PARKLINQ introducing ‘smart parking’ at Maui Ocean Center

Hawaiʻi-based company PARKLINQ has developed a high-tech, tiered parking rate system, which the company says is the first of its kind in the world.

In May, the company will launch its first smart parking on the Valley Isle at the Maui Ocean Center and Pacific Whale Foundation.

The Smart Parking feature that is being implemented at the Māʻalaea Triangle parking area has two tiers, and will maintain free parking for all Hawaiʻi residents, according to PARKLINQ executives.

The two tiers being implemented on Maui are free for all Hawaiʻi residents and not related to the distances between their home addresses and the lots in question. 

The current pricing tiers for the smart parking system at the Māʻalaea Triangle lots is $2.00 per hour for non-residents, and FREE for Hawaii residents who use the patent pending PARKLINQ resident verification system by texting the appropriate code to 42222 and then using their phone’s camera to show their state ID during the initial booking process.

There’s also a three-tiers system, specific to the proposal now being considered by the Ko Olina property on Oʻahu. Under that structure, a third smart parking tier might be established specifically for kama’āina to pay less than normal rates, for Ko Olina residents to park for free, and for out of state tourists to pay the standard rate.

These new Smart Parking features are specifically for the benefit of all Hawai’i residents and will frequently replace pre-existing systems in which Hawai’i residents formerly paid the same rates as out of state tourists, according to company executives.

PARKLINQ was launched 18 months ago and now is the state’s largest provider of digital parking, with more than 70,000 customers and partners in Hawai‘i. The parking is paid for through your phone.

“Our goal is to scale this system statewide to make ‘smart parking’ available in our islands,” said Tyler Saenz, PARKLINQ’s founder and CEO. “The distributed functions of a multi-tiered system and solar-powered video monitoring are ideal for a complicated, islandwide solution and eliminates the need for an intense, centralized database and thousands of pay stations.”

The parking system also supports economic recovery efforts for landowners by converting their traditionally free parking into a way to generate a substantial revenue stream, along with the full support of Hawai’i residents.

“Paid parking statewide currently generates $180 million annually; and we estimate there is an additional $30 million a year in unrealized parking revenue,” Saenz said.

PARKLINQ is designed with surveillance features to ensure there is no abuse of the parking system. In late 2021, PARLINQ developed PARKLINQ Five-0®, a statewide enforcement portal that is the equivalent to having someone onsite at each parking location 24/7.

This system relies upon solar-powered video monitoring and a network of local parking liaisons. These liaisons are able to tap into the camera system to analyze lot occupancy and set pricing accordingly. Illegally parked vehicles are tagged and recorded with high-resolution photos to mitigate disputes and maximize compliance.

* Editor’s note: This story was updated to provide greater clarification and correction to the varying tiered rates being implemented at different locations.