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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Empty lot still needed for city projects
Question: What can be done about an empty lot being used by the city to store (dump) old traffic lights, etc.? The lot is on the corner of Aloha Drive and Royal Hawaiian Avenue in Waikiki and has been used for more than a year to store street lights and other eyesores that the surrounding neighbors have to look at every day. To make matters worse, it now looks like others are starting to dump their rubbish there, including an old mattress and vacuum cleaner.
Answer: You'll be happy to hear that that lot on Aloha Drive, between Royal Hawaiian Avenue and Lewers Street, should be looking much better by the end of this month or beginning of November.
However, you probably won't be happy that the city intends to keep it as a construction yard for the near future -- at least for another two to three years.
The city is using the site as a construction yard for the Department of Transportation Service's Bus Rapid Transit project, said Gregory Hee, special projects manager for the Department of Design and Construction.
The project is expected to be completed in the next few weeks, at which time trailers and construction material will be removed, the fence repaired and dust control measures implemented, he said.
However, the city needs that site for its next big project in the area: upgrading the sewer system for Waikiki, Hee said.
That project will include a new Beachwalk Wastewater Pump Station at Kaiolu Street; a force main replacement from the new pump station to the main sewer trunk at Ala Moana Beach Park; replacement of the existing sewer line (Ala Wai Truck Sewer Relief); and correcting hydraulic deficiencies in the existing system (Waikiki Sewer Rehabilitation/Reconstruction project).
"It is anticipated that these projects will begin within the next two to three years," Hee said.
He acknowledged the problem of people dumping trash and advises anyone seeing illegal dumping to call police at 911.
The BRT contractor "has been forced from time to time to clear the trash that has been dumped there," he said. "However, unless the dumpers are caught, there is very little that can be done to curtail this illegal activity."
Mahalo
To Brian Yamata, who came to my rescue when I was locked out of my car at a very early hour. He was just getting off work from Matson. He soothed my anxieties and helped me with my problem. I thank him profusely for being such a gentleman. -- No Name
Mahalo
To 13-year-old Devin Nito. I was fishing in my boat off Kualoa when my fishing pole fell overboard about a quarter-mile offshore. Three weeks later, Devin was diving and found my pole, which had my name and number on it. He called and brought it to me. He refused the money I offered. The aloha spirit is alive and well. -- Matt Buckman
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