence built behind it.

"Ms. Mitsunaga met those requirements, including the cost for use," Dela Cruz said. "She made the decision on her own to provide an additional donation."

The Washington Place Foundation requires a user fee of $5,000 for use of the property, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mitsu­naga donated an additional $5,000.

The conditions and guidelines detail everything from how the request should be sent (written or emailed); what the invitations should look like (including bearing the official state seal); what kind of entertainment is acceptable ("in good taste and of moderate volume"); name tags for all guests and event workers; a staff of at least six people to assist in hosting the function and where they should be stationed; having all guests and workers subject to search by a deputy sheriff; hiring at least one deputy sheriff for eight hours at a rate of $30 per hour to control the front gate and traffic on the property; and specific requirements for caterers on how to set up and what equipment should be used.

A no-alcohol policy is recommended, although beer and wine may be served with approval. Food and beverages are not allowed in the house itself, and smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property. And don't expect to be allowed on the premises if you're wearing slippers, shorts or a tank top.

For information, contact Washington Place, 320 S. Beretania St., Hono­lulu 96813; or call 586-0240 (fax 586-0790).

"Please note that as we continue to learn more about what must be done to maintain the queen's home, we will be revisiting these guidelines to ensure its preservation," Dela Cruz said.

Question: A while back I saw a matrix online that compared auto insurance rates. Would you be so kind as to provide the Web page address?

Answer: The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Insurance Division provides comparisons for both motor vehicle insurance and homeowners' insurance.

For comparisons of motor vehicle insurance, go to hawaii.gov/dcca/ins/consumer/consumer_information/mv_premiums.

The Insurance Division this year also began posting comparisons of home insurance rates in Hawaii: hawaii.gov/dcca/home_rates/home-insurance-rate-comparison.html.

The listing covers 14 home insurers who voluntarily provided their premium rates for 2012 for homeowners, condominium owners and renters.

Mahalo

To Pat Tsutsui of the Traffic Violations Bureau, who helped me figure out a confusing traffic citation issued to a member of my household. Even though the end result of our conversation was that I owed the court more money, Pat's kindness and professionalism took the sting out of the bad news. Thanks so much for your help.

- Steph in Palolo

--- Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.

Credit: June Watanabe