Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Thursday, December 17, 1998
Kokua Line
I've been calling Hawaiian Telephone -- 983-3211 -- to find out the time to set my watch. But since I called about seven months ago, it's progressively gotten faster -- 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds faster. My boss sets his clock by atomic clock time and says that's more accurate. I called the Hawaiian Tel number again last night, and now it's back to the exact second. What I want to know is, how does Hawaiian Tel set the time, and how often do they reset it? Phone company verifies
‘time’ clock every weekHawaiian Tel's "time service" is verified weekly with a master timing center in Boulder, Colo., according to spokesman Keith Kamisugi.
"We adjust the machine if we find it off by more than 10 seconds compared to the Boulder time source," he said.
He also maintained that since the time machine "has been reliable and accurate, adjustments have been rare."
Kamisugi added that the time machine is not related to any timing systems used by Hawaiian Tel for its phone network or billing.
In the meantime, you can also call 471-6363, which is the atomic clock number, which some Star-Bulletin staffers swear by.
Why does the city permit scavenging while homeowners wait to dump rubbish at the Keehi Transfer Station? We went there at lunch time, Nov. 25, and two workers were inside the pit, scavenging for rubbish, making us wait for a long time. I think this is totally wrong.
"Scavenging" is not permitted.
"We do have rules about who can enter the pit" -- basically, equipment operators, said Wayne Hamada, the city's disposal operations engineer.
In the case you cited, "Nobody admitted to anything," he said.
However, "if we do have more complaints about people scavenging," action will be taken, he said. You can call him at 523-4775.
In the absence of specifics, Hamada said you might have been forced to wait if you arrived before noon.
The public is allowed to dump trash at the transfer station only between noon and 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
The Keehi Transfer Station primarily receives residential waste from route trucks. From there, the trash is consolidated into transfer trailers and hauled to the HPOWER plant.
The public is allowed to bring in a maximum of two loads of combustible rubbish and/or green waste per day in pickup truck-size vehicles, Hamada said.
To the Harley rider who raced through our quiet neighborhood on Wilhelmina Rise and Paula Drive with extremely loud unmuffled exhaust pipes, waking everybody up at 4:30 a.m. Nov. 12. It takes only one bad apple with an absolutely ignorant attitude to make the entire motorcycling community look like Hell's Angels. The next step will be harsher laws resulting in less freedom for hundreds of mature, responsible riders. -- A Fellow Rider Auwe
It's been two years since my move to the mainland, and I still feel the aloha spirit from a few folks who have helped me tremendously. Mahalo
Mahalos to JB, JanLuka, Harley and Cissy Carter, Calley M. and the rest of the customs gang. I miss you all. Gracias por todo mis amigos! -- Cindy Reyes, San Diego
To the driver of a dark green Honda Civic, who was driving like a maniac on Piikoi Street at 1:45 p.m. Nov. 24. Here's hoping you get four flat tires and the police suspend your license. -- Concerned Driver Auwe
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
