The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photo
Marine Patao uses a fishing net to collect vehicle registration and insurance documents from longtime customer Jeoffrey Pinera as he waits to have a safety check done on his truck Friday morning at Patao Gas & Go on Lower Main Street in Wailuku. With the statewide reopening of safety inspection stations Friday, the first customer was waiting at 4:30 a.m. at Patao, which had 30 cars in line by the time the business opened at 6 a.m., Patao said. After seeing the fishing net, “My first customer said, ‘I give you some manini,’ ” she said. “So we’re having fun. Everybody’s just so patient.” She said she came up with the idea of using the nets after hearing Mayor Michael Victorino emphasizing social distancing and seeing nets used to collect donations for a fundraiser in Honolulu. Patao said Victorino regularly has his car safety check done at the business. “I will tell them I snagged an ulua in my net when Mayor Victorino is here.” Customers wore masks and stayed in their vehicles while waiting to have their vehicles checked. By mid-morning, vehicles were lined up across the parking lots of two neighboring businesses waiting for safety checks.
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