---

Traffic cams await
repairs in 2 locales

Question: When is the city going to fix the traffic cameras in Hawaii Kai and Waikele/Waipahu? They've been offline for more than a year. The Hawaii Kai traffic cam would've helped to warn motorists during the recent sewage spill. The cameras I'm referring to are online at www.co.honolulu.hi.us/cameras/traffic.htm and also on Oceanic Cable.

Answer: It just seems that the cameras have been out for more than a year.

The Hawaii Kai cameras have been out of commission for about a month, while the ones out in the Waipahu area have been out for about six months, said Ty Fukumitsu, a traffic engineer with the city's Department of Transportation Services.

The Waipahu-area cameras are expected to be up and running in about two weeks, but it's uncertain when the ones in Hawaii Kai will be back up.

The cameras in Hawaii Kai went out when a contractor for the state, working along Kalanianaole Highway, accidentally cut the cameras' fiber-optic cable about a month ago, Fukumitsu said.

"The contractor is going to repair the cable once it comes in," he said.

Fukumitsu said he's working with the state "to try to expedite this," but the problem is that the cable is "very expensive" and has to be ordered from the mainland. The repair cost is expected to be about $25,000.

Meanwhile, in the Waipahu area, Fukumitsu explained that the fiber-optic cables run overhead.

About six or seven months ago, a traffic accident damaged one of the poles.

The pole did not fall, but it was leaning low enough that a "big truck came by and snagged the fiber-optic cable, which snapped it," Fukumitsu said, causing the traffic cams out there to go on the blink.

Working with the state, the city was able to get that cable replaced. It hopes to get the cable back up and hooked up to the cameras in two weeks.

Fukumitsu didn't have an estimated cost of repair for that job, but said the federal, state and city governments will share in the cost. The damage was caused by a hit-and-run driver.

Q: Why can't we crush our aluminum cans for our 5-cent redemption? I take my cans to a drop-off site where no one looks at my cans to see if the "HI5" label is there or not. By now all redeemable cans, bottles and plastics sold in Hawaii should have the "HI5" label.

A: The Beverage Container Law specifies the containers cannot be crushed -- this is not a decision left up to the state Department of Health.

As such, "any changes would have to be made by the Legislature," according to Laurence Lau, deputy director for environmental health.

Q: I'm concerned about the potholes in the right lane at the Ilikai Hotel by the Crazy Shirts store. There's a corrugated effect caused by heavy vehicles like tour buses.

A: Call the city at 527-6006 for these potholes or any pothole on a city street; for ruts in state roadways, call 536-7852.

|

---

---