Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Thursday, September 10, 1998
Kokua Line
Federal grants of $6 million were used to purchase the land and to construct 34 units of subsidized-rental housing in the city's Vancouver Drive student housing project near the University of Hawaii. Construction was completed some time ago, but none of the units are occupied. When will they be occupied? Are the students' rental subsidies and the management, operational and maintenance costs to be paid by the federal government or the city? City's subsidized rental
project almost readyWe couldn't pry any details from Carol Costa, head of the city Office of Information and Complaint, who said a big announcement about the transitional housing project will be made in a couple of weeks.
The project apparently is not yet completed.
Costa did say the city is in the process of getting a nonprofit group to manage the rental development, which is aimed at low-income families receiving welfare assistance, and to interview applicants.
Preference will be given to high school graduates or those who have gotten a general equivalency diploma and are pursuing vocational training/higher education.
"The focus is on getting them into the education stream, and that's what's different about (the project)," Costa said.
Last December, work on the project stopped after a Star-Bulletin reporter asked why there was no building permit for the $4.73 million project. At that time, city officials acknowledged that it was "improper" to proceed without a building permit.
At that time also, it was reported that Homeless Solutions Inc. would be running the project.
Costa said it's one of Mayor Harris's "special needs projects," aimed at helping "a group in society turning their lives around."
Why are we being charged more than double if we want to attend the Chinese Cultural Festival at Dole Cannery? What defines a kama'aina? How long do I have to live in Hawaii to be considered a kama'aina? Why are "non-K's" discriminated against so obviously here in the islands? I thought Hawaii was a place that prided itself as being an international community and nondiscriminatory. I think it is not only sad, but hypocritical. Giving discount rates to local residents is nothing unique to Hawaii, according to those in the travel industry, where kama'aina rates are prevalent.
Basically, all you have to do is show some proof of residency, usually just a Hawaii drivers license, state ID or, if you're in the military, a military ID.
That's all it takes to get the cheaper $12 adult admission fee ($7 for children 6-12, free to those younger) to the cultural festival, said spokesman Jim Boersema.
You can get an even cheaper rate by getting your company to contact Boersema or Mei Jeanne Wagner at 528-3159 for a special group rate, he said.
The Chinese Cultural Festival features the largest exhibit of Chinese cultural artifacts ever to be seen outside China. Spread over 60,000 square feet of space on the second floor of Dole Cannery, the exhibit includes a battalion of more than 300 life-size Qin Dynasty terra cotta soldiers, replicas of those found buried in Xian for more than 2,200 years.
The festival is open weekdays, 2 to 8 p.m., and weekends, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., through Oct. 31. For more information, call 537-9000.
Free yarn
I have some yarn that perhaps a nursing home could use. Call Gayle, 677-6340.
Mahalo
To the elderly Filipino woman (left no name) for finding my wallet at the Kekaulike Mike's Seafood Market. -- A. Heu
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
