Kokua Line

By Hildegaard Verploegen

Appliances on the fritz may get new life at KCC

QUESTION: Does anyone repair or recycle microwave ovens? I hate to throw ours out if there is someone who could fix it and use it. The social agencies I called said they have no one to repair small appliances so they don't want nonworking ones.


ANSWER: Good news. A Honolulu Community College teacher and his students will repair microwave ovens, televisions and videocassette recorders and return them to the Community Clearing House for distribution to families having hard times.

"I hate to see stuff thrown away," said Paul Jacoby, electronics teacher at Honolulu Community College.

"Out of five microwaves, we may be able to get enough parts to make one working one."

Jacoby sees his students and the college as the winners.

Making the repairs will give the students practice and experience for jobs later. And, "We're trying to get more involved with the community," he said.

Mariellen Byrnes-Jones, executive director of the Community Clearing House, which distributes donated furniture, clothing and food to families in need, is delighted. She's been trying to find angels able and willing to repair donated items for a long time.

Take television sets, microwaves and similar items to the Community Clearing House, Building 914, just inside the Kapalama Military Reservation off Sand Island Access Road. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

Jacoby also is looking for donations to buy repair parts that cannot be found or are no longer usable from the old machines. Anyone willing to help financially may call Jacoby at 845-9459, or college electronics department head Aaron Tanaka at 845-9109 for details on donating money.


Other items in Kokua Line, which can be read in full in the Star-Bulletin, are on the Kanehoe Library, U.S. Rep. Abercrombie's e-mail address, and tax help from the IRS.


Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686, fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802. Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com

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