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Kokua Line

By June Watanabe


Bikeway bridge not safe
for prolonged use by cars

Question: Recently, there was a rubbish fire under the bridge by Buzz's restaurant in Lanikai, so they closed both lanes on Kawailoa Road. That's the only way in or out of the area. I asked the police officer if they could let cars go on the beachside of the bridge walkway -- it's really large and wide enough for cars to drive through. The problem was there are two poles that needed keys to unlock and move them. The officer didn't know who had the keys. In the event that we do have to evacuate, who would have the keys to unlock the poles so that cars could go on it if necessary.

Answer: The city Department of Parks and Recreation has the keys. However, the bikeway bridge adjacent to the roadway bridge was designed to handle bicycles and pedestrians only, said Craig Mayeda, head of city Park Maintenance and Recreation Service. While it is possible for a vehicle to maneuver its way through the bikeway bridge "in a pinch," it would not be wise or safe to do so for any prolonged period, he said.

In an emergency, police or emergency officials would probably make the call on what to do. But, Mayeda said, the safer alternative would probably have to be people leaving their cars and simply crossing the area on foot.

Q: I am making plans to travel to Hawaii, stay overnight, then go to Midway Island for four to five months. I'll be going to the island as part of a team to maintain the island, specifically to provide medical care to the other 20-30 workers there. I would love to take my dog with me. I'd be coming in on a commercial airline then leaving for Midway on a chartered cargo plane. Is this possible under Hawaii's quarantine laws?

A: Unfortunately, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not allow dogs or any pets to be taken to Midway Island.

The island is managed as a wildlife refuge, primarily for the protection of two million seabirds, endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals and threatened sea turtles, according to Barbara Maxfield, spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands.

However, in general, animals en route somewhere normally would just have to be held in quarantine for the period they are in Hawaii. However, if it's just an overnight stop, an official at the state quarantine station indicated your dog may be able to just be kept at the airport instead of having to be taken to the quarantine station.

For more information, you can contact the state Department of Agriculture's animal industry web site, http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm; call the quarantine station at 808-483-7151; or e-mail aqs.rabies@gte.net

Mahalo

To the three good Samaritans who came to the rescue of a lady in distress with car trouble at the intersection of East Manoa Road and Oahu Avenue on May 1. The young lady in the car behind me graciously let me use her cell phone to call for help. Two gentlemen parked their car and helped me push my stalled car through the intersection so that I would not block traffic and could safely wait for help. -- Grateful senior citizen

Auwe

To the woman who walks her brown dog every morning down and back up Kilauea Avenue by Wilson School. She thinks nothing of opening rubbish cans in carports and driveways on private home properties and disposing of her dog poop. Please be considerate and use your own trash. -- No name

Mahalo

To Jason and his passengers and to Scott and Lindy for taking the time to stop to help me and my kids with the messy job of changing our flat tire on the Pali Highway on April 28. They all demonstrated total aloha in taking the time out of their day to help someone else. -- J. Thompson of Kailua





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Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
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