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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Ewa post office adds half-hour in the morning but closes at 2
Question: I need to contact the U.S. Postal Service regarding the change of hours to 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Ewa Postal Station on Renton Road. The post office had been open until 4:15 p.m. About 25-30 years ago, the station changed its hours and was open only until lunch. Community outcry resulted in the station staying open until the afternoon. Ewa was and still is a heavily working-class community, and the majority of adult residents work during the day. Window services will no longer be accessible to those of us who have day jobs. Whom do I call or write to register my opposition to this change of hours?
Answer: Because customers had voiced concerns about the reduced hours, the post office modified its plans by a half-hour: On Sept. 1 the hours of operation were changed to 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. instead of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"We're a business, and we have to look at when customers come in, when our busy times are," said Lynne Moore, manager of consumer affairs for the U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii. "There just wasn't the traffic to maintain the hours" until 4:15 p.m. at the Ewa station.
Moore pointed out other post offices in the area: a regular post office as well as a contract station in Kapolei, and a post office in Ewa Beach.
If you would like to argue your point for longer hours, you can send a letter to Daryl Ishizaki, Honolulu District Manager, U.S. Postal Service, 3600 Aolele St., Honolulu 96820.
Q: I just heard on the radio that we need to re-register for the National Do Not Call Registry to renew blocking telemarketers' phone calls. The announcement mentioned that we should also register on a state Do-Not-Call list. Is there a separate registry for Hawaii calls?
A: No, the state does not maintain a separate registry.
To register or re-register with the Federal Trade Commission, go to www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx or call (888) 382-1222 or, for TTY, (866) 290-4236.
Shopping Bags
State Sen. Suzanne Chun-Oakland responded to a reader's offer of shopping bags ("Kokua Line," Aug. 7, 2007), saying that the sponsors of Children and Youth Day will be giving away at least 12,000 goody bags.
The 14th annual Children and Youth Day will be held 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 7 at several venues: the state Capitol, Iolani Palace, Hawaii State Art Museum, Washington Place, Kalanimoku Building, Honolulu Hale and Municipal Building.
In addition to different-size bags to hold the goodies, Chun-Oakland, chairwoman of the event, said sponsors are hoping for "anything that people feel children from infants to teenagers would enjoy," including school supplies, stuffed animals, trading cards, toys, etc.
The Legislature, in 1994, designated the first Sunday in October as Children and Youth Day. "It is a time to celebrate and honor our young people," Chun-Oakland said.
If you have anything to contribute, or for more information, call 586-6130.
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.
See also: Useful phone numbers