Kokua Line June Watanabe

---

Street light broken 4 years is state’s duty

Question: Why does the state Department of Transportation continue to disregard fixing a street light that stays on 24 hours a day? I've called it at 485-6201 and nothing happens. I've also called the city Department of Facility Maintenance. This street light is located in front of Zippy's at 59 N. Vineyard Blvd. I know this street light has not been repaired since 2002.

Answer: Street lights on Vineyard Boulevard are under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Transportation.

Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said last month, "We'll get someone to fix it."

The city Department of Facility Maintenance received a call about the faulty light in July, said Director Laverne Higa. When her department receives a complaint about a state light, the caller is referred to the state's "Street Light Out" number, 485-6201.

"We do not keep a written log of any calls that we receive for state street lights," she said.

Ishikawa said he personally checked the light and found that it was indeed on during the day.

"Unfortunately, the light is also near the branches of a tall tree, which may make it hard to notice in the daytime that it is actually on," he said.

As for the light being ignored for four years, Ishikawa said the Department of Transportation tries to change street light bulbs by sections, to cut down on costs.

"Many times, the bulb replacement work is done at night," he said, "so the crew may not have realized it was replacing the bulb of a faulty light."

Fundraiser for Lianne

Alumnae of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity (for women) from the University of California-Irvine have set up a fundraiser for Lianne Takamori, whose parents were shot to death at Tantalus Lookout on July 6, as well as for another alumna who recently lost her father.

Information on the "Spread the LOVE" memorial fund can be found at memorial.ucipiphi.com.

For a minimum donation of $20, plus shipping and handling, donors will receive a custom-designed T-shirt with a "LOVE" design, one of the organizers of the dual fundraiser told us by e-mail from Huntington Beach, Calif.

"Otherwise, no minimum is required to donate," said Julie Santiano. Any amount is appreciated.

As of last week there were about 60 shirts left, from small to extra-large for women and medium and large for men.

The fundraiser, started by California alumnae of Pi Beta Phi, has raised approximately $1,200, Santiano said last week. Donations have come in from many states, including Hawaii.

"The money raised from our fundraiser will be divided evenly between Lianne and Celia (Aceves)," Santiano said. "However, arrangements can be accommodated if donors wish to allocate money to a specific person."

Adam Mau-Goffredo, 23, has been indicted for killing Jason and Colleen Takamori and Manh Nguyen.