Kokua Line
Kokua Line
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Memorials at Pokai Bay
are not a concern to stateQuestion: I'm calling about the destruction of the Waianae coastline, where people go and pour concrete into the coral reef to create memorials. This is on the Honolulu side of Pokai Bay, where there is a little rocky peninsula that sticks out. People pour liquid concrete in openings along this coral peninsula, then scribble something in memory of their loved ones. But these memorials are becoming ever more sophisticated, some about 2 feet high. It is such a destructive process to the shoreline and seems to be extending toward Maili. Is there something that can be done about this?
Answer: The state Department of Land & Natural Resources, which oversees the shoreline area, does not share your concern.
"We're going to continue looking at these items on a case-by-case basis," as they did with the Sacred Falls memorials, said DLNR Director Gilbert Coloma-Agaran. "As long as there is no public health and safety issue and no complaints from the public, we will respect the sentiment behind erecting those memorials."
In other words, no action is planned against the memorials.
If you would like to pursue your complaint, call 587-0330.
"Kokua Line" had a similar complaint in 1997, from someone who felt "people are turning these areas (Waianae Boat Harbor and Pokai Bay Beach Park) into a cemetery by putting up cemented memorial plaques."
Back then, a DLNR official said some of those memorials go back decades. He also said there are no buried remains and the memorials were "just a way to remember those deceased."
There apparently are hundreds of them along the Leeward Coast.
"With limited staffing and resources, this has always been considered a nonissue," the DLNR official said five years ago. "Should it become an issue, we would have lot of public input and comment before" anything is done.
Q: The Prudential real estate company had a sign about a house for sale a couple of months ago on Harding Avenue, between 4th and 5th avenues. Evidently, someone bought the house because the sign is gone. Whoever the new owner is is not living there, but there is a dog. That dog barks constantly, morning and night. Several people have called Prudential but nothing has been done. Can you call Prudential and ask them to do something?
A: On animal nuisance calls, call the Hawaiian Humane Society, 946-2187.
You need to provide an address. We called Prudential Locations, and someone tried to find what property you were talking about. However, without a specific address, we were told it didn't appear to have been a Prudential listing.
We passed your complaint on to the humane society. An inspector was sent to the neighborhood but observed no dog or heard any barking in the area you described at the time he was there, said spokeswoman Eve Holt.
Beyond the nuisance factor, she said another issue might be animal cruelty.
"Under the cruelty law, there are certain basic minimums that you have to provide for a dog: food and water and shelter," Holt said. "If anyone sees a dog that's not being properly provided for, they should also call the humane society. We're available to take those kinds of calls 24 hours a day."
Q: I followed your advice on trying to find out the telephone number for the local post offices ("Kokua Line," July 3), but it's not valid. They have included information about the new postal rates, so the options have all changed. Can you tell us again how to get the information?
A: The recording you hear by calling the U.S. Postal Service's call center, 800-275-8777, did change slightly. As of Friday the options we selected were 1 for English, then 3, 7 and 2.
But the best advice we have for you is to simply follow the instructions given, because the recording may change again.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com