Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Wednesday, February 24, 1999
Kokua Line
Does the city clean or repair stoplights? I am concerned primarily about the green lights from Sand Island Access Road to Waiakamilo Road. All the lights are poor in illumination. Can they clean the lens or increase illumination? Driver takes dim view
of stoplights on NimitzThey can, but a check of your complaint showed that the traffic lights along Nimitz Highway "are clearly visible and of adequate intensity," said Cheryl Soon, director of the city's Department of Transportation Services.
The city is responsible for maintaining all the traffic signals on city and state roads, which means a lot of lights. Consider that there are more than 700 intersections with traffic signals on Oahu. Each intersection generally has eight signal heads, with each head typically consisting of three bulbs. That comes out to about 16,800 lenses and bulbs, Soon said.
The lenses are cleaned whenever burnt-out bulbs are changed.
Meanwhile, traffic signal malfunctions can be reported to 523-4831 during normal work hours or 911 after hours, Soon said.
What was the reason for lack of security at the men's restroom at the Janet Jackson concert at Aloha Stadium on Jan. 30? Women were allowed to walk into the men's restrooms to use the toilet facilities. It was very embarrassing for men using urinals because women were standing around, gazing at them.
Next time that happens and you feel it's a problem, bring it to the attention of a security officer or usher immediately so that someone can monitor the situation, a spokesman for the stadium said.
"We want to do the right thing," he said, "but we're not going to station a police officer at every restroom. It just doesn't make sense and it's not feasible."
Security is provided "in many other areas of concern, but it hasn't been brought to our attention that it's necessary (at the restrooms)," he said. "I would hope that both women and men would behave appropriately and not just walk in."
There are 32 restrooms around the stadium -- 16 for men and 16 for women. During the concert, four restrooms -- two men's and two women's -- were closed off on the north side.
However, 55 portable toilet stalls were brought in and locker room restrooms also were opened to the public for the Jackson event, the spokesman said. That should have been enough to accommodate the crowd, he said.
"If security is an issue then we would have to look into that and speak with the licensee to see if they would be able to absorb the cost," he said.
To the two teen-age girls who found my daughter's black Esprit wallet in the handicapped stall at Beretania McDonald's on Jan. 22. You knew it didn't belong to you. Several students saw you and heard you mention the "big wallet." You should have at least returned her student ID and driver's license. May you never encounter the disappointment and frustration you put her through with your dishonest act. -- S.J. Auwe
To the Pearl Highlands Signature Theatres' staffer who cleaned up Theatre #12 on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. and found and turned in my fanny pack. Auwe to those parents who brought their small children into the theater to see "Payback," a brutally violent film. I thought I mistakenly went into "A Bug's Life"! And people wonder why parents and teachers have such a difficult time. -- Keith Mahalo
To the driver of a white Lincoln who kept throwing rubbish out of his car on Likelike Highway. He set a bad example for children. -- P. 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
