I live on Date Street. There is an electrical/mechanical noise at night that is constantly loud and irritating coming from a fenced white cabin next to the pond at the Diamond Head end of the Ala Wai Golf Course. What is it? Should I address the problem to the mayor? Pumps making noise
at Ala Wai courseThe noise is not coming from that structure, which is a Board of Water Supply pump house that brings fresh water in for the golf course, said Clarence Nakatsukasa, superintendent of the city's Ala Wai Golf Course.
But beyond that is another pump house, which is not enclosed (merely surrounded by a chain-link fence), that apparently is the culprit.
There are three sets of pumps there, Nakatsukasa said. Normally, only one pump is running to keep the pressure up. "When the other two come on line, there is a whirring sound and a clunk to it, he said. "It's kind of sporadic. It's not a constant on-and-off thing."
The pumps have been there since the course was renovated in the late 1980s, he said. He thinks you probably were bothered by it lately because the sound "is more audible when there is a south wind, coming from Waikiki toward Date Street. Under normal conditions, when we have trades, it's not as noticeable."
He hopes you can bear with the noise until the wind changes direction, because the alternatives, especially in these tight budget times, aren't feasible for now.
One is to build a structure to enclose the pumps, Nakatsukasa said. The other is to run the pumps constantly, but "then we'd have a fantastic electric bill and probably wear out our pumps other than their normal life."
The pumps come on at night when the course is watered -- usually 6-7 p.m., sometimes after midnight and sometimes around 5 a.m. "But it's not through the night," Nakatsukasa said.
Call him at 733-7384 to see if a neighborly solution can be worked out on watering times.
If you are still dissatisfied, call the state's noise and radiation branch, 586-4700. It will check into complaints about noise involving stationary objects.
Our pediatrician told us children up to 4 years old or 40 pounds had to be in child car seats. But when we called police, they said it was 3 years old or 40 pounds. Who is right? State law requires children up to the age of 3 to be in a child restraint seat, while 4-year-olds must be in a child seat or wear a seat belt.
If you see a violation, call the Keiki Car Seat Hotline at 538-3334 with details. The state Department of Health will send a warning letter to the owner of the vehicle. If police see a violation, they can issue a citation. The fine is $82.
To the organizers of the Jan. 19 Teen Great Aloha Run. The finish line at Kapiolani Park was next to a construction site with heavy machinery blocking most of the road and steel plates protruding on the ground. A large generator spewed out black smoke. There were no glorious finishes staged -- not even a sign. Young people pay the same entry fees and support the same causes as the Great Aloha Run. To participants: Congratulations on your finish! I'm sure the charities appreciate your kokua. Auwe
(Organizers were aware of the construction materials, but couldn't alter the finish line, which is the official finish line for the Honolulu Marathon and other races, said race coordinator Jennifer Dang. The teen run's budget was not enough to "close up the pukas in the road" or hang a banner, she said. But there were timers with orange flags and safety cones. She also said the race was coordinated by the Mid Pacific Road Runners Club, which is experienced in staging races.)
