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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Lanakila cuts personal data on ID cards
Question: I belong to two senior citizen organizations: Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center and Kapahulu Center. I am concerned about the information on the membership identification cards at Lanakila, especially since all the members are senior citizens and because of the problem of ID theft these days. Lanakila's card has too much personal information, which could easily be used by thieves. It has our name, address, phone number and date of birth. Why can't the Lanakila cards have the same ID cards as the Kapahulu Center, which has just our name, membership number and expiration date?
Answer: Almost immediately after we contacted the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center with your concern, a decision was made.
All personal information will no longer be printed on the ID cards, Iris Hiramoto, membership specialist, said last week.
Members can take existing cards to Hiramoto's office, and she will make new cards, bearing only a name, membership number and date membership started.
Diane Terada, division administrator for Catholic Charities Hawaii, which operates the Lanakila Center, noted that the personal information was something that had been historically included on the cards, Hiramoto said.
They thank you for bringing the concern to the center's attention.
Q: I'm in Illinois, and my friends just moved from Hawaii. I'd like to get them a few of the Kliban cat T-shirts. Is there a Web site where I can order them? It appears they are hard to find even online.
A: Those whimsical Kliban cats can be ordered online at www.islandheritage.com/kliban/kliban_shirts.html.
Locally based Island Heritage is the official licensee of nonclothing Kliban products, according to a spokeswoman for Madden Corp., the parent company. The Web site has an entire section devoted to Kliban products, from mouse pads to housewares.
Island Heritage also sells, online, Kliban cat T-shirts, although it does not have the clothing rights to Kliban products. The shirts are manufactured by the Custom Co., a Kalihi company, which now holds the license for Kliban clothing.
The clothing rights to the popular cartoon cat, created by the late B. Kliban, had been held from 1977 to 1999 by Crazy Shirts.
In 1999 his widow, Judith Kliban Bixby, sued Crazy Shirts, alleging breach of contract and asking for back royalties. The licensing rights for Kliban clothing in the United States were then given to Sgt. Leisure Inc.
Currently, "we're the licensee," said Milton Ebesu, president of the Custom Co.
"We manufacture, then wholesale to various retailers," mainly Island Heritage, Duty Free Shops in Waikiki, the Navy Exchange here, as well as in Japan, he said.
Ebesu noted that his company evolved out of a division of Crazy Shirts several years ago.
The Custom Co. also produces "Hello Kitty" clothing, as well as some of the University of Hawaii apparel.
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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