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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Pipe job blocks tree-trimming, and that blocks Kapiolani lights
Question: Can you help do something about the safety of Kapiolani Boulevard? The street lighting is great on the freeways, but they are wrong for Kapiolani Boulevard. The problem is that the light poles are too high, given the large monkeypod trees. As a result, the lights are blocked in many places, making the street considerably darker than either Beretania or King street, which primarily have shower trees. Since we're not going to do anything about these magnificent trees, why not replace the lights with something like the ones in Chinatown, where they're much lower and brighter?
Q: Two lights in front of 1370 Kapiolani Blvd. are almost completely hidden by tree branches, as you drive toward Ward Avenue. Can you help?
Answer: A contractor for the city Department of Parks and Recreation has been trimming trees in the Kapiolani Boulevard-McCully-Waikiki area for more than a month.
It has completed pruning at the Ewa end of Kapiolani, between South and Kamakee streets, said Dana Takahara-Dias, deputy parks director.
The contractor is waiting for the temporary shutdown of the city's sewer project along Kapiolani, from next Monday to Dec. 14, to complete the pruning between Kamakee Street and Kalakaua Avenue, she said.
Meanwhile, the city has considered installing shorter street light standards (poles), which might help the lighting situation, said city spokesman Bill Brennan.
But a decision on that has been deferred pending an upcoming project "to totally rehabilitate Kapiolani Boulevard," including looking at the street light issue, he said.
That project basically would spiff up Kapiolani once the water and sewer main work is completed in 2009.
Increasing wattage is a possibility but would be of minimal help, Brennan added.
Q: Is it legal for private contractors to dump their rubbish in a cul-de-sac? Private contractors are dumping their rubbish at the end of Kikeke Avenue in Kaimuki.
A: You probably realize that it's not legal. Anyone witnessing illegal dumping is advised to call police at 911 immediately.
Get as much identifying information as possible -- vehicle license and make, any company name on a truck, and a description of the driver, said Suzanne Jones, spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Services.
"Depending upon the quantity and frequency that the contractor is dumping, this could constitute a Class C felony," Jones said.
To report dump sites, call 768-3300.
"Dumpers are very sly," Jones said. "They watch and wait to make sure that no police or official will spot them, so it's unlikely that they will be stopped unless you report them."
However, she warns not to confront them because "it could be dangerous."
The best thing is to call police: "We can coordinate the responsible agencies for cleanup, but it's the police that need to catch these guys," she said.
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