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Monday, July 3, 2000
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Push bumpers attach around the rubber bumper shell
to the car's internal steel bumper.
So it's a relief when things are exactly what they appear to be.
Take what seems to be an add-on bumper on the front of Honolulu's blue-and-white police cars. After intensive investigative journalism -- a phone call to the HPD garage -- we can report that the mystery item is indeed an add-on bumper.
Technically, it's a "push bumper," used to aid pushing stalled vehicles out of the way, saving the policeman's back. They're part of the "police package" Ford adds to HPD's Crown Victoria fleet, along with beefier shocks, a partition between the front and back seats of the vehicle, and plastic, easy-wash benches in the back instead of a plush seat, along with a bar to keep the perps knees down, like a Ferris wheel seat.
Made of steel, the push bumper attaches around the rubber bumper shell to the car's internal steel bumper to avoid "energy shocks" to the chassis in a collision.
When the push bumpers are replaced because of damage, or if you want one on your own car, they're a couple of hundred bucks at American Safety.
Curious about something you've seen? Ask us: WatDat?, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, HI 96802, fax at 523-7863 or email at features@ starbulletin.com.
Tickets are on sale for the 5 p.m. concerts featuring several of Hawaii's top stars.
Friday's lineup: Fiji, Kapena, Ho'onu'a, Natural Vibrations, Three Plus, Ten Feet, Sean Na'auao, plus reunion sets by the Ka'au Crater Boys and Ho'aikane.
Saturday's lineup: Keali'i Reichel, Na Leo, Kapena, Ho'onu'a, Natural Vibrations, Three Plus, Ten Feet, Sean Na'auao, plus reunion sets by Hawaiian Style Band and Mana'o Company.
Ticket prices for one night are $18, $19.50 and $21. Tickets for both shows are $30 for lawn seats and $32 for upper terrace. Tickets are available at the Blaisdell box office and Ticket Plus, or charge by phone at 526-4400.
For more information, call 296-1003.
Tickets, at $8.50 reserved and $7.50 general, go on sale July 15 for the event, featuring 23 halau, including two groups from Maui and two from the Big Island.
Competitions are:
July 27 -- Miss and Master Keiki Hula, beginning 6 p.m.
July 28 -- Group Hula Kahiko, 6 p.m.
July 29 -- Group Hula 'Auana, noon
For more information, call 521-6905.
The free talk will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Preview Room 4. For information, call 956-3132.
