Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Friday, January 23, 1998

Fitness-club contracts
limited to three years

On Dec. 14, I went to the 24 Hour Fitness Center on Kapiolani Boulevard to renew my membership. I was told I had the option of renewing my membership for three years at $1,030, with every year thereafter at $288 a year. In light of the International Fitness Center incident a few years back, isn't it true that in the state, no fitness club is allowed to offer memberships for longer than two years?

Actually, it's three years.

We were referred by the manager of the club to the Pacific Group in San Francisco for comment.

"If a member felt it was misleading, it was unintentional on our part," said spokeswoman Varny Paladino. "Basically, nobody is offering memberships past three years. That's not what we do."

Paladino said the company appreciates your complaint being brought to its attention. "Our first commitment is to our members."

Chapter 486N of the Hawaii Revised Statutes spells out the rules and regulations for health clubs, including: "The unexpired, aggregate term of any health club contract or contracts and any extensions or renewals thereof shall at no time exceed thirty-six months per buyer."

Also, a contract "may not contain an automatic renewal clause."

"Some health clubs have tried to offer extensions or options to continue after 36 months, but the statute is clear" on what is appropriate, said Jo Ann Uchida, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection.

A violation would be considered an unfair or deceptive practice and punishable by a $500 to $10,000 fine per violation, she said.

Ewa-bound, between Halawa and Pearlridge, more road widening is being done on the H-1, as late as 5 p.m., at the peak of rush hour. The backup used to be up to Red Hill. It now stretches to Puuloa Road. Why can't the state make the contractor cease work earlier?

The problem is not the road construction, but the rubbernecking, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The contractor is adding a lane and is allowed to work on the road until 3:30 p.m. "He has been off the road on time every day," said DOT spokeswoman Marilyn Kali.

She noted that a large purple piece of equipment is probably what's attracting the rubberneckers. Thought was given to putting up some kind of screen to block it from view. But that would take time to put up and take down, she said, and in the end, it was felt it was more important to get the job done as soon as possible.

That means, for a total of five construction projects in the 3-mile area to Pearl City, 18 more months, Kali said.

"We are trying to mitigate traffic problems," with some night work, she said. "But as long as people keep slowing down (to rubberneck), traffic will be bad."

Computer donations

The Department of Education still wants donations of computers, but only those that can be repaired easily. And, there's a new number to call: 1-800-939-6000 -- the Detwiler Foundation in California.

The foundation is coordinating computer donations, arranging for pickup and delivery, said DOE educational specialist Kerry Koide.

In November, 14 computers were delivered to Kalihi Kai Elementary. Twenty more will go to Kohala High and Intermediate.

Mahalo

To "a morning walker," for your kindness and generous gift of a miniature black pine for our rock garden. It will be a welcomed addition to our rock garden. The rubber tree plants are buried in their pots to control their roots, but I appreciate your concern. Please introduce yourself when you are on your daily walk along Judd Street so I can thank you personally, wish you continued good health and explain the origin of those plants. -- Ray