I am doing some research for my mother, who has an envelope that was mailed from Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The postmark reads: "Honolulu, Hawaii, December 7, 1941, 8:00 a.m." The envelope itself has a pretty picture on it (sunset, rainbow, palm trees), with Hawaii printed underneath. A 6-cent stamp was used. Is it of any value? Ship cancels from Dec. 7, 1941,
worth ‘$15 to $25’Dec. 7, 1941 was a Sunday, when post offices were not open, notes Don Metcalf, president of Hawaii Island Stamp and Coin.
"Around the '40s and '50s, lots of these (envelopes) were made up with ship cancels," he said. "Believe it or not, things like that I usually sell for $15 to $25. They are worth something, but most of them are backdated. A few did get through here and there because the ships canceled them on that day, but the U.S. post office was closed."
We found Metcalf just by looking under "stamps" in the telephone directory yellow pages. You can call him or other shops for more information.
Our community, Honokai Hale, used to be a nice place to raise a family. I don't think this area is zoned business or agriculture, but several new residents have turned our community into car repair shops. There are several cars in different stages of disrepair along our main streets of Laaloa and Paakai. Can you help? Because you did not provide specific addresses, it took a while for city Building Department inspectors to follow up on your complaint. But of seven homes inspected, inspectors concluded the occupants were working only on their own vehicles, which "is permitted," said William Deering, head of the department's housing code section.
At one home, "There were excessive tires, rims and hubcaps," he said. That violation was corrected before a notice was issued.
At another house, a notice of violation was issued because of "excessive car parts on the property," Deering said.
There's a telephone pole that's full of termites and tilting over in front of my home. Who do I report this to? Since you said it was a telephone pole, we called GTE Hawaiian Telephone spokesman Calvin Tadaki.
"If it is ours, we will open a job order to correct" the situation, he said. If not, Tadaki said, he would refer it either to Hawaiian Electric Co. or the city, whichever is the responsible party.
People tend to refer to all utility poles as "telephone poles," he noted. If you're certain it's Hawaiian Tel's, call 483-8087. Call Hawaiian Electric's 24-hour trouble line, 548-7961, if you think it's theirs.
If it turns out to be the city's, the information will be passed on, since all three work together through a "Joint Pole Committee," Tadaki said.
Sometimes, a pole may involve both utilities and the city, he said. Telephone and cable lines would then be at the lowest level.
Workers in the food and drink industry can find out about Hawaii liquor laws through adult education classes at Kaimuki High School. One hour, Wednesdays, for six weeks beginning Sept. 24. Taught by James Kam. Minimal charge. Call 733-8460 or 733-8461. Learn about liquor laws
To any nonprofit group: Free Free Free
I have a number of old toys that my child has outgrown.
Call Kokua Line, 525-8686, if interested. First come, first served.
To all the people who helped me when I blacked out on July 19 at Burger King across McDonald's on Beretania. They called the ambulance and took care of my car. I'm thankful for their help. -- G.K. Mahalo
